The History Of The Volvo Variomatic Transmission
To see just how huge of an impact the Volvo Variomatic had on the auto industry, consider how many new cars offer a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It's a widespread invention today, but back in the 1970s auto industry, such an invention was unheard of. Volvo Cars led the way for this innovative transmission's usage in automobiles, introducing the Volvo Variomatic to the world in 1975.
So, how did the Variomatic transmission come to life? What happened next? Keep reading to learn about the Volvo Variomatic's history and why you won't see it in the lineup of new Volvo cars.
How Was the Volvo CVT Transmission Invented?
Volvo Cars, while legendary for automotive innovations like the three-point seatbelt and standard airbags, didn't invent the CVT transmission. The history of the Volvo Variomatic began not in Sweden but in the Netherlands. You may not have heard their name today, but DAF was a similarly-innovative smaller-scale car manufacturer that saw decent European popularity in the 1950s and '60s.
Volvo Cars began acquiring DAF's automotive division in 1972,1 inheriting the brand's innovations and refining them further.
Among them, DAF had tried bucking the trend of European cars holding tight to the manual transmission. Automatic gearboxes were on the rise but often an expensive, unrefined option. So, DAF pulled off an impressive trick. Instead of building on the complex geared automatic transmissions of the time, they took inspiration from the belt-drive systems seen on industrial equipment of that era.
They created a cone-and-pulley system, allowing a belt to transmit power from the engine to the wheels with constant, variable tension. This removed the need for gears, seamlessly and smoothly laying power down with optimal fuel efficiency. It's the basis of all CVT transmissions you see today, and it was introduced to the world in the 1958 DAF 600.2 The 1972 DAF 66 followed suit, redesigned and renamed the Volvo 66 in 1975, and equipped with the first Volvo Variomatic transmissions.1, 2
How the Volvo Variomatic Changed the World
The CVT is a more affordable alternative to geared automatic transmissions, as it requires far fewer parts to function, which in turn helps to increase fuel efficiency over both an automatic and manual transmission. The Volvo Variomatic pioneered the automotive adoption of this technology. While Volvo Cars is not entirely responsible for its invention, they saved the DAF brand's many innovations, refined the CVT, and helped prove its worth.
As of 2021, around 22% of new cars in the American market have a CVT,3 and nearly all of Japan's 45 top-selling vehicles use a CVT.3 By numbers alone, the Volvo Variomatic has had a far-reaching impact that's helped define the modern automotive landscape; like how Volvo Cars created key safety features like side airbags.4
Why Did the Geartronic™ Volvo Transmission Take Over?
Look at our new Volvo cars, and you'll notice that they typically use an eight-speed Geartronic™ automatic transmission. So, why do Volvo Cars not use a technology they helped pioneer? Well, the CVT was developed in a time when geared automatic transmissions were still particularly unrefined, unreliable, and expensive; that's not the case today. The advanced Geartronic™ transmission can shift as smoothly and provide exceptional reliability when compared to today's CVT transmissions.
It's part of the brand's current commitment to luxury and reliability. A CVT transmission typically has a more frequent fluid-service interval than a geared automatic transmission and can lose reliability as the car's horsepower output increases. Simply put, Geartronic™ Volvo models offer more smoothness, reliability, and performance potential than the Volvo Variomatic and its modern descendants.
Volvo Variomatic, Seatbelts, and More: Experience the Innovative Spirit Today
While we may not have a Variomatic-equipped 1975 Volvo 66 at our dealership, you can experience the many innovations of Volvo Cars in any of the new Volvo models we have for sale. From the Pilot Assist to WHIPS, visit Volvo Cars Richmond today to experience the full roster of benefits by exploring the new Volvo lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Volvo Variomatic
Did Volvo invent the Variomatic transmission or CVT?
Volvo Cars invented the Variomatic transmission, which is an early type of CVT. The first usage of a CVT in an automobile was the 1958 DAF 600.2 Volvo Cars bought the DAF automobiles division in 1972,1 refining the CVT into the Volvo Variomatic and popularizing its benefits in cars around the world.
How does Variomatic transmission work?
A Variomatic transmission works with a cone-and-pulley system. A belt is kept under optimal tension by moving back and forth along these cones, creating a variable power ratio without the need for complex geared systems.
Is CVT (continuously variable transmission) reliable?
CVT transmissions can be reliable but often have a more-frequent fluid service interval compared to traditional geared automatic transmissions.
1Source: https://www.media.volvocars.com/us/en-us/media/pressreleases/3234
2Source: http://www.dafownersclub.co.uk/brief-history-of-daf-cars.html
3Source: https://mobilityforesights.com/product/cvt-transmission-market/
4Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20150630101018/http://www.volvogroup.com/group/global/en-gb/newsmedia/pressreleases/previous/1998/_layouts/CWP.Internet.VolvoCom/NewsItem.aspx?News.ItemId=22963&News.Language=en-gb