What Is a CVT Transmission?

June 6th, 2024 by

You may have seen many new car advertisements that tout a CVT transmission. Standing for “continuously variable transmission”, this type of transmission has become common in cars over the past few decades because of the myriad benefits associated with it. Other names for a CVT that you may have heard are single-speed or shiftless transmission. Visit Mauer Main Chevrolet to learn more.

Traditional Transmission vs CVT

A traditional transmission uses many intricate parts to shift via preset gears, while most CVTs work through a pulley mechanism. Each pulley connects to cones through a chain belt, with the cones aiding in changing gear ratios. This allows for rapid shifting to increase power and performance.

There are no gears in a CVT; gear changes are simulated. Another less common CVT type operates similarly to the pulley version but uses discs and rollers. Meanwhile, traditional transmissions rely on a fixed number of gear ratios, with obvious shifts between each one.

CVT Design and Functionality

The CVT is designed to allow shifting to preset points with a traditional shift lever or paddle shifters on the steering wheel. A CVT maximizes the power of smaller engines, creating faster, more seamless acceleration for a more pleasant driving experience.

CVT Pros

There are many pros to owning a car equipped with a CVT. Typical transmissions have to work harder when driving uphill to find the right gear ratio. A CVT can find the correct gear ratio promptly, thereby eliminating hard shifting. The CVT accesses additional power for highway passing, eliminating sudden downshifting as well.

Explore CVT Transmission Vehicles in Anoka, MN

Although the CVT transmission has been around for a long time, it has gained notoriety more recently because of its reliability. Visit our Anoka, MN Chevrolet dealership to learn more about CVT transmissions and test-drive any of our vehicles that have this form of transmission today!

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