Torque converter having variable pitch stator and bypass clutch

A transmission comprising:

• a torque converter having an impeller, a turbine, a variable pitch stator, and a bypass clutch;
• and
• a controller programmed to
• in a first mode, adjust a bypass clutch torque capacity to maintain a target slip between the turbine and the impeller while maintaining the stator at a pitch setting corresponding to a tightest torque converter characteristic;
• transition to a second mode in response to the torque capacity decreasing to zero;
• in the second mode, adjust the stator pitch to maintain the target slip while maintaining the torque capacity at zero;
• and
• return to the first mode in response to the stator pitch reaching the pitch setting.