When will CVT\IVT make it to GM trucks?

[Threxx]

I'm a huge fan of the CVT concept for many obvious reasons...

 

The fuel savings, the performance gain on all ends of the spectrum, the (theoritical) durability, and the smoothness... not to mention I love tweaking, and having a CVT tranny is like being able to install a (however many you want)-speed transmission with whatever gear ratios and rear end ratio you want.  Or you can just let the computer do it for you- which even with current 1st gen CVTs in cars like the Audi A4 and Honda Civic, it's being proven the computer does a much better job of selection when it comes to both economy and performance... only reason to let the user turn the CVT into a customized manu-matic is if they're feeling a bit nostalgic of the 'old' style tranny and want to feel a car shift again.

 

I hear Ford has a whole fleet of Expeditions over in Europe undergoing heavy-duty durability testing right now.  I figure if they are making them work for Expeditions, GM is probably working on bringing it over to at least the 1500 series trucks and SUVs within the next few years.

 

With D-O-D and CVT, who knows... maybe we'll be having Z71 Extended Cab 6.0L V8 Silverados getting 30-35 MPG?

[Tucson_02Silverado]

A couple of months ago GM and Ford announce a joint tranny project both dollars and engineers.  The end product would be built by GM and sourced to both GM and Ford with variants specific to each companys products, the GM tranny will not interchange with the Ford tranny.  The reason, by pooling R&D dollars they cut development time by more than half.  The technology is supposed to be a licensed by GM one that is far better than the current CVT.   The name of the technology escapes me for the moment

 

 

 

NEVERMIND....it's for a 6 speed Auto FWD

[Threxx]

NEVERMIND....it's for a 6 speed Auto FWD

Yes, I read about that joint venture for a FWD 6-speed auto.

 

It seemed kind of like a waste of time for Ford and GM considering that CVT is just a few years from becoming the established new kid on the block- nobody is going to care about a 6-speed auto... especially a FWD auto considering that it seems like most of the car companies are giving a lot consideration to moving most of their FWD lineup to RWD and AWD.

 

???

[CapnDean]

Could you imagine, having a CVT and a 2 speed rear axle on a RWD truck?  The ratio difference in the rear end could be say 2.72 and 4:10...Just imagine to possibilities?

 

Fellow would have UNLIMITED control of his final drive ratio.  Could make his unloaded pickup get the mileage of a Honda or drop it to low range for hauling a trailer etc.....

 

I'm with you on this one threxx!

 

How about coupling it with a hybrid system too?  

 

A 4 cylinder kubota diesel motor (35 HP), Swinging a 15KW generator - - a heavy DC motor for your drive coupled with a CVT & 2 speed axle.

 

Fellow could plug it in in the driveway to charge the batteries, then kick in the diesel for long highway trips or heavy loads.

 

Of course between the DC motor, the CVT and the rear axle a fellow could in theory have every ratio under the sun available!