I was reading a review article in my hometown paper about one of the new Audi cars with a continuously variable gear ratio transmission.
It seems its operation is like that of a go-cart transmission where the rpm stays constant but the transmission gear ratio changes.
They coupled it with the turbocharged engine so that it really matches the engines bets rpm.
That pretty much eliminates the need for variable phase cam timing, dual runner intakes, etc. The engine just has to be tuned to operate with a lot of power at one fixed RPM and stay there.
The article said that it kinda felt like the trans was slipping although it wasn't.
Anyone test drive this beast?
warmonger
