A MOVING TARGET
The need to meet ever-more stringent fuel consumption and emission regulations has become an expensive and complex challenge for motor manufacturers. Reduction of friction in the drivetrain, lessening of aerodynamic drag, deletion of vehicle weight and elimination of rolling resistance are all important focus areas, but the continued evolution of a vehicle’s internal combustion engine remains the number one factor. A general move to engine downsizing has been countered by the widespread adoption of turbocharging, direct injection, variable-camshaft timing, sophisticated electronic engine-management systems and several other technologies, all intended to boost engine efficiency.
However, without an appropriate transmission – carefully matched to the characteristics of the engine and thus allowing it to operate at optimum speeds and engine loads – the improved efficiencies promised cannot be realised. As a result, the most popular transmission types – the torque converter automatic with 37%
