Latest news with #DCT
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe drops troublesome transmission
An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012. MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012. MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012. MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from: An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012. MORE: Everything Hyundai Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
a day ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe drops troublesome transmission
An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe drops troublesome transmission
An upgraded 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe has been revealed in the US with a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in place of the large seven-seat SUV's problematic dual-clutch auto. The US market's petrol-powered Santa Fe previously employed an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) made by the Korean automaker's affiliate, Hyundai Transys, which has been the subject of multiple recalls in North America. The most recent US recall impacted more than 12,000 vehicles with an estimated defect rate of 100 per cent. Affected Santa Fe vehicles could unexpectedly shift themselves from Park to Neutral and roll away. This followed a previous October 2022 recall and stop-sale in the US, impacting 61,861 vehicles including the 2021-2022 Santa Fe. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert For the 2026 model year, Hyundai Motor America has replaced the DCT in 2.5-litre petrol Santa Fe with an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. There's no change for the Santa Fe Hybrid also offered in US showrooms, which continues to use a six-speed torque-converter automatic. The news doesn't impact the Santa Fe sold in Australia, which is manufactured in South Korea. The US-market version is produced in the US state of Alabama. The Santa Fe has had only one transmission-related recall in Australia, where owners were warned of a potential loss of power while driving. Supplied Credit: CarExpert An Australian recall issued in January 2023 impacted 4469 Hyundai vehicles fitted with the eight-speed DCT, including the previous-generation Santa Fe as well as the Kona small SUV, Sonata N Line sedan, and the hot i30 N hatch and sedan. Hyundai Australia confirmed to CarExpert it has no plans to replace the eight-speed DCT that has been in the current-generation Santa Fe since it was released here in 2024. Transmissions for Hyundai and Kia, which is also part of the broader Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), are made in the US as well as South Korea, China, and the Czech Republic. The Kia Sorento sold in the US also uses the same eight-speed DCT, which is codenamed D8LF1, and was included in the latest US recall due to the same issues. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Despite this, the US arm of the automaker told Car and Driver it won't follow Hyundai in switching to a conventional automatic for the Sorento. Dual-clutch transmissions are designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve responsiveness by pre-selecting the next ratio and producing faster, smoother gear shifts when operating correctly. Several manufacturers have faced challenges after faulty DCTs in their vehicles resulted in jerkiness and even total transmission failure. The most prominent were from the Volkswagen Group, including its Audi brand, and Ford Australia – which is facing an ongoing class-action law suit following a record $10 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in 2018 for its mishandling of the customer complaints about its 'Powershift' DCTs. Hyundai first offered a dual-clutch transmission in its Veloster sports hatch in Australia in 2012. MORE: Everything Hyundai
Auto Blog
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Hyundai Kills Problematic Dual-Clutch Autos For Two Models
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Modern torque-converter automatics are replacing once-lauded DCTs Hyundai just announced updates for its entire range, as most models begin the switch to the 2026 model year. While many of these changes involved a shuffling of trims and new features, one particular update jumped out at us. The Korean marque will be replacing the dual-clutch automatic transmission in variants of the Santa Fe and Santa Cruz equipped with it. In the DCT's place will be a conventional torque converter automatic. This seems to be yet another case of DCTs losing favor, due to reliability concerns and a few undesirable drivability characteristics. Let's take a closer look. 0:08 / 0:09 2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line review: Is this the EV that will convert you? Watch More A Needlessly Complex Transmission For Everyday Family Cars For turbocharged models (all non-hybrid Santa Fe and Santa Cruz derivatives), Hyundai has until now been using an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic. Naturally-aspirated Santa Cruz pickups stuck with a conventional eight-speed auto. However, DCTs are more complicated than regular autos, featuring two separate clutches and associated components. This makes them more costly to produce and maintain, and less suitable for use in cheaper everyday cars. There are also reliability concerns, as Ford found out with its older PowerShift transmissions. Hyundai has already had to recall Santa Fe models for DCT-related issues, despite the model still being relatively new. In these crossovers, the Transmission Control Unit software logic could mistakenly engage the clutches. These could damage the transmission, cause a rollaway, or result in a noise from the DCT. Source: Hyundai A separate recall involving Santa Cruz and Santa Fe models with the DCT was filed, too. This one related to rough shifts, a lack of power, and hesitation, which could result in the transmission needing to be replaced. Evidently, Hyundai decided that these transmissions are more trouble than they're worth, which is why a normal eight-speeder is being used instead. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. 