CVT powetrains.

[npaladin-2000]

I've never been in or driven a CVT. I wonder how weird it is. Big japanese cars aren't much popular here, people who buy them are looking for a cheap SUV, hence they always get manuals, or they want a subaru WRX, and so they'll get it manual as well since it's a sporty car, or they just want a cheap small car, manual again. So there aren't many on the road I guess. Before the advent of automated transmission (mainly DCT), automatics were extremely rare as well. They managed to get people to like the modern DCTs, but I don't think the CVT has much of a chance.

Actually, outside of Volkswagen, DCTs haven't had a lot of success. Hyundai, Ford, and Dodge have mostly just gotten complaints about theirs, because they market them as "automatics" but they're not as smooth (and slushy) as a real automatic. Chrysler/Fiat is now focusing on their 9-speed automatic (overkill), GM/Ford are collaborating on their standard 6-speed automatic, and Mazda rejiggered a traditional 6 speed auto to just be in lockup mode above 10 MPH. Not sure what Hyundai's got in the works. Honda and Toyota are going CVT.

Most people seem to like "slush" so to be honest, CVTs and automatics are probably going to win out. Kinda sucks but that's the way the industry is going.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've never been in or driven a CVT. I wonder how weird it is. Big japanese cars aren't much popular here, people who buy them are looking for a cheap SUV, hence they always get manuals, or they want a subaru WRX, and so they'll get it manual as well since it's a sporty car, or they just want a cheap small car, manual again. So there aren't many on the road I guess. Before the advent of automated transmission (mainly DCT), automatics were extremely rare as well. They managed to get people to like the modern DCTs, but I don't think the CVT has much of a chance.

When I was in Spain a few years ago it was the same thing. Nearly all the vehicles there are manual transmission, even the buses, and SUVs and pickup trucks are virtually non-existent.

Here in the US though automatics are, by far, the most common transmission type and CVTs are in many vehicles now and becoming more common all the time.

The difference between a CVT and an automatic is there is no gear changing, it is seemless. You press the gas pedal and the engine just gets louder and you move forward. You press it harder and the revs climb but there is no downshifting or change in feel other than the vehicle accelerating a little faster.

 

[phucheneh]

The difference between a CVT and an automatic is there is no gear changing, it is seemless. You press the gas pedal and the engine just gets louder and you move forward. You press it harder and the revs climb but there is no downshifting or change in feel other than the vehicle accelerating a little faster.

This is theoretically correct, buy my observation is that there have been subtle changes to the function of CVT's, in order to more closely mimic what auto drivers are used to. AFAIK the trend is toward using 'simulated' gears in cars with traditional gas engines, where the 'keep the engine at what we deem to be the most efficient RPM' strategy has been tweaked and modified a lot to be less off-putting. There are shifters with '1-2-3-D' or similar markings and everything.

They're still not hard ratios, though. It mostly just seems like they've refined how the trans responds to different accelerator pedal positions...which makes it feel more like a regular auto that can essentially be 'commanded' to upshift or downshift with your right foot. Low throttle input- keep engine at low RPM's. High throttle- keep near redline. Inbetween- you get the idea.

By comparison, the early CVT's in 4cyl cars liked to just hold the engine at like 4k rpm while you're cruising, which is awful. And acceleration from a stop felt like driving an auto with bad slippage.

And to correct some stuff about the fluid...yes, they DO need fluid...ignoring a heavy leak and not keeping the fluid full WILL cause the trans to eat itself (Nissan Murano, I'm looking at you)...and no, there is zero reason to think that they need the same fluid changes that a normal automatic does. There aren't piles of components with constantly wearing friction materials. There are some conical metal pulleys and a metal belt.

 

[Midwayman]

Actually, outside of Volkswagen, DCTs haven't had a lot of success. Hyundai, Ford, and Dodge have mostly just gotten complaints about theirs, because they market them as "automatics" but they're not as smooth (and slushy) as a real automatic. Chrysler/Fiat is now focusing on their 9-speed automatic (overkill), GM/Ford are collaborating on their standard 6-speed automatic, and Mazda rejiggered a traditional 6 speed auto to just be in lockup mode above 10 MPH. Not sure what Hyundai's got in the works. Honda and Toyota are going CVT.

Most people seem to like "slush" so to be honest, CVTs and automatics are probably going to win out. Kinda sucks but that's the way the industry is going.

I think we may start seeing more of them. Acura is putting one into the TLX for 2015. They're more expensive than the standard manuals and automatics. I think that automakers trying to get epa fleet fuel targets are starting to see advantages in them though. Acura is putting a TC in front of the DCT though to give that squish smooth startup people expect out of an automatic, but them it locks up after.

 

[Harabec]

Much less wear-resistant CVT's are in all scooters. The idea was that you could put a 5-20hp motor and keep it at its peak power rpm at all times.
Works very well. I'm only sorry that no one bothers to make car-like CVT's that last, instead the maintenance on these things is absurd and very pricey if you ride a lot...which kind of defeats the purpose of cheap scooters.