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This paper is a report of the findings and insights derived from a continuously variable transmission (CVT) Cyber Bulletin Board Group study. When a new technology is introduced to the car market, a small number of early adaptors brace the technology. Several stakeholders are interested in getting the feedback from these customers. However, it is very difficult to recruit sufficient customers to complete a meaningful market research at any one location. Along with scattered and small customer base, high cost of the traditional market research is a major roadblock. Cyber research method is very useful and low-cost technique to obtain customer feedback effectively and efficiently. Nearly all CVT owners are satisfied with CVT however it will not be a driving force for a repeat purchase. Few consumers were concerned about purchasing a vehicle with a new technology but brand ownership & reputation convinced them to make the purchase.

Three experiments examined the contribution of sound to the perception of performance using audio recordings made on a test track with a vehicle equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) performing four different maneuvers with four transmission settings. Subjects rated the recordings based on their perceptions of power & performance, pleasantness, smoothness, and loudness. On the track, the low calibration setting (including a flat ratio schedule) had been rated higher for power & performance than the high calibration setting (including a rising ratio schedule). In Experiment 1, where subjects were unaware of the maneuver performed, there was no advantage for the low calibration setting; in Experiment 2, where subjects were aware of the maneuver, the power & performance ratings were opposite to those obtained on the test track. In Experiment 3, drivers of performance cars rated the recordings as more pleasant and smoother than did drivers of other vehicles.

The flat ratio schedule that maximizes the performance advantages of a CVT may also be a source of consumer resistance. A previous investigation of consumer perception did obtain maximum engine power and pickup ratings using the flat-ratio schedule, but some data were missing due to traffic conditions on public roads. This paper is a report of an experiment conducted at the Dearborn Proving Ground to confirm the flat-ratio-schedule advantage for engine power and pickup ratings, and to investigate further the effects of varying Dead Pedal. Driver ratings of engine power and pickup replicated the earlier findings, and an overall advantage of low Dead Pedal was found for ratings of engine power and pickup and for transmission smoothness.

This paper is a report of the findings and insights derived from a continuously variable transmission (CVT) research study. The research objective was to identify relationships between key CVT parameters and the customer perception of CVT performance. Four factors were studied: Ratio Schedule, Shift Speed, Dead Pedal, and Torque Converter Lock. Researchers evaluated the influence of these factors and their interactions on customer perception. Although one calibration is not significantly better than others, customers preferred three out of sixteen calibrations. DOE analysis shows flat ratio schedule to be statistically significant for Power and Pick-up. Several 2-way interactions are also statistically significant. Although a trade-off study must be completed to identify the best setting for a given vehicle, two calibration methods may be employed for higher customer satisfaction: