A motor vehicle friction clutch with a pressure plate which is fastened with the interposition of a clutch disc with friction linings to a flywheel, and which has a common axis of rotation with the flywheel, comprising an application plate located non-rotationally--but so that it can move axially--in a clutch housing, and an application means to apply the application force, is designed so that the amount of work which must be performed by an application means for the engagement and release of the clutch becomes minimal. For this purpose, the clutch housing is provided with an axial guide for a transmission element located between the application means and the application plate, on which the transmission element, as long as there is a separation between the application plate and the friction linings of the clutch disc during an engagement and release movement, can track the movement of the application plate, while as soon as the application plate comes into contact with the friction linings of the clutch disc, the application plate can be clamped fast by means of a change in the angle initiated at its contact point with the application plate for the transmission of the application force, with the formation of a lever arm between this contact point and the engagement point of the application means on the axial guide.