Marshall, MI — Eaton has introduced the Procision, a new medium-duty dual-clutch transmission. An automated manual gearbox — meaning two pedals only — the company claims it can deliver 8 to 10 percent better fuel economy than a similarly equipped vehicle with a torque-converter automatic. Production is scheduled to start mid-year in 2015 for North America, some time later for global markets.

It’s the first dual-clutch transmission built for class-6 and -7 applications, though Mitsubishi Fuso has offered one — the 6-speed Duonic — since 2012 in its Canter trucks up to class 5. Volvo has also developed the I-Shift 2, a dual-clutch version of its automated I-Shift transmission, making it the first manufacturer to install such a gearbox in a heavy-duty truck. It was introduced earlier this year, though not yet for North American sale. Several high-end cars also sport dual-clutch gearboxes these days.

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