Gearbox gripes: Should we hate the CVT as much as we do?

Bundle a bunch of random people into a cramped room, surreptitiously lock the door and quietly introduce the topic of automobile transmissions.

Chances are, the group will immediately fracture into two opposing camps: one overwhelmingly in favour of self-shifting gearboxes and the other doggedly defending their right to change cogs themselves. And possibly a few stragglers more interested in recording a Vine of the impending fist-fight.

But where does the continuously variable transmission fit in (CVT)? Well, while it may strictly be classified as an “automatic gearbox”, it’s also a little different – both in theory and practice. So, what exactly is a CVT and how does it differ from a regular torque converter or dual-clutch transmission?

Read more on Motorburn.