2020 Proton X70 will come with new 7-speed DCT

CX-5 2.2 Diesel

450

Perhaps the most important update to the 2020 X70 is its new 7-speed dual clutch transmission replacing the existing 6-speed auto. The new transmission is fully engineered in-house by Geely and is built at a dedicated world-class plant in Ningbo, China.

The Proton X70 will soon receive an early model update. Coinciding with the start of its local assembly, Proton’s popular mid-sized SUV will also be fitted with an all-new transmission paired to an updated version of its already-advanced turbocharged petrol direct injection engine.

The engine has been well-received in its home market, garnering multiple awards and currently powering more than 800,000 cars all across China.

CONFIDENCE

TRANSMITTING

Early details of the 2020 Proton X70’s upgraded engine and all-new 7-speed DCT.

Words Kon • Illustrations Kevin

PREVIOUSLY

The X70 was launched at the tail end of 2018 powered by Geely’s 1.8-litre TGDi engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Codenamed JLE-4G18TD, the four-cylinder powerplant is a second-generation evolution of Geely’s engine family with combustion system, refinement, and efficiency all enhanced over the original iteration.

IMPROVED 3rd GENERATION ENGINE

A further-improved third-generation version of the 1.8-litre TGDi engine will power the new 2020 Proton X70.

The upgraded engine raises the X70’s peak torque from 285 to 300Nm, and offers as much as 170Nm from just 1,000rpm.

300

280

170

Gen 3

Gen 2

Engine Speed/RPM

1000

1500

4000

Torque/Nm

2020 Proton X70

2019 Proton X70

Within the segment, only the Mazda CX-5 offers comparable amount of twist, and that too only from the diesel and 2.5 turbo variants.

Power

Tiguan 1.4 TSI

148

X70 1.8 TGDI

181

CX-5 2.2 Diesel

188

CR-V 1.5 TC

190

CX-5 2.5

192

CX-5 2.5T

228

Torque

CR-V 1.5 TC

243

Tiguan 1.4 TSI

250

CX-5 2.5

258

2019 X70

285

2020
X70

300

CX-5 2.5T

420

7-SPEED DCT

Indeed, Geely claims that despite its wet clutch configuration, its new 7-speed DCT closely matches conventional manual transmissions for efficiency. The company’s internal data states that power loss of the transmission is less than even Volkswagen’s DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG.

According to Geely, the transmission’s primary engineering goals focused on efficiency and reliability, the latter criteria ultimately resulting in the use of a wet clutch design.

A key difference of the Geely DCT with most other gearboxes is that it does not rely on the transmission’s main hydraulic system to control gear changes. Instead, shifting is actuated electrically, with an oil pump that operates on-demand.

Geely engineers acknowledge that this approach sacrifices some of the lightning quick shifts that DCTs are renowned for, but they argue that the significant efficiency gains make it a worthwhile trade-off.

Designed for transverse installation, the Geely 7DCT330 transmission is compatible for both front- and all-wheel drive configurations. It is rated for a maximum torque of 330Nm. A hybrid version of the transmission with built-in motor also exists.

The 7-speed DCT and its hybrid-integrated sibling is featured in more than 10 different models across the Geely Group:

Geely Borui GE

Geely Boyue Pro

Geely Xingyue

Geely Binyue

Geely Jiaji

Geely Dihao GS

Geely Dihao GL

GEELY

Lynk & Co 01

Lynk & Co 02

Lynk & Co 03

LYNK & CO

Volvo XC40 PHEV

VOLVO

MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT

Geely claims that its new 7-speed DCT is designed for an operating lifespan of over 350,000km. The engineering team has tested the transmission to this lifespan without changing fluids, although periodic fluid changes are still being prescribed for consumers.

The 7-speed DCT uses a specially developed low-viscosity fluid.

Cost of fluid change is said to be lower than outgoing 6-speed auto.

>350,000km

Depending on usage patterns, Geely recommends oil change intervals at 80,000 – 100,00km intervals.

80,000 - 100,000km

For Malaysia, Proton will recommend 60,000km oil change intervals to assuage consumer concerns of DCT reliability.

60,000km

CAN TAHAN AH?

Both the 1.8 TGDI engine and the new 7-speed DCT is said to have undergone stringent validation processes before their release to the market.

ENGINE

• 76 engines underwent 36,000 hours of test verification = 4 years of usage.

• Over 2 million km of road testing.

• Extreme condition testing varied from -45°C in the cold to +45°C in the hot, covering 65 specific items tested.

Localized testing for Malaysia

• 22 vehicles.

• 500,000km road testing.

• 27 specific items tested.

TRANSMISSION

According to Geely, the 7-speed DCT’s durability is tested to meet the global requirements of Volvo Cars.

Test fleets were deployed across Europe to China covering city, mountain, and highway conditions.

Extreme testing went to even further corners of the world, with the transmission subject to 17 different tests.

DURABILITY - EXTREME CONDITION TEST

Bad experiences with the DCTs of other manufacturers have created strong distrust amongst Malaysians toward the technology, so Geely’s new 7DCT330 transmission will have much to prove when it enters the market.

The inherent sophistication of the dual clutch transmission means that there inevitably is a greater number of things that can go wrong in there compared to a normal gearbox.

At this stage, we can’t vouch for Geely’s new DCT just yet, but there are encouraging signs within the details that these guys have at least done their homework to give the market the best that they have to offer.