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[nonsequitur]

Derek's question is precisely aligned with objectives this thread was started to explore: Given what we have to work with, how do you drive the CVT effectively?

I frankly thought it would be easy to ask a few questions, and then get on with it. Well, that was just naive. There isn't a lot of information yet available, so together we are developing answers.

Let's speculate on his question based on this recent testing. I think the corner should be broken down into segments, which may be combined later:

Setup for braking (probably still accelerating)
Braking zone
Turn-in
Transition (important in the CVT because we must get the engine reved)
Apex
Track-out or Exit
Acceleration (How to pull to speed the fastest?)
Top speed (how do we best reach and maintain 115mph?)

Personal experience would point to using Steptronic for the braking zone and transitions, because this mode seems to give the best throttle control of the car in the corner. Throttle steering works in the Cooper CVT. It's fun, and maybe the most effective.

On track acceleration felt better in SportDrive@detent, not floored, now verified by the dyno. However, the only way to get from Steptronic to SportDrive (SD) is to select Drive (D) then SD again. I've not tried this at Transition, but it might be messy and probably negate any advantages of being in Steptronic to that point. This Step-D-SD selection might be done at Track-out. I've not tried it because throttle control was important a couple of times even there(!).

I've been running in two distinct ways without real good reasons for either choice, and use left foot braking because it allows simultaneous brake and throttle to control rpm in the corner.

1) SportDriveCVT. This allows total concentration in braking and appeared to be better in uphill situations and acceleration as indicated by lower overall lap time and higher speeds at the end of the straights. The trick is to figure out how to apply power early enough to be effective in the corners, and it doesn't "feel" effective in the middle of the corner.

2) Steptronic. This allows better control in the corners, period. It's not necessary to "spool up" the motor in the early part of the corner. Everything just works better in the corners I think. The trick will be to sort out how to get maximum power applied to the wheels under acceleration, because this approach doesn't seem to as as quick if the motor is allowed to auto-upshift.

Does this set the stage for further discussion? Who has experiences or opinion to share?