Dual-clutch transmission (DCT)
An automated gearbox with two clutches for near-instant shifts, common in performance cars.
A dual-clutch transmission is essentially two manual gearboxes in one case: one clutch handles the odd gears, the other the even gears, so the next gear is always pre-selected. Shifts happen in milliseconds with no interruption in power.
DCTs deliver the quickest acceleration and strong efficiency, which is why performance cars favor them. The trade-off is low-speed manners: some DCTs feel hesitant in parking-lot creeping compared to a conventional automatic.