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Nissan developing new CVT with auxiliary gearbox tech

Nissan Motor Co. and its affiliate transmission supplier JATCO Ltd. today announced the joint development of a new generation of CVT.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin

Nissan CVT
Nissan and JATCO are developing a new generation of CVTs. Nissan

Nissan's continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) have historically impressed us with their smoothness and efficiency. Nissan's latest announcement, in conjunction with its transmission supplier JATCO Ltd., could mean that its next generation of transmissions could be even more efficient.

Conventional CVTs work by pairing two variable conical pulleys with a belt to allow for infinitely variable gear ratios within the paired pulleys' ranges. However, due to friction constraints of the belt driven design, most CVTs have been limited to a maximum transmission ratio of 6:1.

Nissan's newest CVT combines the conventional belt-driven operation with an auxiliary gearbox for the top gear for an increased transmission ratio.

The new auxiliary gearbox raises the available transmission ratio from current 6:1 to 7.3:1, more than 20 percent higher than other CVTs. The upshot of this higher gear ratio is enhanced responsiveness on starting and acceleration. According to Nissan, "The 7.3:1 ratio is higher than the average conventional 7-speed automatic transmissions used on high-displacement engine-equipped vehicles, making it among the world's highest ratios for production vehicle use."

A positive side effect of the new transmission setup is a shortening of the overall length by 10 percent and a 13 percent weight reduction compared to conventional CVTs in its class. Smaller and lighter is always better when it comes to performance.

The new CVT is scheduled to appear in compact Nissan vehicles worldwide in the near future.