2015 Chevrolet Corvette to get 8 speed automatic transmission
LeftLaneNews
December 9, 2013
Although the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray launched with a carryover six-speed automatic, the sports car will soon benefit from a new eight-speed transmission, a Society of Automotive Engineers technical paper has confirmed.
A preview of the paper, briefly posted to the SAE's website and subsequently removed, revealed that the eight-speed automatic will arrive on the Corvette's options list for the 2015 model year.
Dubbed the 8L90, the rear-wheel-drive gearbox will offer an overall ratio spread of 7.0 and a shorter first gear for quicker acceleration. As the current Corvette six-speed automatic is capable of 28 mpg on the highway, the octa-cog unit could boost freeway mileage to 30 mpg or higher - not too shabby for a 455-horsepower performance machine.
The SAE paper also notes that the eight-speed will be able to handle torque output of up to 738 lb-ft. That means it could potentially be offered in the next iteration of the Corvette Z06, which to this point has only been available with manual transmissions. Of course, we'll have to wait until next month's Detroit Auto Show to see what Chevrolet decides to do.