The New Front Wheel Drive CVT AUTOTRONIC from Mercedes Benz

Authors

Dipl.-Ing. J. Kiesel, Dr.-Ing. J. Greiner, Dr.-Ing. A. Veil, Dipl.-Ing. J. Strenkert, DaimlerChrysler AG, Stuttgart

Year

2005

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 595

Summary

The new CVT transmission AUTOTRONIC was developed by Mercedes-Benz specifically for the powertrain of the A-Class successor. Particularly in terms of comfort and fuel consumption, Mercedes-Benz has thereby set new standards in the compact car class. Other development emphases included "higher output, higher torque, more driving pleasure and very compact dimensions". Compared to the preceding series, the outputs of the gasoline and diesel models have increased by up to 38 percent, and the maximum torque by up to 46 percent. The new, innovative AUTOTRONIC is a belt-driven continuously variable transmission (CVT), which uses a pulley variator and steel thrust belt for variable ratio selection. The outstanding ratio spread, the greater all-round efficiency of the engine-transmission unit and the drive strategy newly developed by Mercedes-Benz have produced significant improvements with respect to ride and noise comfort, responsiveness and acceleration, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

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