CVT Transmission

ChrisSlicks

Yeah shifting a CVT through virtual gears is pointless and just slows you down. Although CVT's sound weird to us enthusiasts they allow you to harness maximum engine power. Think of the scenario of sitting on the starting line of a drag strip, you launch pretty traditionally and the revs quickly shoot up to near red-line ... and stay there for the entire trip down the strip. You just ran the 1/4 with your engine producing maximum HP for almost the entire length. With a traditional gearbox, be it manual or automatic, you are cycling between 70% and 100% and are only at that 100% peak for a split second before having to go back to 70% power.

As far as chain drive CVT goes, I believe it is already in use by the likes of Audi and Subaru and possibly others. It's the future of automatics.