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From: alien@gcc-bill.ARPA (Alien Wells)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.auto
Subject: Re: Restrictions on Japanese Cars
Message-ID: <236@gcc-bill.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 27-Feb-85 11:42:08 EST
Article-I.D.: gcc-bill.236
Posted: Wed Feb 27 11:42:08 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Mar-85 07:07:01 EST
References: <3305@umcp-cs.UUCP> <163@umich.UUCP> <404@crystal.UUCP>
Reply-To: alien@gcc-bill.UUCP (Alien Wells)
Organization: General Computer Company, Cambridge Ma (Home of the HyperDrive)
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Xref: watmath net.consumers:1891 net.auto:5875

> ... Yugo car called the Zastava will be ...
> ... the first car sold in the U.S. with a Continuously Variable
>Transmission.  Does anyone know how this works?

The basic idea behind a continuously variable transmission is that you run the
engine at its most effecient speed (with perhaps two settings for economy and
power) while you vary the transmission gear ratio to vary your cars speed.

The most common way to do this is to have a belt running over two 'gears'.
Each 'gear' is a pair of cones pointing toward each other.  Push the cones
together and the belt rides higher, thus increasing the 'diameter' of the 
'gear'.  While you push the cones together in one 'gear', you pull them
apart in the other, thus you have an analog transmission.

Volvo has a model in Europe that does this.  Quite a few manufacturers (US,
European, and Japanese) are playing with them.  Once they are perfected, they
will offer better performance AND mileage than a manual transmission.  Right
now they seem to be maintenance headaches.

					Alien