TOROTRAK REVVING UP

"The Company is a pure research and development operation and as such is seeking to develop new patented products rather than gain market share. The Company is not aware of any comparable engineering developments in progress anywhere in the world. As regards the EPS gearbox investors, however, may feel that Torotrak plc is seeking to develop a similar infinitely variable gearbox. In the opinion of the Technical Director of DriveTec, Michael Monaghan, Torotrak relies on devices called variators to alter the transmission ratios. The variators consist of toroidal discs on which tilting rollers bear. The torque is transmitted through the interface between the rollers and the disc. Varying the position of the rollers varies the speed ratio between input and output. The contact point between the rollers and the disc requires extremely high surface pressures and a special lubricant. Any vibration at this interface can give rise to serious noise. Because this occurs within the core of the transmission these noises excite other components in a torsional mode. The transmission system thus has an inherent susceptibility to noise and vibration. The Technical Director of DriveTec believes that this is the reason why Toyota, and more recently General Motors, have abandoned their license arrangements with Torotrak. He believes the architecture of DriveTec’s EPS gearbox is completely different from Torotrak and will not suffer from these defects".

Is that also why LG dropped it? Basic inherent unsolvable design flaw. Not only useless for the luxury car market, but also no good for component longevity. All a bit of a cock-up really. I guess TRK will have to be wound up while there is still some value. A question of 'when' really, rather than 'if'.