General Motors Developing CVT In-House For Global Lineup
Not content with using CVTs from other manufacturers, General Motors is working on a CVT in-house for use in its global lineup.
Per Ward’s Auto, details on the new transmission are scant at best, though the publication’s sources state the in-house unit will be installed in several “high-volume” models by 2019, paired up with the automaker’s new line of three- and four-cylinder engines set to see production this year. The sources added that GM is taking bids from suppliers to build parts for the CVT.
Though the automaker uses CVTs already, including the 2015 Spark and Nissan NV-based City Express, it hasn’t had much luck with using units designed and assembled in-house. In the early 2000s, GM ran a program that saw such a product installed in the Saturn Vue and Ion, as well as the Opel Vectra, before production and drivability issues brought the program to a halt in 2004.
As for why go for it again, GM Powertrain representative Tom Read says the automaker has the capability to make its own CVTs, and will deliver when conditions — specifically those concerning fuel efficiency and emissions — are met:
GM has unmatched transmission expertise and development resources and is capable of delivering additional CVTs if and when they’re needed.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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We are not just talking about cars, but also the lack of American assembly robots and machine tools in the industry. In 1980 the US was the world leader in machine tool production, now it is ranked sixth behind Italy. I remember the CEO of Ford (Peterson?) twenty years ago being concerned about the erosion of the U.S. machine tool industry. This was after ford ordered a giant press from Germany that was to stamp the entire body of the second generation Taurus. The situation has been getting steadily worse. This decline in American industrial might is also happening in other industries. For example, Seimens, a german firm, is basically designing and engineering California's entire high speed rail line..
Hyundai and Kia might surprise all of us and develop a better CVT transmission. The South Korean car companies have been on a roll and have come up with quality that matches Toyota and Honda. Ford is not quite has hot as they were and time will tell if the new aluminum F-150 is as hot on the market as anticipated. Ford has a lot riding on the new F-150.
I think we could argue that the Dynaflow was the world's first production CVT. Not efficient, but probably the smoothest ever.
I just don't understand the enthusiasm for CVT's that I see (only here by the way.) If it's an appreciation for the technology I can certainly relate to that, as I like to geek out on random bits of auto tech myself. But if it has more to do with the driving experience I'm lost. The best I can say about any CVT I've driven is "shrug, it works." I suspect the tendency to support one's own vehicle purchases may be at play.