<SMALL>Rather than having a fixed set of gear combinations, or "ratios", the CVT transmission allows an almost limitless number of engine speed to vehicle speed ratios. This provides significant benefits over a traditional automatic transmission, including:</SMALL>
- <SMALL>The computer can intelligently choose to have the Insight's gasoline engine and electric motor rotating at the optimal speed, regardless of how fast the car is travelling. When cruising under low power demand conditions, the engine & motor will turn relatively slowly, while they will turn faster when accelerating or climbing a hill. This provides improved fuel efficiency as compared to a typical automatic transmission.</SMALL>
- <SMALL>Because of the smooth transition in gear ratios provided by the CVT transmission, the CVT Insight provides constant, stepless acceleration from a stop all the way up to cruising speed. This contrasts with the jerk of gear changes experienced with a typical automatic transmission.</SMALL>
- <SMALL>The CVT transmission provides less power loss than a typical automatic transmission, resulting in better efficiency and acceleration.</SMALL>
<SMALL>Honda claims that their CVT transmission is the world's first mass-produced, high-power, stepless transmission. While such transmissions existed previously, they claim the CVT is "far superior in quality, endurance, power output [and] cost". They have also specifically designed the CVT to respond in the way that drivers are accustomed to other automatic tranmissions responding.</SMALL>
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<SMALL>Source: Internet :)</SMALL>