2025 model year: CVT, transmission, or one gear direct drive?

[twiggy144]

I am confused about how the front wheels are driven by the ICE. First I tought there was a CVT, but I am getting information it is a direct drive, using one reduction gear only.

What would be the reduction ratio of this single gear ? Also, if there some kind of a clutch to disengage the ICE from the front wheels?

Thanks for your input! Love this forum!

 

[AndyInOz]

I like to post this explanation of the GKN e-Drive when people ask questions like this:


https://www.gknautomotive.com/en/sy...ic/multi-mode-dedicated-hybrid-transmission2/

There is a hydraulic clutch inside the e-Drive, which operates only when the engine is driving the front wheels.

Unfortunately, I don't have any info on the gear ratio.

The car also has two 'transfer cases' which split the power from the motors between the wheels as required. (i.e. front motor left/right, rear motor left/right).

I suspect that transfer cases were used because it suited the East/West alignment of the electric motors, and also because they take up less space than a differential, but that's beyond my skill set...

 

[twiggy144]

A picture is worth a thousand words. An animated picture is worth even much more. Thanks!

Looking at the animation, and guessing the respective different diameters of the gears, I am roughly guessing the gear reduction ratio is in the range of 4:1 to 2:1 ; in other words, a low gear. The gear reduction ratio is probably in the same range as the gear reduction ratio of the first or second gear of the 3 speed automatic transmission installed in cars from the 60's and 70's. For the record, my first car was a 1975 Ford Pinto with a 3-speed automatic transmission.

 

[AndyInOz]

I'm not so sure of the above.

The engine doesn't directly drive the front wheels at speeds below 80 kph (IIRC) so it is more likely to be a 'high gear' i.e. equivalent to forth or fifth.

I'm also pretty sure it's not an 'overdrive' because of the way the engine revs while at those speeds.

When I've driven cars with 'overdrive', the engine revs drop down to about 1500 rpm while maintaining speed on the flat, whereas the PHEV engine hovers around 3000 (according to my ear anyway).

Sorry I don't have more technical info for you, it must be documented somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it.

 

[PHEV07]

Read thru this plz.

https://saintleonardmitsubishi.com/en/mitsubishi-cvt-transmission

I will post more info when I get a chance.

 

[PHEV07]

Here is another video explaining the EV, Series and Parallel modes in 2018 model

 

[BobK]

Read thru this plz.

https://saintleonardmitsubishi.com/en/mitsubishi-cvt-transmission

I will post more info when I get a chance.

I think the first part is referring to the gas Outlander with CVT rather than the single gear GKN unit on the PHEV.

 

[DaveL59]

I guess the question tho is are the new platform models since the merger with Renault etc based on the same EV and drivetrain as the original Mitsu version?

I don't know and since the UK has no access to those I guess we've no easy way to verify.