As part of Chrysler's continuing powertrain onslaught that included three recent engine plant announcments, the soon-to-be-privately-held automaker has announced a partnership with German transmission manufacturer Getrag to build dual-clutch transmissions. A new $530 million plant will be built in Tipton County, Indiana starting at the end of this month. Production is slated to start in 2009 with an annual capacity of 700,000 transmissions.

The six speed gearboxes have two clutches that are alternately engaged with one clutch being connected to the first, third and fifth gears and the others to the even numbered gears. When any gear is engaged, the opposite clutch is disengaged and the next gear is selected. When an upshift or downshift is needed, the gears are preselected and the two clutches switch positions providing fast seamless shifts. Dual clutch transmissions can yield a five to ten percent improvement in fuel economy compared to torque converter automatices because of their enhanced mechanical efficiency.

[Source: Chrysler]