Audi has been using CVT's in ~200hp cars for a few years, and as far as I know, relibility has been ok. Unless Ford is using the same ones Audi uses, they are probably a new unit and I, for one, wouldn't want to buy one for a couple years. On a related note, does anyone know the source of the 6-speed used in the FWD 500? It is from Japan, so I would guess the supplier might be Mazda, but that's just a guess.
Or any other UGI (universal generic import).
For the record, also Subaru's Justy in (IIRC), late 80's/early 90's.
Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my adddress with the letter 'x')
Yep the Subaru CVT did not hold up and GM just closed the design shop on their CVT. Will be interesting if FOrd can make it work.
Apparently Audi's works, but I think the biggest engine they use it with is the 1.8 turbo of about 170hp.
"KokomoKid" wrote
used in the FWD 500? It is from Japan, so I would guess the supplier
It's someone called Aisin. see
"Art" wrote
They claim their design is fundamentally different, better material in the belt or something like that. Anyway we'll see.
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