Volvo’s C30, S40 and V50 are now available with a new six-speed twin-clutch ‘box – dubbed Powershift – mated to the company’s 134bhp 2.0-litre diesel.
The new twin-clutch gearbox has been developed with Getrag (and Volvo’s parent company Ford), and is basically the same unit recently announced in the Focus and C-Max. Volvo claims the new gearbox offers an 8 percent improvement in fuel consumption over a conventional six-speed automatic.
As well as the fuel (and expected emissions) savings, the new ‘box is also claimed to offer smoother, quicker shifts. Like other twin-clutch gearboxes, the Powershift system uses one clutch for the ‘odd’ gears and another for ‘even’ gears. The Powershift costs £1250, the same as the current Geartronic gearbox.
Twin-clutches: the new must-have gearbox
Like every other manufacturer, Volvo was taken by surprise when the VW Group launched its twin-clutch ‘box on the original Audi TT 3.2-litre V6. Since then most major manufacturers have been scrabbling to develop their own systems. Nissan’s GT-R, BMW’s M3, Mitsubishi’s Evo X and the new Ferrari California all have twin-clutch gearboxes. Meantime, VW has just brought out its second-generation seven-speed DSG.