Todays cars using CVT (Variomatic)

[trabitom99]

There was an interesting Bosch poster, hanging in the Daf museum:

Not a very good pic I'm afraid, but if you look at the full-size version you should be able to pick out a few models. Some surprises there - the new Mini? Merc A and B class? The Chinese & Japanese seem to love 'em too:



Tom

[volvosneverdie]

what the frick is a Haima?

[nomead]

Then there are plenty of cars not using the Bosch-owned VDT (ex-DAF) push-belt variomatic. Audi still has their Multitronic (in A4, A5 and A6, at least) which is actually a pull-chain transmission. Also Nissan has their Extroid toroidal transmission, which apparently can handle lots of power. Probably others as well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_au ... nsmissions

[whiskeyonesix]

Extroid toroidal

I did that in once. Couldn't shag right for weeks, I tell you........

Haima make and sell reskinned Madzas in China, they sell oodles of the things.

http://www.chinacartimes.com/category/haima-autos/

[shimon340]

I thought VDT was bought by ZF?? The Volvo CVT plant in Belgium was bought by ZF. Volvo developed the 440 metal belt CVT on their own but the Belgian factory later made the Ford CVT (Escort and Fiesta) for Ford (maybe just parts?). Zf then bought that factory. Recent Ford-ZF CVT for the Focus. Volvo looked at using this transmission too in the P1 second gen S40/V50/C30 and a series of test cars were built. In the end, Volvo decided against using it.

Public acceptance of CVT still isnt great and Ford hasnt had good sales of the Zf-Ford unit. In the end, ZF sold their interest in the project to Ford completely and ZF isnt currently interested in CVT gearboxes. The biggest problem with CVTs is getting people to accept the non conventional way the car drives ie revs pretty much fixed and often revs decreasing as the car gets faster. If only the fuel consumption benefits were so great as to almost 'force' acceptance if people were want the better fuel consumption.

No CVT diesels as yet although I have a friend who designed a CVT diesel 340......

[trabitom99]

The biggest problem with CVTs is getting people to accept the non conventional way the car drives ie revs pretty much fixed and often revs decreasing as the car gets faster.

I found it very strange at first, then fun in a way, and now I'm entirely used to it. The wife still complains though - "it feels so ... wrong!".

I have to say though, I do miss the kickdown of a conventional automatic. Even though it's probably no faster it's nice to have that instant "shove" forwards. There is a kind of a kick-down in the 343's CVT, where the revs rise a bit if you push the accelerator past a certain point, but it seems to make no difference to the acceleration ...

Some modern CVT systems have simulated "shift points" programmed into them to try and alleviate that "slipping clutch" feeling, which seems a bit pointless.

Tom

[sven360]

I found it very strange at first, then fun in a way, and now I'm entirely used to it. The wife still complains though - "it feels so ... wrong!".


Tom

That could be taken in so many ways so to speak

Dear Deidre,..............

[volvosneverdie]

^^^ ha ha ha.
Funnier than Viz.

[SteveP]

There is a kind of a kick-down in the 343's CVT, where the revs rise a bit if you push the accelerator past a certain point, but it seems to make no difference to the acceleration ..

That might have something to do with it being a B14 more than anything

[trabitom99]

That could be taken in so many ways so to speak
Dear Deidre,..............

I guess I was asking for that

That might have something to do with it being a B14 more than anything

Around town it's surprisingly nippy - "always in the right rev range" and all that. But coming from conventional automatics - it does take a bit of getting used to, until it feels .... just so right (see above)

Tom

[SteveP]

I do remember Pete giving me a drive of his vario and then went out for a spin with him driving it. When entering side roads and powering out of corners it seemed very efficient, far quicker than a conventional automatic or with a manual and changing down a gear etc. Shame they didn't beef it up a bit and mate it to the 1.7