CVT Trans for the Pathfinder?

[kerrton]

Is this a dirty statement?


I think it's possible, the current Murano 3.5 L engine with AWD makes close to the same numbers as the Pathfinder 4.0 engine. The Jatco CVT technology has come a long way over the past decade, it's main benefit being much improved fuel efficiency, and I think simplicity of design versus a conventional 6-speed for example, which is what most if not all manufacturers will be forced to produce to comply with new stricter efficiency standards.

What will Nissan do with it's larger vehicles, develop 6-speed conventional autos in additon to the CVT for all other models? Or will it phase the CVT in to models like the Path and Xterra and Frontier? This could reduce the towing capacity of the Path but the Murano is capable of 3500 lbs so maybe this is an acceptable trade-off?

If this change were technically possible, would it hurt the sales of the Pathfinder, or perhaps increase sales because of the increase in efficiency while still maintaing a decent tow/haul capacity?

Thoughts an opinions?

[Chuck Tribolet]

Another possibility is a power-shifted manual transmission.

I tow my boat a bunch (about 10K miles per year), and I really like a manual tranmission because they don't slip and get hot under load.

One of the car mags had an analysis of the trade-offs for better economy recently. Dunno which one (I don't get any anymore, it was
in the doctor's office.

[alexf20c]

since when was 3500lbs a "decent tow/haul capacity?"

[kerrton]

Well that's a matter of opinion, to me 3500 is plenty, and it has been since roughly the early 90's, before which people weren't so concerned with image, materialism and competing with their neighbors by buying bigger and bigger camper trailers. It used to be common for people to camp in tents, or small trailers (like the good old Boler), but somewhere along the lines things got out of control and now you can't drive the highway in the summer for more than a minute without seeing some gigantic 30 foot monstrosity lumbering down the road.

But don't get me wrong, I know where you're coming from, there are lots of fun toys to pull like boats etc., I just happen to have a real low tolerance for people who go into big debt to buy WAY more trailer than they need for no other reason than their buddy or their neighbor did it so they follow suit.

Anyway, my point being the CVT is constantly improving and could make it's way into the larger vehicles like the Pat at some point, and maybe even provide 5000 lbs of towing at some point, I don't know, a lot of it depends on gas prices and people's priorities, and some is already decided with existing fuel efficiency legislation that kicks in as early as 2015 requiring big improvements.....it's going to be interesting to see what happens.