Ford is reportedly warming to continuously variable transmissions, after rejecting early examples of the technology.
The company is one of the few major automakers that has not embraced CVTs to improve fuel economy in smaller vehicles. The Blue Oval did offer the technology in several models a decade ago, ranging from the C-Max to the Freestyle, however the drivetrain option has since been phased out of the non-hybrid lineup.
The company is one of the few major automakers that has not embraced CVTs to improve fuel economy in smaller vehicles. The Blue Oval did offer the technology in several models a decade ago, ranging from the C-Max to the Freestyle, however the drivetrain option has since been phased out of the non-hybrid lineup.
Ford’s development head, Raj Nair, suggests Ford’s experience with CVTs “wasn’t all good,” according to an Automotive News report.
“They are getting better. And we are taking another look, particularly in the low torque applications,” the executive added.
The Fiesta’s 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine is likely among the first candidates to fit the criteria, along with the company’s 1.6- and 2.0-liter small engines, though Nair did not mention which models are under consideration for a CVT.
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