The company’s first high-performance SUV will be available with an eight-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission, known as N DCT, providing high-performance features for driving enthusiasts. N DCT provides the engaging experience of a sequential manual gearbox with the convenience of an automatic transmission.
The Kona N DCT is based on a modified version of its in-house-developed 8DCT, an eight-speed, wet- type, dual-clutch transmission.
The 8DCT received enhancements in durability, allowing it to handle the demands of high-performance vehicles.
With the 2.0-litre turbocharged, direct-injected engine, it gives the best performance by applying specially-tuned gear ratios. The transmission control unit is calibrated for N enthusiasts, resulting in faster shifting and enabling a host of exclusive driving features. Hyundai’s N DCT technology is offered on the Veloster N and is standard equipment on the all-new 2022 Kona N.
The wet-type DCT is structurally similar to a manual transmission, making it similarly efficient at power delivery and shifting response. As opposed to a dry-type gearbox, the wet-type DCT uses two electric oil pumps to reduce friction between the moving parts and for better cooling of the clutch, thus allowing greater torque transfer through the gearbox.
The electric pump system is composed of the High Flow Electric Oil Pump, which is responsible for gear lubrication and clutch cooling, and the High Pressure Electric Oil Pump, which supplies oil to the accumulator and maintains the pressure needed to control the gear shifting.
Together, they ensure that the wet DCT can function with minimum engine power loss, thus resulting in better fuel economy. This new, updated pump system increases the number of applications for the wet N DCT, making it optimal for high-torque applications. The benefits are twofold: the DCT system results in improved performance by increasing maximum torque, and the vehicle is more fun to drive due to increased power transmission efficiency and acceleration.
In addition to its increased performance, the application of N DCT also improves driving dynamics. The coolant oil consistently keeps the clutch at the optimum operating temperature, reducing risk of overheating during high-performance driving when the car is being pushed to its limits. However, even on congested roads or steep inclines, where the transmission is stressed, N DCT has excellent flexibility.
