Can anyone tell me what the “S” is for on the shifter for a 2004 Audi A4?”
The Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), also known as the double-clutch gearbox, is a transmission developed by Audi and Volkswagen. What makes it special is that it can change gears faster than any other geared transmission. The DSG can be shifted either manually or automatically. It delivers more power and better control than a traditional automatic transmission and faster performance than a manual transmission. The DSG is a development of the sequential manual transmission (SMT), which is essentially a fully-automated manual transmission with a computer-controlled clutch. Before we delve into the workings of the DSG, let’s start with an explanation of the SMT. Driving with the DSG The DSG uses a traditional P-R-N-D-S shift pattern. It can shift automatically in either normal (D) or Sport (S) modes. In Normal mode, the DSG shifts to the higher gears early in order to minimize engine noise and maximize fuel economy. In Sport mode the transmission holds the lower gears longer in order to keep
