7/17/06 Google Alert

Civic needs the Honda Fit’s paddle shifters:


http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20060715T190000-0500_109213_OBS_HONDA_S__TH_GENERATION_CIVIC_IS_AL L_GROWN_UP_.asp

 

The fit needs the honda civic's 140hp engine.

 

that new Civic hatchback released in the UK is nice... I'd think I'd rather have that

 

^ Agreed, I'd buy the Civic hatchback (4-door) in a heartbeat. The Fit is as close as I can get, so I'm buying one!

 

yea that the fit need the K series hahaha

 

But why USDM Fit has only conventional 5 A/T, while in Asia we have CVT 7 virtual speed A/T ?

 

Because Honda is afraid that CVT won't sell as people won't feel that surge like they would in a 5-speed MT/AT, and would think that the car is slow. The concern is that the perceived performance is higher with the 5-speed MT/AT than the CVT.

I personally would love to buy the CVT version if it's available here, oh well, too bad.

 

some expensive performance sports cars are now selling with CVT. hell, every honda civic hybrid is CVT now, as are all toyota priuses.

 

Right, and those cars gives a general perception of lack of power and slow acceleration. Actually, I think both the Prius and Civic Hybrid takes > 10 secs to accelerate to 60 MPH. But that's not due to the CVT, but more to the small engines carrying a heavy body.

It's also important to know that Prius's CVT is not a true CVT, it uses planetary gears, but in a configuration that creates variable gear ratios between engine and wheel speeds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hybrid_System).

Ford's new conventional cars (five-hundred and freestyle) uses CVT along with 3 liter engines, so that might change some perceptions, if it sells well.

 

not a fan of CVT. That is the one thing that will keep me out of a Prius or Civic hybrid. They both need a five speed option.

 

The CVT is the 'auto' option on the current Nissan Versa (higher SL trim).
I have every reason to believe the next generation Fit will be using CVT

 

Yes, cdnrsx is a prime example of why CVT was not brought to the U.S.

Though in theory, CVT can be much more efficient than both conventional geared transmissions (AT and MT). It's able to fix the engine's rpm across variable speeds. That means, for maximum acceleration, you can fix the engine revolution at the spot where it generates its peak torque as your speed increases. Plus it doesn't use a torque converter, so it's much more efficient at transfering energy to the wheels than your conventional AT.

The catch is, you'll experience a slight delay until full acceleration kicks in as the engine revs up to the ideal rpm. And as your speed increases, your engine hums at a constant tone, creating an auditory illusion that you're not accelerating at all. The car also won't jerk (well, after the initial one), as there's no gears to switch into, so it feels a bit too smooth to be accelerating hard for those that are used to the conventional transmissions.

Those that own a CVT Fit, rest assured that you guys are getting better technology than we are.

Here's a good place to see how CVT works:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm

This page shows the performance of CVT vs MT:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/framed...rformances.htm

 

yep CVT means no more stupid-ass gear hunting. every AT in the world has problems with gear hunting, CVT is 100% immune. that alone is worth it.

and a CVT can still accelerate like stink. it only annoys those punk riceboy racers who can't get their head around the fact that revs != acceleration.

 

Ok ya, CVT is way better than your conventional automatic. It is just some feel more connected to the driving experience with a manual. There is still a place and a market for the CVT, I just hope they don’t stop making manuals

 

OTOH I hope conventional AT dies a horrible death

 

A Civic with i-SHIFT in the UK has paddle shifters. I wish they were in the USA.

http://www.honda.co.uk/front.html?se...altransmission

 

Awwww, for Pete's Sake. The glovebox is refrigerated on some trims of the 5-door European Civic. I wants it.