CVT 2 cents
How does a CVT function?? this is hard to explain... 2 pulleys and a chain. No gears and cogs with special CVT oil... after than it gets pretty hard to explain.. :D
I drive a City and i must say that at first i felt pretty weird. Theres no gear shift and becoz the ratios are not pre-defined and its like having many-many-many ratios, theres no real feel of 'G' to it. BUT you do see the speedo climb and its no snail i can tell you that. i'm not claiming is super fast, but fast enough.
Its also super-super smooth and theres no kick down. This was also weird at first... when you accelerate real hard, the rpm is at 5000 rpm for example and its stays there like i big slip clutch while the speed builds up.. but in a CVT, this is normal. But those who can't get use to it, will say the car no pick up.... :D
This is where the advantage comes in... you can ALWAYS be in the powerband, so transfer of power is super efficient -----> sufficient/good power AND great economy.... also making climbing up a hill super fun... big cars will be suprised on how you can still stay with them at a hill climb : you just floor it and maintain your rpm a 6000 all the way... ;)
and so far, no prob what so ever with it....