is the engine noise an issue

[Don]

I find the enginne is very loud when pushing the accelerator down. Some cars really sound fantastic when beeing pushed to the power limit, but the CT sounds like it's laboring way too hard while just making noise. (the little engine that could... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...)

[Sleepypete]

"CVT (constant velocity transmission)" Not quite - CVT = Continuously Variable Transmission. Usually two pulleys with a strong band between them, where the diameter of each pulley can be infinitely varied. The gear ratio comes from the difference in diameters of the two pulleys.

So our CTs have infinite gear ratios, instead of just the 4,5,6 etc allowed by a series of cogs that mesh together :-).

Possible confusion with CV joints - these are Continuous Velocity joint thingys which allow bends to be put in drive shafts.

[jimmyc13]

I find the enginne is very loud when pushing the accelerator down. Some cars really sound fantastic when beeing pushed to the power limit, but the CT sounds like it's laboring way too hard while just making noise. (the little engine that could... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...)

I feel the same way. That's also likely why I don't drive this car as hard as my last car...sounds/feels like it's hurting the car!

[Team Lexus]

our eCVT is actually not a conventional CVT at all. no cones, no pulleys no belts. Its the patented Lexus Hybrid drive e-CVT that allows the engine to spin at optimal speed.

Its all about the two motor/generators: MG1 and MG2 connected to the planetary gears' sun gear and ring gear and the engine connected to the planet-carrier.

This all allows the e-CVT to operate.

This is NOT your conventional CVT.

[Sleepypete]

Cheers TL :-) I watched the 15 minute video of the person looking at the bits of the powertrain and could figure where MG1 & 2 are used to moderate the speed of the engine but couldn't mentally make the link to how it alters the Actual Gear ratio.

[KKM]

our eCVT is actually not a conventional CVT at all. no cones, no pulleys no belts. Its the patented Lexus Hybrid drive e-CVT that allows the engine to spin at optimal speed.

Its all about the two motor/generators: MG1 and MG2 connected to the planetary gears' sun gear and ring gear and the engine connected to the planet-carrier.

This all allows the e-CVT to operate.

This is NOT your conventional CVT.

Patented Lexus hybrid e-CVT? It's different than the Prius's? I thought the CT and Prius were the same.

[bodgerx]

Yes it is basically the same as Prius. As described Team Lexus, it isn't strictly a CVT.