Belt-driven continuously variable transmission (DAF Variomatic)
Transmisión continuamente variable de correa (DAF Variomatic)
- Date
- 1958 · confidence high
- Place
- Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands
- Credited to
- Hub van Doorne (DAF)
- Field
- Movement
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
An automatic transmission with rubber V-belts on variable-diameter pulleys that changes ratio without steps. DAF launched it in the 1958 DAF 600 and it was the first mass-produced continuously variable transmission in cars.
The principle of continuous transmission is earlier (Leonardo sketched one; Benz patented a CVT in 1886); DAF was the first mass production.
What it led to
- CVT transmissions in small cars and scooters
- hybrid cars with optimised efficiency