This paper focuses on lab-scale testing of automotive dry-clutch materials and simulations of clutch engagement control in automated manual transmissions (AMTs). Simulations aim at virtualizing the vehicle launch manoeuvre as well as the role of transmission control unit (TCU) featuring different levels of training related to clutch material frictional response. The simulation results underline the essential requirement of friction coefficient accurate prediction in AMTs, particularly clutch temperature estimation in order to develop effective and reliable control algorithms.