Xtrac Offers DSG Alternative

Xtrac has finally revealed their new gearbox technology this week. It’s called the Instantaneous Gearchange System (IGS) and it has been developed over two years of motorsport competitions. The new system promises to do the job of a DSG gearbox, but at a fraction of the cost and weight. Thanks to a integration of a ratchet and pawl mechanism between each gear hub and the main shaft, two consecutive gears are selected at the same time while only one set of gears is driving.

With traditional gearboxes there has always been a problem that the driver had to momentarily cut engine torque in order to change gear. This increases the fuel consumption of the engine and reduces performance.

Porsche was the first company to come up with a solution to this problem when it launched the Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (dual clutch transmission - DCT). While the system offers better performance and efficiency, there are also a few issues. For instance, two clutch mechanisms mean twice the potential repair costs, and DCTs are generally more expensive than either standard manual transmissions or automatics.

Xtrac’s answer to these problems was the small, lightweight Instantaneous Gearchange System, that is now ready for commercial development in motorcycles, electric vehicles, cars, trucks and buses. The product was unveiled this week in Berlin at the International CTI Symposium 'Innovative Automotive Transmissions Hybrid & Electric Drives'.

“When introducing new technology to the automotive mainstream it’s important to have progressed beyond the initial research and development phase. Car makers like to see practical demonstrations to show that the technology actually works and is more than a concept. With our motorsport experience we have the advantage of two years of racing IGS with professional teams,” said Xtrac Technical Director Adrian Moore.