While a conventional transmission uses a series of gears and a single or double clutch to send power to the wheels, the CVT transmission has no gears or speeds. Instead, it uses a pair of variable thickness pulleys connected by a belt. One pulley is linked to the motor and the other sends power to the wheels.

Depending on the power required, the width of the pulleys changes, as one pulley gets thicker the other gets thinner, providing constant acceleration without interruptions and extracting the most power possible from small engines. This is why many four-cylinder engines use this type of transmission, some with a disc and ball bearing system.

Despite not having gears, a CVT transmission allows manual shifting. This is accomplished by moving the belt and pulley system to predetermined points that simulate marching.