RIP Manual Corvettes - Rumour Mill Says C8 Could Be Auto-Only
It’s time for black armbands, people: the next Corvette is likely to drop to two pedals.
C8 Corvette test mules in camouflage have been spotted by Car and Driver, who say that the cars feature a new seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch automated transmission.
It should be strong, with upper input limits of 664lb ft and 9000rpm, but the investment involved in making the car suitable for manual gears as well could be too much for General Motors.
It should make for higher performance than ever, though. With no perceptible drop in thrust during gear changes, the C8 will put its power to the road more efficiently.
Also key to the move could be GM’s desire to see the Corvette battle the likes of Ferrari and Porsche in Europe, and with sales on this continent overwhelmingly in favour of dual-clutch - where the choice is offered at all - it’s sort of essential…
Source: Jalopnik
Comments
I think you’re jumping to conclusions. There could still be a manual option. This is just the automatic one being shown.
Way too soon to be sure.
I predict the following:
Chevrolet move the Corvette “up-market” to compete with Ferrari, Porsche etc…
Suddenly, they find that there is a gap in their line-up for a mid-priced two seat sports car, they then promptly introduce a new model that sounds an awful lot like what the Corvette used to be.
Happens in a lot of businesses. Eg. BMW wanted the 3 series to move up-market, it gets fancier, bigger, more expensive… as a result the traditional 3-series buyer can’t afford it. Hey presto, 1-series!
BUT WHY DONT THEY JUST MAKE AN UPMARKET SUPERCAR THEN? KEEP THE CORVETTE MANUAL!
The world is becoming more auto every day….😕
Or Chevy can kill off the dting horse corvette name and get a brand new car title out there with different everything. Like how lamborghini and ferrari come out with new names for cars. Chevy can give a mid-engine car thats new to the line up and call it something new. A name no one has heard yet. I am sorry to say but corvettes are disappointing. The C6 corvette was the last best year of the corvettes. C7s are dumb. I mean come on, a Z06 is supposed to be N/A and manual. The ZR1 is supercharged. The C7 Z06 could have been just named the ZR1 and made a great N/A Z06 for purists. Whats impressive is the new ZL1 camaro. Theyre improving throughout the years. From 580 hp to 650 technially, thats a big jump for a camaro. Thats cheaper than the Z06 now and almost thebsame power. Only difference is that the Z06 is still lighter. Chevy should focus on the camaro more than the corvette for that matter. And the possible new Z28 that could be revealed next year will be awesome if chevy keeps it up. Thats all im saying. Invest in camaros.
*dying
Blame ford they told them to make a mid engine vette
I fear this day would come. The day where manual transmissions will be no more.. RIP
Corvettes have always been about the manual. I hope Chevy makes a manual, it would make for a really interesting alternative to today’s entry level supercars. Dammit Chevy! See the light!
Would never buy a car without one
I think one day we will only have the good old Calais