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From: dcn@ihuxl.UUCP (Dave Newkirk)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: More about CVT
Message-ID: <881@ihuxl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-Feb-84 09:24:41 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxl.881
Posted: Thu Feb  2 09:24:41 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Feb-84 15:07:37 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 21


	The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is currently being
	tested in Europe by Ford and Fiat, and GM is readying manufacturing
	facilities.  The CVT is limited in torque-transmitting capability,
	so they are being applied to small economy cars that did not offer
	automatic transmissions.  Tests with Fiat's CVT-equipped Uno showed
	equal gas mileage to the 5-speed version, and similar performance:

		Test		 CVT	5-speed
		---------	-----	-------
		Top speed	 100	  103
		0-62 mph	 12.7	  11.5
		0-1 km		 35.0	  33.8
		25 mph+		 33.0	  36.5  (mid-range acceleration test)

	The CVT concept is so old that it's in the public domain (earlier
	patents were in 1897 and 1933).  It's the steel belt developed by
	Van Doorne that is required for a CVT that will last more than a
	100 miles.  GM wants to buy the belts, but Ford and Fiat might
	purchase the license to manufacture it from Van Doorne.

					Dave Newkirk, ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn