Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Next Corvette will sport seven-speed manual, too

Perhaps the manual transmission isn't as dead as a few Italian automakers would like you to believe. Porsche has declared that as long as there is demand it will continue to supply automobiles with do-it-yourself gearboxes, and the German automaker has outfitted its 2012 911 with a seven-speed manual gearbox. Now it seems General Motors is following suit, and the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette will reportedly offer up seven forward gears, as well.

Inside Line has reported that the 2014 Corvette is set to swap in an extra cog for increased fuel efficiency. As a bonus, this move will allow engineers to play with the lower gear ratios thus providing a bit more speed from the lower end.

Now that Porsche has made the leap to a seven-speed manual and Corvette is following suit, could a cackling, wild-eyed locked-in-the-basement transmission engineer be working on an eight-speed unit? We doubt it, but we're already doing heavy shoulder workouts just in case.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/26/n...ed-manual-too/

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

vette already gets good gas mileage, wonder what its gonna be up to now.

Lil4X

Forget gas mileage, it's a Corvette! Other than weaseling around CAFE standards, a 7-speed behind a torque-monster V8 like the LS7 (ZO6) is the definition of overkill. Unless, of course you are wanting to achieve low-earth orbit before you hit the quarter-mile traps.

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

i bet 7th gear is just gonna be an overdrive gear for mpg

yay CAFE standards

Blackraven

In the new Porsches 911 Carrera, top speed is accessed in 6th gear while the top 7th gear has a very long ratio.

Btw, since you brought that subject, I'd just like to say that if future versions of the BMW M5 will only get a four-cylinder engine, then people will definitely give eco-extremist groups like Greenpeace the 'middle finger'

**** those greenpeace eco-*****

STIG

I could use another gear on my M3. 6th gear is not tall enough for cruising, and if i am doing 90, the car runs around 4k rpm. noisy, and get bad gas mileage.

mmarshall

So where can you legally, on an American public road, cruise at 90? Aren't the highest speed-limits out West in the 75-80-MPH range or so? Of course, most State Troopers don't bother you if you are doing less than 10 MPH or so over the limit.....they're looking for chronic speeders.

mmarshall

For most American roads, I agree, Lil.....but Corvettes are also built for ultra-high-speed roads overseas like the German Autobahn, where they often share the same road-space with high-powered Porsches, Lambos, Ferraris, etc..... at a much lower price.

RocketGuy3

iTrader: (1)

I suppose this applies to all the people here complaining about CAFE standards and whatnot.

Corvettes are daily drivers for a lot of people, so having good mileage certainly wouldn't hurt. As someone who's been giving a lot of thought to buying a Corvette, even if I didn't drive it every day, I sure would like to get a few extra mpg if possible.

Besides which, those CAFE standards are in place for a reason... Gas mileage concerns are not going to go away anytime soon, and trying to make cars (ANY cars, "torque-monster" or not) as efficient as possible is going to become more and more important.

Lil4X

. . . but if they build it with 7-speeds, how many will even be accessible in urban traffic, 2 or 3?

Gojirra99

^^^ I bet with it's low end torque, you'd be surprised

I8ABMR

I think a 7 speed with paddle shifters would be better. Faster shifts. When I was younger all of my cars were manual but with the technology available today the cars are actually faster with the automated trasmissions

jadu

iTrader: (42)

hoping onto the freeway would probably be like: 1, 2, and then bam 7, if there's no traffic

RocketGuy3

iTrader: (1)

Well I suppose something like this is more of an advantage for an auto than a manual... but I'm sure with just one extra gear (especially if it's just an overdrive gear for efficiency), it wouldn't make city driving much worse with a stick.

adamls2

i heard that they are also working on dual clutch technology also... that will be nice to see.