DCT: Does it get better?

[fl510]

Just picked up a '24 I4 with the DCT and I love it. I knew what I was getting into with the DCT, but I'm wondering how much better it'll get. I truly have never driven a DCT that's so sluggish to respond - even the SMG on my E60 M5 clowns the response time, especially with double downshifts, which are glacial on the DCT.

So I'm wondering: is there a reason to have hope it'll get better with this elusive software update? Do the '26s actually shift better in comparison?

 

[Beachbum]

Never had an Auto car before this one, so have nothing to compare it to, so for me, the speed of the changes seems ok, but given that those with much more experience complain about the speed, its obviously slower than other auto boxes out there
As to the elusive s/w update. No one knows, or at least those that do are saying nothing. There was an announcement about 6-8 weeks ago, saying it was being released, then that was retracted and no official news since
All requests for info, made to Dealers and Lotus HQ have resulted in zero info coming back. The best anyone seems to have managed to ascertain is that a s/w update in in the works, but no date whatsoever on when it will be released, or if it will be free.

 

[Kaz]

The 26's appear to have the same exact down shift speed - and yes it will get better either through Lotus update or the aftermarket. I'm just waiting for the CPC modules to finally get cracked and then my tuner will address the DCT tuning next. There are a couple vendors right now that say they can tune your DCT/TCU so probably worth a search. But yes, downshifts need some snappier speed that's what I want to eventually address - that is in manual, in full automatic I only drive the car in Touring/Auto in stop and go traffic and have no complaints.

 

[Andy H]

I also have the 2024 i4. The first thing I would say is to make sure you have all the software updates applied as there was a significant improvement made to shift times. See how long it takes to switch between drive and reverse. Originally that took several seconds and it's the same update that fixes both that and improves the shifts in general.

I've had several DCTs and I would rate them:

#1: BMW E90 M3 - lightning fast
#2: AUDI 8Y RS3 - reasonable
=#3: BMW M135 - just acceptable
=#3: EMIRA i4 - just acceptable

I too dream of a day where the CPC and TCU can be after market tuned.

 

[fl510]

I also have the 2024 i4. The first thing I would say is to make sure you have all the software updates applied as there was a significant improvement made to shift times. See how long it takes to switch between drive and reverse. Originally that took several seconds and it's the same update that fixes both that and improves the shifts in general.

I've had several DCTs and I would rate them:

#1: BMW E90 M3 - lightning fast
#2: AUDI 8Y RS3 - reasonable
=#3: BMW M135 - just acceptable
=#3: EMIRA i4 - just acceptable

I too dream of a day where the CPC and TCU can be after market tuned.

Yeah, I'm not really sure what (if anything) has been updated and I have an appointment with the dealer to get whatever's out there now. It's not just the downshifts though, even the upshifts are despicable, it'll often hit the rev limiter before the shift due to the lag. I'm getting better at anticipating it, but it's pretty bad for a DCT.

Agreed the E90 is great. I wasn't expecting perfection, but I thought it'd be better than a 20 year old M5

 

[kitkat]

I've talked ad nauseam with them lotus powertrain engineers regarding the i4 DCT, there's nothing they can do in regards to DCT for shift speed and conservatism -- AMG simply won't let them. The latest updates to the Sport 420 won't improve it either, all they do is actually smooth out the shift harshness in some scenarios. Their frustration with AMG is palpable.

 

[fl510]

AMG simply won't let them

Why not?

 

[kitkat]

Why not?

I guess that’s just their terms of the agreement, if you asked me to guess I’d say it has to do with reliability and reputation.

 

[Tpup]

I wonder if AMG eats the warranty and don't want to stress the drivetrain...

 

[Jinba ittai]

I've talked ad nauseam with them lotus powertrain engineers regarding the i4 DCT, there's nothing they can do in regards to DCT for shift speed and conservatism -- AMG simply won't let them. The latest updates to the Sport 420 won't improve it either, all they do is actually smooth out the shift harshness in some scenarios. Their frustration with AMG is palpable.

Cool. How do you have access to these guys?

 

[TurboTambo]

Never had an Auto car before this one, so have nothing to compare it to, so for me, the speed of the changes seems ok, but given that those with much more experience complain about the speed, its obviously slower than other auto boxes out there
As to the elusive s/w update. No one knows, or at least those that do are saying nothing. There was an announcement about 6-8 weeks ago, saying it was being released, then that was retracted and no official news since
All requests for info, made to Dealers and Lotus HQ have resulted in zero info coming back. The best anyone seems to have managed to ascertain is that a s/w update in in the works, but no date whatsoever on when it will be released, or if it will be free.

I'm the same. I don't have any issues with the shifting speed. It seems way fast enough for me. Still destroys anyone changing manually.

 

[David s]

The Simply sports cars lotus group here down under have the CDG box sorted in there 500bhp bathurst model.. It changes with an aggressive whack each gear change and it`s lightning fast( I should know. I had it for a day while my Emira was getting serviced and fitted for a set of Motons.. The Emira ecu is not as simple as discussed on this forum. Unlocking the ecu might be easy. But talking the the other 40 computers is a bit more tricky than some on this forum suggest. If one of the 40 computers have a glitch, the car shuts down or wont start. Sounds familiar?