kia seven dct 01

Kia has unveiled its all-new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in Geneva, which it says is a more fuel efficient replacement for its existing six-speed automatic transmission.

The seven-speeder, which will begin appearing on production Kia vehicles in 2015, joins the company's existing six-speed DCT - as seen on the likes of the cee'd and normally-aspirated Veloster - in the transmission line-up.

The automaker says that the new transmission has been engineered to balance greater fuel efficiency with improved performance and to deliver a sportier driving experience. Throughout the development process, engineers targeted a seven percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a five percent improvement in 0-100 km/h acceleration over the existing six-speed DCT.

Additionally, NVH has also been a key focal area in the seven-speeder's development - it features an external damper to ensure a higher level of refinement than present on the six-speed unit.