Volkswagen broke the mould with its excellent six-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) sequential manual transmission, but it's on the verge of going one better with an all-new seven-speed unit.

The new seven-speed system -- codenamed DQ200 and claimed to be a world first (even though the Bugatti Veyron has a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox) -- uses a pair of dry clutches in preference to the six-speed version's twin wet clutches (which are immersed in a lubricating fluid).

The first recipients of the new seven-speeder will be the 1.4-litre TSI petrol (see review here) and 1.9-litre TDI versions of the Golf.

VW says the new configuration increases efficiency and performance over the wet-clutch six-speed system, which debuted in the Mark V Golf in 2003.

The new seven-speed gearbox adopts a pair of dry, organic bonded friction linings that do not require cooling and VW claims less power is required for the gear selection and clutch servo system.

Measuring only 369mm in length and weighing 79kg (7kg less than the six-speed transmission) including the dual-mass flywheel, the gearbox is relatively compact.

VW says its modest proportions mean it can be applied to models from the Polo right up to the Passat and, in its current form, it is capable of coping with power and torque outputs of up to 125kW and 250Nm respectively.

By having a spread of seven ratios, VW's boffins were able to lower the ratio of first gear to provide snappier acceleration. Meanwhile, seventh gear has been made taller to make for more relaxed and economical freeway cruising.

Since the clutch does not require cooling, the quantity of oil was reduced from seven litres in the six-speed DSG gearbox to only 1.7-litres in the new seven-speed system, and the oil circuits are split into two "in an effort to protect the lubrication's purity".

For now, the DSG set-up is offered only in transverse-engine (ie where the motor sits east-west, rather than north-south in the car) VW/Audi models, but it's only a matter of time before longitudinal-engine variants (such as the Audi A4 and A6) feature a derivative of the same system.

Porsche, which owns 30.9 per cent of Volkswagen, will also introduce DSG transmissions in its offerings in the not-too-distant future.

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