Seven speed dual clutch transmission having improved packaging

A transmission comprising:

• a transmission housing;
• a dual clutch assembly having a clutch housing connectable to a flywheel of an engine, wherein the clutch housing is rotationally supported within the transmission housing by a first ball bearing assembly;
• a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth gear sets each having a plurality of co-planar gears;
• a first transmission input member having a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the first end portion is rotatably supported in the transmission housing by a second ball bearing assembly, the second end portion is rotatably supported in the transmission housing by a first needle bearing assembly, the first needle bearing assembly is disposed adjacent a second end wall of the transmission housing proximate to the dual clutch assembly, one of the plurality of co-planar gears of each of the third, fourth and fifth gear set are rotatably fixed for common rotation with the first transmission input member, and the second ball bearing assembly is adjacent a first end wall of the transmission housing;
• a second transmission input member having a first end portion and a second end portion, and wherein the first end portion is rotatably supported in the transmission housing by a second needle bearing assembly, the second end portion is rotatably supported in the transmission housing by a third ball bearing assembly, the second needle bearing assembly is disposed between the second ball bearing assembly and the third ball bearing assembly, the third ball bearing assembly is axially aligned and concentric with the first needle bearing assembly, one of the plurality of co-planar gears of each of the first and second gear sets are rotatably fixed for common rotation with the second transmission input member, and the second transmission input member is concentric with the first transmission input member and at least partially surrounds the first transmission input member;
• a first countershaft rotatably supported within the transmission housing by a first and second set of thrust bearings and spaced apart from and parallel with the first and second transmission input members, and wherein another of the co-planar gears of the first gear set, second gear set, the third gear set, and the fourth gear set are each selectively connectable for common rotation with the first countershaft;
• a second countershaft rotatably supported within the transmission housing by a third and fourth set of thrust bearings and spaced apart from and parallel with the first and second transmission input members, and wherein yet another of the co-planar gears of the first gear set, the second gear set, and the fifth gear set are each selectively connectable for common rotation with the second countershaft;
• four synchronizer assemblies for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of co-planar gears of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth gear sets with at least one of the first countershaft and the second countershaft, and
• wherein the selective engagement of dual clutch assembly interconnects the dual clutch housing with at least one of the first and the second transmission input members and the selective engagement of at least one of the four synchronizer assemblies establishes at least one of seven forward speed ratios.