Torque Converter-type High Fuel Economy CVT for Small Passenger Vehicles

A newly developed 1.3L, 1.5 L class CVT with a torque converter was mounted in the second generation FIT, which is aimed at realizing both higher fuel economy and exhilarating acceleration performance. As the main technologies used in the new CVT, a torque converter was used for a start-off method, an oil pump driven with small radius rotors via a chain and a structure with the bearing was mounted on the drive pulley cover. Particularly, as a type of fuel economy enhancement technology, the distance between two pulleys was increased, thus reducing friction torque. Also, creep control was used to enhance idling fuel economy, and start-off lockup clutch control was used to enhance launch fuel economy. As a result of these technologies, the transmission efficiency was 1.7% higher than that of the previous FIT CVT, and torque amplification effect of the torque converter during launch enabled achievement of higher fuel economy and exhilarating acceleration performance.