Corvette’s New Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission Equals Speed and Efficiency
The Corvette’s new eight-speed automatic transmission equals speed and efficiency. ©GM
General Motors today announced that the Corvette’s new eight-speed automatic transmission for the 2015 Corvette Stingray model, a Hydra-Matic 8L90, makes the ‘Vette faster and more fuel-efficient than the previous model. The 2015 Corvette boasts a 0 – 60 time of just 3.7 seconds and an EPA-estimated 29 mpg on the highway.
The 0 – to 60 time dropped by 0.1 second over last year, when the Stingray was offered with a six-speed automatic. This also allows for a faster quarter mile, also dropping by 0.1 second for a total of 11.9 seconds.
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The efficiency of the new Corvette is perhaps even more impressive. The 29 mpg rating from Corvette’s new eight-speed automatic transmission is 3.5 percent better than the rating from the six-speed. The Corvette’s fuel economy beats out those of the Audi R8 V8 (20 mpg), Jaguar F-Type R (23 mpg), Nissan GT-R (23 mpg), and the Porsche 911 Carrera (28 mpg). But it’s not just its sports car competitors that it out performs in terms of efficiency; it’s also more conventional cars with smaller engines, such as the Subaru Outback six-cylinder (27 mpg), the Mercedes-Benz C350 coupe (28 mpg), and the Volkswagen Passat six-cylinder (28 mpg).
The Corvette’s new eight-speed automatic transmission improves performance and efficiency so well primarily due to the 7.0 overall gear ratio spread. And it’s got “world-class shift times” to boot.
“The Corvette Stingray is a great example of how we are leveraging engineering and technology to improve both efficiency and performance,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing & Supply Chain. “No other car can match 460 horsepower, 0-60 mph in better than 3.7 seconds, and 29 mpg on the highway.”
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The 2015 Corvette Stingray will also be available with a seven-speed manual transmission, good for a 3.8-second 0 – 60 time and 29 mpg on the highway.
Photos: Corvette’s New Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission
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- GM’s 8L90 eight-speed transmission may be extended to other models. ©GM
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