ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: ebewley on July 26, 2004, 05:02:50 AM
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GM axes CVT gearbox
By Richard Truett
Automotive News / July 26, 2004
General Motors is dropping its continuously variable transmission.
The one-speed CVT gearbox, built in an Adam Opel AG plant in Szentgotthard, Hungary, and touted as a fuel-saving transmission, debuted in late 2002 in the Saturn Ion Coupe and Saturn Vue and was optional in the 2004 Opel Astra.
The CVT will only be available in all-wheel drive versions of the 2005 Saturn Vue, but will end production when it is dropped from that vehicle in 2006, says Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain.
A six-speed automatic transmission under development will replace the CVT at the start of the 2006 model year. That transmission is a scaled down version of the joint GM-Ford transmission both automakers are working on.
For the 2005 model year, GM will use a four-speed automatic transmission in the Saturn Ion, Stephens said.
GM's experiment with CVTs has been costly.
The gearbox was more than a year late and it has had quality problems. GM halted production from January to March to fix an assembly glitch. Consumers complained of failed transmissions, grinding noises and sluggish acceleration. The automaker extended the warranty on the CVT earlier this year. The CVT is a $1,990 option on the Vue and was a $900 option on the Ion.
Neither the late launch nor the quality issues killed the CVT. Instead, Stephens says GM's decision to drop the CVT is based on the better performance and fuel economy of the upcoming six-speed automatic, as well as the economies of scale that will come from producing the six-speed in high volume.
"We believe the future of GM's transmission portfolio is planetary gear 5- and 6-speed automatic transmissions, not CVTs," said Stephens.
GM would save money by switching from the CVT to the six-speed automatic.
Says Stephens: "The six-speed has more capability and range. It isn't giving up anything to CVT."
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As an aside the transfer box in the Jimny uses planetary gears. CVT has never taken off over here, probably as its regarded as too expensive
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A GM-Ford Transmission? Bet is either blows-up or rusts away. ;D
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A GM-Ford Transmission? Bet is either blows-up or rusts away. ;D
Or both at the same time :o
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I think both GM and Ford have come up a long way when it comes to quality, so much so, that I think they are giving the imports a run for their money.
I think this new transmission will be nice. :)
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One thing that makes me laugh about GM's American Revolution is that a lot of the 20 or so cars ARE imports (GTO, that little hatchback econobox, etc. etc.) :P ;D
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One thing that makes me laugh about GM's American Revolution is that a lot of the 20 or so cars ARE imports (GTO, that little hatchback econobox, etc. etc.) :P ;D
Yeah no kidding, they're all made in Korea...LOL
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You remember the pontiac Lemans.....
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Personally I'd love to put a Jerico 5spd in the old Sunrunner...but man those things are pricey :o...nice to be able to pick your own ratios though.
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The New GTO is imported from Australia
not from Korea :)
Wild
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The New GTO is imported from Australia
not from Korea :)
Wild
There's a couple more cars from Holden that are supposed to be released here... RWD V8 cars... (http://www.ascaps.com/forums/images/smiles/drool.gif)