'For 2026, Santa Fe moves to a torque converter transmission. It became available in our development cycle, and we determined it provided ideal overall drivability for the Santa Fe driver moving forward,' the spokesperson said to Car and Driver, seemingly not wanting to mention any of the DCT's obvious defects. In our own review of the Santa Fe, we found that the DCT was jerky when switching from first to second gear. DCTs May Have Had Their Heyday Since its use in the Volkswagen Golf R32 in the 2000s, the dual-clutch auto found its way into many performance cars. The transmission has often been praised for its ultra-fast shifts, which create a more engaging driving experience. They also improved fuel efficiency, especially at a time when torque-converter transmissions were not as refined or efficient as they are now. This has changed, however. Since the Golf R32 launched, torque-converter automatics have improved dramatically. Eight-speed transmissions are now commonplace, as are designs with up to 10 speeds. But beyond the number of gears, these transmissions now shift a lot quicker than before, to the point where the main advantage of a DCT has been eroded. Conventional automatics are also smoother, especially at low speeds or in stop-and-go traffic, when DCTs can be jerky. Source: Ferrari BMW, a brand that relied on DCTs for several M cars, has replaced them with its eight-speed torque converter, even in focused products like the M3. Reliable brands like Mazda and Toyota haven't considered DCTs, even in performance models. Of course, many supercar manufacturers still use DCTs successfully, such as Ferrari with the SF90 Stradale. While Ford persisted with its troublesome PowerShift for far too long, it's good to see Hyundai has made this change early in the life cycles of the current Santa Fe and Santa Cruz. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Science, AI key to digital hub drive
Thailand should invest more in science education and research, while broadening its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to gain an advantage in its quest to become a digital hub in Southeast Asia, according to tech experts and the World Bank. Pathom Indarodom, director of the Digital Council of Thailand (DCT), said Thailand's 2024 IMD competitiveness ranking of 37th out of 67 countries indicates it lags regional peers China, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam in crucial areas such as knowledge, technology infrastructure, and future readiness. While Thailand boasts strengths in high-tech exports with the 11th ranking, and 8th for telecommunication investment/internet speed, the challenge lies in leveraging these for creating innovation and scaling businesses, Mr Pathom said at a recent World Bank forum on its Thailand Economic Monitor. He said that in terms of education, Thailand's annual computer science and engineering graduates are 20,000 fewer than the industry demands. In addition, the country regularly reports low student scores on the Program for International Student Assessment (Pisa) tests. No government has tried to fix the problem at its root, even though the country needs more teachers to inspire high school students to learn more in the fields of science and mathematics, said Mr Pathom. The DCT says that moving towards an AI transformation requires significant investment in education and research, coupled with building strong public-private-academic sector partnerships to deliver real outcomes. TOP USERS "Thailand has made great strides in digital adoptions over the last couple of years. When technology comes, we're always one of the heaviest users," said Aditip Panupong, head of commercial and strategic alliances at Google Thailand. Thailand, for example, is always one of the top 10 YouTube markets in the world, with this strong consumer adoption extending to other Google platforms like Google Maps, and even high growth in the Gemini chatbot. "We are now in the middle of the AI revolution, which is the fourth tech revolution apart from internet, mobile and cloud. Every technological evolution creates new growth engines for a tech-driven economy," said Mr Aditip. "In the past 6-8 months, from a business standpoint, we have seen momentum -- out of the clients we work with, 20% of them have adopted AI in one shape or form, and another 75% have expressed interest in or plan to use AI." Banks have deployed AI for fraud detection, while retail and hospitality sectors use AI for customer segmentation and for hyper-personalised marketing campaigns. In healthcare, Google works with Rajavithi Hospital on using AI to detect retinal diabetes, addressing the shortage of doctors in remote area. "We need more STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] students, and need to make sure that students will start to use AI for research and increase productivity, as well as increasing computational skills," said Mr Aditip. He highlighted the importance of collaboration for AI's collective benefit, noting Google's work with academia, researchers, government, and public institutions to tackle challenges that a single stakeholder cannot solve. ASEAN DIGITAL HUB Ji Eun Choi, senior digital development specialist at the World Bank, said Thailand has the potential to be a regional digital hub. She said the country's world-class digital public infrastructure, including digital ID and digital payment systems, are its key assets that are much more advanced than those in many peer economies. Growing foreign direct investment in data centres signals investor confidence in Thailand's capacity to serve not only domestic needs but also regional demand, said Ms Choi. The Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement is being developed to create a digital economy framework, aimed at establishing the region as a single digital market. This regional integration, by allowing easier cross-border data flows, would create a significantly larger market for digital businesses to thrive. In addition, she said Thailand stands between two poles -- open and closed data -- meaning strong data protection and allowing the use of data across different agencies. The Personal Data Protection Act covers data protection, but data is allowed to flow across borders and is shared by different agencies. Ms Choi said Thailand should offer incentives to the private sector to share data and use data in more productive ways. She cited interesting models in South Korea that drive AI inclusion, in particular for small businesses. One of them is a state AI voucher programme to incentivise AI adoption among small firms, which boosts AI industry development and increases the number of AI solution providers. Mr Aditip added that a critical challenge for Thailand is the limited, undocumented, and undigitised nature of Thai data, which hinders the development of large language models and other AI capabilities crucial for regional leadership.
