Consumer Reports rates the 300 and 300C

Audi has been using CVT's in ~200hp cars for a few years, and as far as I
know, relibility has been ok. Unless Ford is using the same ones Audi uses,
they are probably a new unit and I, for one, wouldn't want to buy one for a
couple years. On a related note, does anyone know the source of the 6-speed
used in the FWD 500? It is from Japan, so I would guess the supplier might
be Mazda, but that's just a guess.

 

Or any other UGI (universal generic import).

 

For the record, also Subaru's Justy in (IIRC), late 80's/early 90's.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Yep the Subaru CVT did not hold up and GM just closed the design shop on
their CVT. Will be interesting if FOrd can make it work.

 

Apparently Audi's works, but I think the biggest engine they use it with is
the 1.8 turbo of about 170hp.

 

<...does anyone know the source of the 6-speed

It's someone called Aisin. see
http://www.autonews.com/files/sae/saec.htm

The best source of info on the Ford 500 I've found is
http://www.myford500.com

 

They claim their design is fundamentally different, better material in the
belt or something like that. Anyway we'll see.

 

That is a good thing. Aisin makes transmissions for some Lexi, and in
general have a very good reputation.