Subaru considers more CVTs for its vehicles

Within two years, all the vehicles on Subaru’s lineup might already carry continuously variable transmissions, or CVTs, to boost fuel efficiency. Earlier this year, the technology was inaugurated and fitted in the redesigned 2010 Legacy.

Masashi Uemura, a spokesman for Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru brand cars, said however, that the company is considering the plan but at the moment, there is no actual plan about which models. There are speculations that next in line would be the Forrester and the Impreza. Since 1987, Subaru has used belt-type CVTs in its minicars for the Japan market. Installing it on the latest version of the Legacy, launched last spring, was momentous since it was Subaru’s first big car to get a CVT. On September 3, Subaru extended the technology to a redesigned version of its Exiga MPV. The Exiga is sold only in Japan now but soon will go on sale in Australia.
Read Article

rxh8me9000 - 9/9/2009 6:11:09 PM

+2 Boost

I hate CVT's. Having the steptronic helps a little,but I dont want to click my wrist to feel the car shift.

Airliner - 9/10/2009 1:22:53 PM

+2 Boost

I agree... CVTs suck!! I have driven both gutless and powerful cars with CVT trannies and hated each time. But in the name of efficiency, forget the driver and the driving experience; lets give the masses, Lameness!!

Shredmo - 9/11/2009 10:46:59 AM

+1 Boost

Subaru needs to get this transmission stuff straight. They lost me as a repeat customer due to the lack of a manual in the Forester XT. I love having a turbo and a manual in a utility vehicle. There is nothing on the market that competes. While going mainstream will help with Subaru's short term success, I seriously doubt the "main stream" buyers will become loyal customers.
-2005 FXT 5m/t owner; 2009 non-Subaru owner.