I can think of one reason they didn't use the same tranny as in the Rubicon. After a certain HP rating, a hydrostat system gets heavy FAST, plus if you work it hard (like some will given the Rincon's big-bore engine) the oil has a tendancy to overheat. The solution: a power-shift type transmission, of course. This already has happened in the Agricultural sector. Hydro transmissions are fine for lawn mowers, and smaller tractors, but wherever you have a heavy, continuous load, they don't recommend a hydro. I am not even sure you can even buy a Hydro tractor over 120 HP or so anymore. What most have gone to, are power-shifts. They use a clutch pack, running in oil, to transfer power. This is very much like the Rincon transmission, just on a bigger scale. A hydro is limited by weight, as well as the oil cooling capacity. By making the gear ratios change by means of mechanical gears and clutch packs, and using a torque converter will allow much more power transfer for a given weight, and oil temperature rise. Although new to the ATV industry, it is truly a proven design.

My only concern is complexity. I am sure it will have many advantages over a belt-drive, but simplicity, and the ability of the owner to do his own repairs/tuning will suffer. I do applaud Honda for taking the plunge into something new. You don't get ahead by following what everyone else is doing.

 

Suposedly the rincons motor is too powerful to use the fluid drive tranny efficiently. That is according to dirtwheels(or was it some other atv mag?).

 

You guys are missing the point, it will be just like a car's 3-speed automatic tranny. Not shift-modes, or transfer case options, but 3 speeds. The Rubicon has a swash plate that makes the transmission more of a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) versus the true 3 speed automotive-like automatic).[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]