XTRONIC CVT

Technology Overview
C O N T I N U O U S LY V A R I A B L E T R A N S M I S S I O N

CVT delivers enhanced fuel
economy and seamless
acceleration with a “direct”
drive feel for enhanced
AT driving pleasure.
The CVT (Continuously Variable
Transmission) provides smooth and
“stepless” ratio changes, unlike
conventional transmission systems
that use sets of fixed gears. With
its seamless acceleration and fuel
economy benefits, the CVT has long
been an object of Nissan’s R&D
efforts, resulting in CVTs designed for
a wide range of engines, from the
1.5-liter class to the 3.5-liter class.
CVT Advantages
Exceptional transmission efficiency for
enhanced fuel economy
The CVT’s outstanding environmental
performance and economy make this
innovative technology ideal for today’s and
tomorrow’s vehicles.
Smooth ratio transitions for enhanced
driving pleasure
Driving pleasure is enhanced by the linear
feeling of acceleration in response to
accelerator pedal inputs.
contents
Seamless acceleration  4
Improved response and efficiency
Improved dynamic performance and
powerful acceleration feel
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Nissan offers CVTs
in an extensive range
of models
Quick to appreciate the CVT’s benefits of fuel
economy and seamless acceleration, Nissan of-
fered CVTs as early as 1992 in the March and
Cube, followed by the 1.8-liter Primera and other
models. Through technological innovation in CVT
components, including the torque converter, oil
pump, belt and control system, Nissan, in 2002,
overcame the technological challenges to adapt-
ing the CVT to high-torque engines. The result-
ing XTRONIC CVT-M6 was the world’s first CVT
practicable for engine displacements as large as
3.5 liters. Today, Nissan’s CVT technology offers
smooth and fuel-efficient “fun-to-drive” perform-
ance in an extensive range of Nissan models, from
the compact class all the way up to high-powered
luxury vehicles.
Seeking to bring the CVT’s outstanding perform-
ance to even more customers, Nissan plans to ex-
pand sales of CVT-fitted models to around 1 million
units worldwide in fiscal year 2007, up from about
250,000 in fiscal year 2004.
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CVT for 3.5-liter class engine
CVT for 2.0-liter class engine
CVT for 1.5-liter class engine
XTRONIC CVT
Technology Overview
Nissan’s 3rd generation
“XTRONIC CVT” further boosts
acceleration and fuel economy
Better fuel economy for everyday driving
Nissan’s basic approach to powertrains is to achieve an equally high
measure of both environmental compatibility (fuel economy) and
driving pleasure (acceleration performance). For the XTRONIC CVT,
our efforts to improve fuel economy were not confined to catalog
specifications, but encompassed the practical fuel efficiency people
seek in everyday driving situations. For example, the majority of
Nissan customers drive mostly in urban and suburban areas and
about 60% run the air conditioner year-round. In developing the
XTRONIC CVT, we enhanced real-world fuel economy based upon
simulations of typical driving conditions.
Throttle opening
Congested traffic
Suburban traffic
Vehicle speed
Response optimized for real-world conditions
Powerful and satisfying acceleration feel
CVT performance is characterized by stepless shifting and seamless
acceleration. To refine these advantages, we significantly improved
gear shifting response in the XTRONIC CVT to provide tighter track-
ing of accelerator pedal inputs, as well as quick and powerful accel-
eration. In line with our emphasis on everyday driving conditions, we
concentrated less on full throttle performance, and more on quickly
responsive acceleration and smooth passing ability in urban traffic.
Conventional CVT
XTRONIC CVT
Acceleration
Elapsed time
Accelerator pedal depressed
Enhanced acceleration feel
 XTRONIC CVT
Technology Overview

Seamless acceleration Improved response and efficiency

Stepless shifting of gear ratios eliminates “shift shock” for a smooth driving experience. Wider ratio spread and more precise control for outstanding acceleration and fuel economy.

