Some CVTs do have a kickdown facility. Some years ago I had an Audi A4 2.5 TDI with 'multitronic' CVT which kicked down with very satisfactory results.

When I had a 1970 Daf 55, if you floored the pedal it effectively 'kicked down' as the front driving pulleys had a connection to manifold vacuum. I would have thought that 45 years later, CVT's ought to respond in a similar way.

Do people have lead boots these days, all automatics will rev like hell if you stick your foot down, but on part throttle openings it should be controllable.

Part of the problem is that autos-with-slip of both TC and CVT have become popular mated to 4 cyl engines where they were once a rare choice, naturally aspirated 4 cyl engines in most cases sound frankly awful when revved (MB's feel different but the engine noise is well insulated), with a V6 or V8 attached many would find the sound enjoyable and i'm sure feel quite differently, certainly be an interesting experiment.

I drove a Primera 2 litre with a TC auto box regularly, whilst a lovely box to make any progress the engine obviously revved high and it sounded horrid, most off putting and spoiled an otherwise excellent car, always thought a supercharger/turbo set to low rev boost would have made that engine.

Our 3 cars are all 6 cyl TC autos, 1 inline 1 V and 1 boxer engine, all sound and feel quite wondrous in different ways when allowed to rev fully under power.

Edited by gordonbennet on 26/09/2015 at 08:34