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Home > Auto > Under the Hood > Transmissions & Drivetrain
How CVTs Workby William Harris
Print Cite This!Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article:
Harris, William. "How CVTs Work" 27 April 2005. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm> 25 August 2011.CiteFeedback
Do you know how to change a tire?
Take the quiz »Inside this Article
1. Introduction to How CVTs Work 2. Transmission Basics 3. Pulley-based CVTs
4. Toroidal CVTs 5. Hydrostatic CVTs 6. A CVT Test Drive 7. See more »
7. Lots More Information 8. See all Transmissions & Drivetrain articles
Transmission Image Gallery
Photo courtesy Nissan Global
Nissan HR15DE engine with Xtronic CVT. See more transmission pictures.
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Some say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Leonardo da Vinci conceptualized more than 500 years ago and is now replacing planetary automatic transmissions in some automobiles, is one old dog that has definitely learned a few new tricks. Indeed, ever since the first toroidal CVT patent was filed in 1886, the technology has been refined and improved. Today, several car manufacturers, including General Motors, Audi, Honda and Nissan, are designing their drivetrains around CVTs.
In this article, we'll explore how a CVT works in a typical rear-wheel driven car, answering several questions on the way:
How does a CVT compare to a conventional, planetary automatic transmission?
What parts does it have and how do those parts work? What advantages do CVTs offer over conventional automatic transmissions? What about
disadvantages? What's the driving experience like in a car with a CVT? What kind of makes and models incorporate CVTs? Are there any other applications for CVTs other than automobiles?
First, we'll look at how a CVT compares to a traditional automatic transmission.
VIDEO: Check out in-depth videos on pistons and 10 ingenious car parts videos.>> Next Page
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Inside this Article
1. Introduction to How CVTs Work 2. Transmission Basics 3. Pulley-based CVTs 4. Toroidal CVTs
5. Hydrostatic CVTs 6. A CVT Test Drive 7. Lots More Information 8. See all Transmissions & Drivetrain articles
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