Patent Filing Reveals Future GM Seven-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission

A patent filing has revealed that the dry dual-clutch transmission that GM was developing in partnership with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is in fact a seven-speed front-wheel-drive transmission.

Rumors have been circulating the internet about this transmission for some time, however the company and its Chinese partner SAIC have been tight-lipped about the whole project. The biggest piece of information is that this is a seven-speed unit, representing the biggest number of gears ever used in a GM passenger car and the company’s first dual-clutch transmission.

The new transmission was revealed at the same time as a new turbocharged and direct-injected small gasoline engine that will displace 1.0 or 1.5 liters, depending on application, suggesting that the two will be designed to work together.

With such engines usually generating a relatively modest torque, the big question remaining is this: what are the true capabilities of GM’s version of the DSG?

The carmaker’s current front-wheel drive cars in the US use engines between the 1.4-liter straight-four in the Cruze to the 3.6-liter V6 in models like the Buick LaCrosse. The patent filing does not mention anything about the dual-clutch’s torque capacity, but we expect this is being designed for a small model.

Why is that? Well, the Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept that was revealed at last year’s Los Angeles Auto Show came with a dual-clutch transmission. It’s not clear at the moment what cars this will arrive in, but the Cruze hatchback looks like a likely candidate.