The purists will tell you CVT gearboxes are slow to react, bad while overtaking and diminish the driving experience. But if you want to buy say a Nissan Micra and just drive slowly around town, to and from work, it's hard to argue with the benefits.
The automotive technology experts at Bosch have their finger on the pulse of the market and say an increase in demand in Continuously Variable Transmissions. They say demand has occurred.
Bosch points out that because CVTs have very few parts, they are compact in size and are thus fitted to much smaller cars. This also explains why CVT is especially popular in Japan.
Currently, every fifth automatic in the world is equipped with CVT, but the number is expected to grow to one in four in a few years.
“With its smooth and dynamic acceleration, continuously variable transmission makes driving easy and enjoyable,” says Stefan Seiberth, the president of the Bosch Gasoline Systems division. “CVT especially comes into its own in urban stop-and-go traffic. It can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 7 percent, since the engine is constantly kept at its most efficient operating point.”
Bosch points out that because CVTs have very few parts, they are compact in size and are thus fitted to much smaller cars. This also explains why CVT is especially popular in Japan.
Currently, every fifth automatic in the world is equipped with CVT, but the number is expected to grow to one in four in a few years.
“With its smooth and dynamic acceleration, continuously variable transmission makes driving easy and enjoyable,” says Stefan Seiberth, the president of the Bosch Gasoline Systems division. “CVT especially comes into its own in urban stop-and-go traffic. It can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 7 percent, since the engine is constantly kept at its most efficient operating point.”