GM may offer fuel-economy-boosting CVTs within 3 years

To give its cars an advantage from a sales point of view, General Motors Co. may present continuously variable transmissions to offer improved fuel economy. Mike Arcamone, CEO of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, said that GM currently doesn't use CVTs but that within three years, they could be used on models such as the Chevrolet Spark, Aveo and Cruze.

In addition, GM is studying the use of turbochargers on smaller engines. GM thinks that to win over drivers in the US to its latest batch of small cars, superior mileage is key.
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Steve - 12/1/2010 12:40:55 PM

+2 Boost

I tend to shy away from words like "may" and "could," as they imply indecisiveness, uncertainty, or speculative thinking: Hmmmm, maybe we'll produce CVTs in 3 years... we don't know 'cuz we haven't really thought this through... Can we do it in 3 years?... Will they be profitable?... Gee, I dunno.

I am much more inspired by decisive language, such as "Our products will include CVTs by the end of calendar year 2013."

tango - 12/1/2010 5:52:07 PM

+1 Boost

The problems is that the public really and truly hate CVTs. They feel and sound un-natural and have questionable reliability. Ford tried them and ditched them. Audi had a short run with them and dumepd them. The last time GM used CVTs (Ion, VUE, Cobalt, etc) they failed left right and centre and in the end they had to return to the good old Hydramatic 4 speed autos. Truth be told, those CVTs were Aisin units and not built by GM Powertrain. I don't trust ANY transmission built by those morons at Aisin. That said, if they do return to CVT I hope it will be an in-house design. Dual clutch is a better option, in my opinion, though.