As General Motors works toward meeting the same federally-mandated future fuel economy regulations faced by all automakers, continuously-variable transmissions (CVTs) could infiltrate more of its products.
Currently, GM offers a single passenger vehicle equipped with a CVT: the Chevrolet Spark. The transmission is supplied by Nissan subsidiary Jatco Ltd.
At a conference in Traverse City, Michigan, GM Vice President of Global Propulsion Systems Dan Nicholson said the automaker is “optimistic about CVTs in the U.S. market for front-wheel-drive applications up to a certain weight level… [CVTs] don’t make sense in everything, but you will see more of that from GM in the future”, quoted Automotive News.
As for where GM’s future CVTs might come from, Mr. Nicholson didn’t rule out any possibilities: “We are happy with the product we are buying today,” he said. “It is enjoying good success in the marketplace. We usually look at make-vs.-buy and volumes.” Nonetheless, a new CVT could be developed in-house, or conceivably in-partnership with Ford like the new Ford-GM 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions.
Comments
NOOOOO!
CVT is the WORST.
They have gotten better in recent years to be more conventional automatic like. Nissan still makes the best ones.
The day that happens is the day I switch from GM to a manufacturer that does not use CVT’s.
Actually driving a CVT is very similar to driving a Buick Twin Turbine Dynaflow, a transmission I quite like.
Not in my garage…
Drove cross country with a Nissan CVT. Performed way better than the Suzuki Vitara I used to take. Especially in Cruise Control.
Three people disagree with a subjective driver’s experience? Sounds more like one pinhead to me.
Should not affect enthusiast as they will only be in smaller light cars that are economy based.
They have gotten better but they are still a staple of a small econo car not a performance car.
How to ruin a GM car in 10 days. Or, how to make sure automotive enthusiasts don’t buy *that* car for their kids.
You’d be surprised how some have came along ways.. The new Honda Civic has a CVT and 6-speed manual for the coupe (and maybe for the sedan later), but it’s pretty nice in the Civic.. The 1.5T with the CVT is not a bad car at all..
That’s the point though. They have gotten a whole lot better than when they first came out.
They will likely not ever be in a high performance or really large vehicle but for small cars geared towards economy over sport they are perfectly fine.
That’s the point I was making as the article was stating.. just liking it does not mean I would prefer it over a manual.. But I was just mentioning the Civic was a fun car for it’s class.
Works great in my lawn tractor. :p
I would think your lawn tractor like mine would be a hydrostatic not a CVT
The CVT remains for the most part an “econo-box” transmission, except for Nissan models. I agree with other posters here that Nissan has done the best of any automaker with CVTs, but even Nissan’s units aren’t perfect. For economy cars, meaning subcompacts and perhaps compacts, a CVT should be adequate. For any model above that, however, it should be expected that GM’s own imminent nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions will be far superior. It’s those transmissions I’m looking forward to.
People what do you not understand about CVT’s, when done right = maximizing fuel economy and power in demand. CVT’s put you in higher RPM’s and leave you in the power band width. Like someone who can’t drive a manual transmission so goes the moron who bashes good CVT transmissions… Get over yourselves…
I’m also a GM car driver, mine with 6T70 transmission.
Having said that, Nissan Maxima with CVT exists for a long time, and is a relative success on the market, so, obviously, CVT is not only for econoboxes.
I can be pretty easy going when it comes to trannies: No one but me likes the duel clutch Dodge Dart.
With that said, no CVT!
I wouldn’t care if they put something like that in a transportation appliance like a Spark. Wouldn’t own one anyway. Real cars-and trucks need gears!
this is what you get when you put a democrat in the WH and his EPA dictates the 54. 5 MPG. the auto companies are bleeding money trying to meet this as the customers want no parts of them. they are having to develop and try and sell cars nobody wants
my Polaris snowmobiles and ATVs have this type of transmissions and they work there but I would not like it in my corvette .
Motor home owners will hate the idea! No more dingy towing with GM cars.
There is so much ignorance about CVTs here that I’m just gonna leave this here:
Also just as a FYI, how many are aware that CVTs were banned from F1.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a27823/a-dual-clutch-gearbox-is-an-automatic-and-it-isnt-even-the-best-one/
They are actually the ULTIMATE evolution of the automatic transmission. Superior to even the modern multi-clutch transmissions.
https://youtu.be/cb6rIZfCuHI
Can you tell me what type transmission is in my 2017 Buick Regal Sport Touring? A CVT or DCT? It is a 6 speed, but nothing in my owners manual states what type.
Car companies are forcing us to accept cheaper and more inferior technology… like front-wheel drive… CVT transmissions… and the Stop/Start engine system. I was seriously thinking about ordering a new car for 2021, but I’ll stick with my 1999 Mercury Mystique if these companies keep jerking me around. The Mystique has been called “the mistake”, but after recent auto technologies, I think the Mercury Mystique deserves an apology.
The automatic transmission is a lot more durable than the CVT transmission. It’s like comparing a chain with a rubberband.
My Spark has a cvt that is really nice to drive.As long as it does not fail I will be happy.