CVT Structure 1. Wider gear ratio range

The CVT is an automatic transmission that uses
two pulleys with a steel belt running between them.
To continuously vary its gear ratios, the CVT simul-
taneously adjusts the diameter of the “drive pul-
ley” that transmits torque from the engine and the
“driven pulley” that transfers torque to the wheels.
Because it is continuously variable, the CVT not
only avoids the shift-shock and peaks and dips
in torque transmission associated with a conven-
tional AT, but also maintains optimum torque for
any given power demand. This makes the CVT
an exceptional transmission solution that delivers
smooth and powerful driving performance together
with excellent fuel economy.
In the XTRONIC CVT, the gear ratio range* from
Low gear low to high gear is expanded, attaining a top-of- Low gear
Narrowing (diameter increases)
class final gear reduction ratio of about 6, thanks
Smaller drive pulley radius
to pulley and steel belt improvements and the use raises acceleration performance
of high performance ATF (Automatic Transmis-
Belt
From Engine sion Fluid). This ratio spread is among the world’s
widest for a CVT designed for use with 1.5-liter
to 2.0-liter class engines. We extended the low
end of the range to improve acceleration, and the
To Driveshaft
high end to improve fuel economy. In addition, the
Widening Driven Pulley
(diameter Nissan CVT is easily and flexibly tunable to match Driven Pulley
decreases) engine characteristics, thereby enabling optimiza-
tion of the balance between combustion efficiency
Drive Pulley
and acceleration. Drive Pulley
*Gear ratio range: The ratio spread from low to high gear. The low gear
ratio divided by the high gear ratio.
High gear High gear

Widening (diameter decreases) Smaller driven pulley radius

enhances fuel economy

Belt
From Engine

Gear ratio
Engine class
Low gear High gear
3.5L 2.371 0.439
To Driveshaft
Narrowing 2.0L 2.349 0.394
(diameter Driven Pulley Driven Pulley
1.5∼1.8L 2.561 0.427
increases)

Drive Pulley
Drive Pulley

Ring Low gear

Multi-layer high-tensile
strength steel Improving
acceleration
Ratio range

Engine rev
High gear

Improving
fuel economy
Element
400 highly rigid elements
Vehicle speed

CVT-belt construction Expanded gear ratio range

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 XTRONIC CVT
Technology Overview

Improved dynamic performance and powerful

acceleration feel
Responsive to the driver’s intention with a natural feeling of acceleration.

2. Wide lockup range Quicker CVT shift response

Lockup* of an automatic transmission’s torque
converter enables manual-transmission-like direct
transfer of engine power and improved fuel econ-
omy. Whereas a conventional AT locks up in the
mid-to-high speed range, the benefit of a torque
converter in a CVT is only during startup. Therefore,
the new XTRONIC CVT applies precise control of
ratio changes to extend the lockup operating area
even further into the low-speed range and thereby
boost fuel economy.
*Lockup: The condition in which torque from the engine is transferred
We improved the electronic control system and the
Torque converter Driven pulley hydraulic system components under its control. In XTRONIC CVT
Conventional CVT
addition, adoption of a new high-performance ATF
(Automatic Transmission Fluid) enhances response Engine speed
and stability. As a result, the CVT shifts ratios about
30% faster than the previous version. Further-
more, the new XTRONIC CVT controls shifting so
that, up to a point, engine rpm will rise along with
vehicle speed. As a result, Nissan’s CVT technol-
ogy provides a more pleasurable driving experience,
with nearly instantaneous response and a feeling of Elapsed time

directly to the pulley, without being affected by the torque converter. naturally powerful acceleration, as well as depend-
Accelerator pedal depressed
Belt able engine braking.
[%] 100
The XTRONIC CVT shifts quickly to the optimum gear, and
the engine speed rises rapidly.
Throttle opening

CVT shift control allows the engine speed to rise naturally with
Expanded lockup range with vehicle acceleration.
new XTRONIC CVT

Drive pulley
Acceleration
AT lockup range
0
Vehicle speed

New XTRONIC CVT expands lockup range Torque converter in a CVT

3. Comprehensive efficiency improvements Elapsed time

Accelerator pedal depressed

Downsized, more efficient oil pump

The vehicle accelerates as soon as the driver presses the
The oil pump, which is the source of hydraulic accelerator.
Powerful acceleration is obtained immediately at any driving
power for shifting and assuring torque transmis- speed.
sion, has been substantially downsized and made Sustained power delivery allows the vehicle speed to rise
smoothly.
more efficient. This helps maintain control capabil-
ity that closely follows accelerator pedal action, Drive chain
XTRONIC CVT offers rapid shifting
while boosting fuel economy. For Nissan’s 2-liter
class CVT, we adopted a compact chain drive,
which contributes to downsizing of the transmis-
sion system as a whole.

Reduced hydraulic pressure for

pulley control
We improved the precision of the control system Oil pump

used to shift the diameters of the two pulleys, so

that sufficient lateral pressure on the belt can be
maintained with lower hydraulic pressure. This Downsized high-efficiency oil pump with drive chain

achieves reliable torque transfer together with

high efficiency, thereby contributing to improved
fuel economy.

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