What's the news?
It has taken a while, but MINI is about to offer its first ever twin-clutch gearbox on selected models in the range.
Available on the three-door, five-door and Convertible MINI lines, the seven-speed unit is not going to be called DCT, as might be expected, but is instead being given the Steptronic name, as with the BMW Group's conventional torque converter automatics. Nevertheless, there are indeed two clutches in there: one operating the odd-numbered gears and reverse, the other on the shaft for the even-numbered gears.
MINI says it will be an option instead of the six-speed manual transmission (meaning it might be the end of the road for the six- and eight-speed Steptronic pure automatics that are used on various models currently) and that it will be offered with selected engines only, although at the moment it is not specifying which powerplants will benefit from the twin-clutch system.
Further, MINI also says the double-clutch transmission is operated by 'means of a newly-designed electronic selector lever, which always returns to its original position' after the driver has chosen one of D for drive, N for neutral or R for reverse. The Park function is operated by a 'P' button on the lever.
The new twin-clutch Steptronic also uses a shift strategy based on navigation data - a function first seen on the BMW Group's products at the other end of the scale to MINI, in the form of the Rolls-Royce family - and it also supports both the engine start-stop function and coasting, to help reduce fuel consumption and emission levels.
Anything else?
MINI says it chose seven speeds for the twin-clutch Steptronic as that allows a broader spread of gears, resulting in faster acceleration and longer drives at the top of the gearbox to maximise efficiency. The double-clutch system also, unlike BMW's old SMG units, offers a crawl function, to allow for smoother take-up in traffic. Finally, it is equipped with a dual-mass flywheel with an integrated centrifugal pendulum to enhance smoothness and allow a lower engine idle speed.
The new transmission will be introduced at the start of summer 2018.