German Car Zone

Found 2 photos.




Looks like they replace the torque converter with wet clutches.

^ Thanks for the pics monster - good find!

Yup, subsequent to my enquiry there's been a lot of new information emerging about the transmission from the slew of first drive articles published. I can see exactly why the call it a "multi-clutch" gearbox. Clever really, because it reads like oneupmanship over a mere "dual-clutch" gearbox for those less than technically inclined. In fact, the now familiar dual-clutch transmission is the more sophisticated of the two.

So, how does it work exactly, and is it that different from other sequentials? I don't get the principles, how does a seq and how does an auto work? I thought the difference was mainly clutch or converter, and that the rest was quite similar, but it seems not?

A seq has normal forks to change gears, and the gears are normally spur or helical gears, an auto has a set of planetary gears, the gears are changed by the various combination of locking of the gears in the planetary gear set.

Okay thanks.
I assume there is no noticeable difference for the driver. Is there any reason why it is the first gearbox to mix the two kinds of gearboxes? Any technical disadvantage for the planetary gear set? Maybe heavier, no?

Planetary gear sets are indeed heavier. AMG mix the two different element into their MCT to decrease the response time of the gearchanges, and avoid the normal harshness of sequential type gearbox. According to one of the first drive reviews, AMG use this solution because a DSG type gearbox won't fit into the current SL floor plan. I can't remember clearly.

Yeah I read that too, DSG with two clutches are heavier and need more place. This MCT seems to have more or less the same shape as the 7G, so it can fit easily in every Merc, it's easy to put it into without expensive modifications. And there is only the front part tha changes, clutch or converter... So it's a good solution from a business PoV, and as it is fast, not too harsh, it seems a very good solution from a technical PoV, too.

I like that, MB going its own way, with a solution that is technically excellent and in the meantime easier to apply, more simple to do.