I am referring to the Nissan Xtronic CVT (Constant Variable Transmission)

This is not new technology, Nissan has been using it for the last ten years but their abilities are available with the release in the US of the Murano with the "X CVT"

This tranny does not have gears as a conventional 4 spd w/OD might...it is a belt and a pair of pulleys which, using centrifugal force have an immeasurable amount of gearing comparisons to make but the acceleration and control of this tranny is really something to behold.

"PERSONAL TESTIMONY"

I had a chance to take a half hour tour/test drive today with a dealer freind of mine and the SE model I drove was amazingf to sya the least. Granted the throttle response does not wind up if you stomp on the pedal from a dead stop and the traction control (sweet, mind you) will compensate for a lot of the "implied" traction loss...but the engine brake on decline and the hill climbing setting (equivalent to overdrive being switched off) is something to behold.

The ability for the dealer to guess that the Maxima and other related V-6 models that may be released in the near future may well come equipped with this...funny thing is the Murano is a six cylinder 24 valved engine...and pushes 245-hp and 246-ft lbs of torgue atb 4400 rpm.

Personally as this relates to my current search for a 6 speed 03 TE, if the 200X Maxima with auto features the X CVT, I would nearly satiate my search and take the recent model of the time...it is recommended that anyone who prefers the convenience of an auto or knows how the shift shock can get to you on winding and varied elevation rides...this is to be considered something to look into...

I have to say Nissan did their homework as well on this one.

shift__why, there is one gear...

 

i read about this on freshalloy, seems very interesting......also i found out that the 1.8T motor is very underrated.......they say 170 at the crank......when it really gets 175 at the wheels

 

What's funny about that? The Murano uses the VQ35DE and is based on the same platform as the Altima and the next Maxima and Quest.
But yeah, it shouldn't be too hard to offer a CVT for those related vehicles. The problem with CVTs in the past was that they couldn't handle a lot of torque. No wonder Honda offered a Civic with a CVT!