I'm finding contradicting information about which DSG is used in the TDI Mk3 Octavia RS. Is it the old DQ250 or a newer which seems to be called DQ380? I want to read up on as much as possible about the maximum torque it can handle.

Does this help?  Seems the DQ380 is not yet available?

 

"There is also a new family of modular DSG transmissions under development based on the heavy duty DQ500 seven-speed unit currently servicing the high-performance Audi TT-RS as well as the T5 Transporter/Multivan commercial vehicle range.

Dubbed the DQ380, this next-generation DSG will most likely appear first in a 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel application later next year in the new MQB C-segment models based on the latest Golf.

As a replacement for the original six-speed DQ250 DSG, Mr Schaefer says it can handle up to 420Nm of torque."

Then there's this (taken from an article on livelifedrive.com)...

 

'Despite several highly publicized reliability problems, Volkswagen is far from abandoning the DSG transmission. Earlier in April, Volkswagen Group chairman Dr. Martin Winterkorn announced a 10-speed DSG unit is in the pipeline.

Dubbed the DQ380, the transmission is said to replace the original 6-speed wet clutch DSG transmission and can handle up to 420 Nm or torque.

The transmission will only be used in larger models as... smaller engines producing less 200 Nm don't have sufficient torque to maintain speed at the higher gear ratios.'

I'm finding information that DQ250 supports up to 350nm of torque, but perhaps this was an earlier version from Golf MK5, because today the GTD and Octavia CR MK3 have 380 nm.

a 10-speed DSG unit is in the pipeline.

 

<my opinion> Nooooo! </my opinion>

 

As smooth and wonderful as the non-double-clutch 8-speed auto gearbox that BMW use is, I just can't get my head around a car that has more than 6 gears.  I mean, it's going to end up like bicycles, where you don't ever use half the gears.  Or, you're just going to end up with something like a Honda CVT (which, based on my one experience with one, are hideous).

 

I don't think I have a problem with this idea on 'normal' cars - but when you have a 'sporty' car with paddles on the steering wheel, it's easy to count flicks and know what gear you're in, and understand which gear you need for when... whereas on a 10-speed box you're never going to keep track without always having to look at the display.

Truck drivers dont seem to have any issues? Kinda fun running through an 18spd gearbox......bit annoying with all those changes though. And I found that you could easily skip gears....so maybe that's where gearboxes are headed. IIRC the ZF 8 speed can skip gears.

Truck drivers dont seem to have any issues? Kinda fun running through an 18spd gearbox......bit annoying with all those changes though. And I found that you could easily skip gears....so maybe that's where gearboxes are headed. IIRC the ZF 8 speed can skip gears.

 

Exactly… I expect that the control unit would skip and select ratios according to the driving style being used.

 

It's just another step in the manufacturers' continual battle to meet with the ever lower emissions levels being imposed by the EU regulators.

 

We've already seen most cars getting more like tin cans with higher levels of composite materials, plastics, aluminium and other alloys, smaller and thus lighter fuel capacities, the removal of heavyweight accessories such as spare wheels and jacks… so it's just part of the continual evolution of the motor vehicle, and increasing gear ratios are ultimately inevitable. We've already moved from 3 to 8 in the last 70-80 years so this isn't a surprise.

 

There will of course come a time when they run out of things to lighten or remove, and when the electronics or mechanical parts required (in transmissions as a perfect example) to make cars even more fuel efficient actually start to work in the opposite direction…

There will of course come a time when they run out of things to lighten or remove

 

Take the engine out... it's a rather weighty part of the car.

 

Unfortunately, the alternative involves batteries which aren't exactly light, especially if you want to go any distance.