[redsox]

After reading (what seems like millions) of articles about the new CVT tranny, can someone explain to me how exactly it is going to work from a drivers standpoint. From the gallery pictures, there looks like your usual P/D/R, but also a '+' and '-'. From the newest article on Edwards they explain that there's an 'S' gear that they preferred. They also explain how Nissan has dropped the 7-speed auto-manual. So i'm guessing that the shifter no longer acts like the smart-stick, or any other automatic/manual combo. HELP!

 

[Muranimal]

The manual-override shift was to have been an option or standard feature on the SE model, but it was reported to have had some technical problems so it was dropped so as to not slow up production.

The pictures that show the +/- must be pictures of a pre-production model. But oddly, even the brochure Nissan just mailed to me last week still has the +/- closeup photo of the center console. Guess they didn't have time to reprint them.

Also read the FreshAlloy review. I'm more concerned about the sewing machine cacophony" being the predominant engine/tranny noise. My wife has an embroidery business, and the last thing I want to hear is a sewing machine in my car.

 

[Maxima4]

Check out these sites on CVT Technology:
http://www.nissan-global.com/PDF/tcvt_e.pdf Nissan EXTROID CVT (Technical Note)
http://www.swri.edu/3pubs/brochure/d03/cvt/cvt.htm Continuously Variable Transmission Technology
http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~ywlu/cvt.html CVT in automotive applications
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/bicycles-faq/part4/section-28.html The CVT does not exist
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/techcenter/articles/45104/article.html CVT Enters the Mainstream
http://www.acarplace.com/reviews/2002/saturn-vue.html Saturn Vue car reviews
http://www.roehm.com/en/oiladditives?content=/en/oiladditives/products_application/products_by_applications/transmission Automatic/Continuously Variable Transmission Fluid Viscocity Index Improvers - Series 12

http://koyo.ds-navi.co.jp/enu/tech/ej/img/no160e/160e_06.pdf
http://www.pirieworld.ca/~insight/prius-powertrain.html Understanding the Prius's Planetary Gear
http://www.kccarhunter.com/stories/A4.html Audi's CVT is one of the nicest examples of a continuously variable transmission
http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/cars/toyota_hvm4.asp The THS-C hybrid system combines a 2.4-liter gasoline engine with two electric motors and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
http://www.ford-trucks.com/news/newsh2.html The first Ford vehicles in the U.S. to have the new CVTs will be the all-new Ford Freestyle “crossover” vehicle and Ford Five Hundred sedan, both of which will be built at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant beginning in 2004. In Europe, this new CVT design will debut in the 2003 calendar year in a Ford product.
http://www.4wdonline.com/Audi/A4/A4.html Audi hopes to sell about 1,200 of the new A4s by December 2001.

The option of a multitronic gearbox (continuously variable automatic transmission, CVT) is a first locally.
http://www.ccities.doe.gov/vbg/progs/search_type.cgi?8 2003 Honda
Civic Hybrid
http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/Japan/NEWS/19991001_0e.html Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., has developed the EXTROID CVT
http://www.saturn.com/awd4/ Saturn's VTi
http://media.gm.com/division/powertrain/technology/VTi_additional.pdf Saturn's VTi
http://www.carlist.com/autoglossary/cvt.html
http://www.swri.edu/atts/whpapers/vartrans.htm Continuously Variable Transmissions State of the Industry
http://www.saturn.com/mysaturn/ownermagazine/vti.jhtml benefits of the continuously variable transmission Saturn Vti
http://www.motorsports-network.com/honda/201atv/rubcon01/tranny.html HONDAMATIC CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION
http://www.bmwworld.com/models/mini/transmission.htm BMW Mini Cooper Continuously variable transmission with Steptronic
http://www.pirieworld.ca/~insight/encvt.html Honda Insight and Toyota Prius both offer CVT transmissions
http://world.honda.com/news/2002/4020912.html Honda Adds a 1.5L Model FWD equipped with automatic, continuously variable transmission, driven in 10-15 mode
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/at_010508.htm
http://www.channel1.com/users/graham/MyToyotaPrius/Understanding/ContinuouslyVariableTransmission.htm
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/aug2000/rick/2001trx500fa/index2.html Unlike traditional belt drives, the Hondamatic is quiet, maintenance-free, rugged, impervious to external contaminants and features true engine braking.
http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/details/audi02a6/expreviews.html?review=edmunds The Audi A6 gets a new 220 horsepower 3.0-liter V6 w/ A continuously variable transmission (CVT)
http://www.wheelspress.com/wpautonews/rr20011101.html 2002 Saturn Vue