Okay, I have been doing more reading on the CVT and I am
beginning to grasp the "infinate number of gears" info. Here is a pretty good video of how the transmission works from YouTube. It's in a foreign language, but you'll get the idea:
YouTube - Jatco CVT Transmission in action
Here is some other info I came across ...
Disadvantages of the CVT
The CVT's biggest problem has been user acceptance. Because the CVT allows the engine to rev at any speed, the noises coming from under the hood sound odd to ears accustomed to conventional manual and automatic transmissions. The gradual changes in engine note sound like a sliding transmission or a slipping clutch -- signs of trouble with a conventional transmission, but perfectly normal for a CVT. Flooring an automatic car brings a lurch and a sudden burst of power, whereas CVTs provide a smooth, rapid increase to maximum power. To some drivers this makes the car feel slower, when in fact a CVT will generally out-accelerate an automatic.
Maybe this is the case, but damn I really feel like my AT LX has less torque than my MT LX! I'd love to be able to get that feeling back!