JATCO Ltd (President & CEO Takashi Hata, Headquartered in Fuji City, Shizuoka, Japan) unveiled its new generation Jatco CVT 8 for 2.0 to 3.5-liter engine vehicles and Jatco CVT8 Hybrid for front-wheel drive vehicles, both based on newly developed environmental technologies.  Both developments represent important steps to improve the fuel economy and environmental performance of internal combustion powered vehicles.

Jatco CVT8 (Newly developed CVT for 2.0 to 3.5-liter engine vehicles)

Jatco CVT8 model achieves an improvement in fuel economy of up to 10%(*1) compared to previous CVTs for comparable vehicles.  The new transmission features a world-leading ratio coverage of 7.0(*2), and friction reduced by up to 40%.  Combined with Adaptive Shift Control (which adapts shifting patterns to match each driver’s style and the road), Jatco CVT8 delivers responsive and powerful acceleration.  What is more, it helps keep the engine from revving too fast at high speeds and minimizes noise.  Jatco CVT8 will be introduced in North America beginning in 2012, then globally thereafter.

- How the new CVT achieves a ratio coverage of 7.0

By combining smaller shaft diameter pulleys with a new and differently shaped belt, the range of ratios between the two pulleys has been expanded with only minimally increased axial distance.  The resulting ratio coverage of 7.0 sets a new benchmark for CVTs for 2.0-liter-plus vehicles around the world.

- How friction has been reduced by up to 40%

The adoption of a more compact oil pump was achieved by reducing oil leak, while reducing necessary oil pressure resulted from the interface increase between the pulleys and the belt.  This, plus the use of specially formulated low viscosity oil, has reduced friction.  Also approximately 60% of the component parts have been modified to reduce friction.

Jatco CVT8 HYBRID (New CVT for Hybrid front-wheel drive vehicles)

JATCO takes an innovative approach to the special challenges presented by hybrid vehicles.  The innovative Nissan hybrid system incorporates one electric motor and two clutches into the new Jatco CVT8 HYBRID.  The result is a compact, versatile powertrain that does not require a specially designed body.  Nissan plans to release a new hybrid vehicle with this system in North America in 2013, and later in global markets.

JATCO will produce Jatco CVT8 and Jatco CVT8 HYBRID in both Mexico and Japan from early 2012 onward.

Takashi Hata, President & CEO of JATCO said “The new Jatco CVT8 and Jatco CVT8 Hybrid transmissions for front-wheel drive vehicles are extremely important technologies that contribute to better fuel economy and reduced CO2 for gasoline engine vehicles.  This new CVT series also represents a significant milestone for the company, marking the start of production of new CVTs in Mexico – keeping JATCO on course to grow the company globally into a 1 trillion revenue company by fiscal year 2018.  By adding the new Jatco CVT8, the company’s CVT lineup will be streamlined into two series, Jatco CVT7 and Jatco CVT8, that cover the increasing global demand for CVTs.”

Since JATCO started manufacturing belt CVTs in 1997, the company has maintained its leading position in the industry through consistent efforts to cultivate and develop global markets, as well as through commercializing world-first technologies.  Currently, JATCO is the only manufacturer that has a full lineup of CVTs from mini to 3.5-liter class vehicles.  In 2010, JATCO recorded the largest share in global CVT production at 48 percent.

*1 In-house measurements using US (EPA) combined mode
*2 Specific to 2.0 to 2.5-liter engine vehicles

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