Gearbox technology has come on a long way in recent years, with so-called ‘double-clutch’ automatic transmissions bridging the gap between manuals and traditional ‘torque convertor’ automatics. These gearboxes are as smooth and convenient to use as older automatics but also shift faster and can be more fuel-efficient. While the technology is essentially the same manufacturers like to market their double-clutch transmissions under their own names, so you’ll often hear them described in different ways according to the brand. Volkswagen was one of the first to offer the technology in mainstream cars and calls its gearbox ‘DSG’, which is derived from the German description Direktshaltgetriebe and (handily) translates as ‘Direct Shift Gearbox’. Audi uses exactly the same technology but brands it ‘S tronic’ instead, while Porsche’s PDK is similar in design but specifically engineered for high-performance models.