Mitsubishi will sell the world’s first SUV with a twin-clutch gearbox this autumn when it launches the Outlander Twin Clutch SST. Previously such systems have been the preserve of sports cars and performance-orientated hatchbacks, and definitely not off-roaders.
CAR Online has tested the SST system in the new Evo X and been impressed by the speed and quality of the gearchange. Mitsubishi claims smoother up-shifts with almost no loss of power, lower emissions and better fuel consumption compared with the regular auto. Drivers change gear using steering wheel mounted paddle shifters with two modes – normal and sport.
At the moment Mitsubishi only plans to mate the gearbox to the 2.2 Di-D, but other models may follow. We’ll see the new car at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008, with UK sales following in spring 2009. As with the Evo X expect to pay a £2K premium for the SST ‘box over the standard transmission.