EasyElliott

The 2015 Corvette with the Z51 option and 8 speed automatic should be the fastest base corvette ever.

It will have as standard a 2.73 rear axel ratio and a first gear ratio of 4.56. Combined you have a 12.45 first gear ratio, the lowest ever.
On the 7 speed manual with a Z51 option and a standard 3.42 rear axel ratio you have an overall first gear ratio of 10.14.

The 7 speed Z51 at the end of the 1/4 mile is almost midway into 4 gear while the 8 speed auto is midway in 5 gear.

Can't wait for the first road tests

Mike Campbell

I hear you but this is what most folks do not understand. Everytime you shift, whether in a M7 or now an A8 you lose time and if you shift hard enough you lose a little traction too which equals more lost time. I'm not saying an A8 won't be an improvement but in the 1/4 mile I don't think as much as most people think. I believe the top 3 gears are all for fuel economy. BTW the A6 goes thru the 1/4 in just the first 3 gears so the most the A6 will do is perhaps gain one gear...but that is one more shift. I for one think they'll really do well, but, perhaps not as well as we'd wish.

Steve_R

Source?

You know heads will explode because it says Z51 is an option on a "base" Corvette instead of a separate model.

Woodson

Straight line. Boring.

EasyElliott

Well I hate to show my age, but when I started driving a 3 speed the 4 speed was a fantastic inprovement.

You will gain some performance and some ecomony as well.

C7DriverOnt

You need launch control to stop the wheels from spinning with any transmission in first gear so not sure what a higher first gear ratio is going to do for owners of the A8 that the A6 can't do.

Here some C7's at the drag strip, notice the fastest cars do very little wheel spinning...

Snorman

An A8 with 2.73's will shift 4 times through 1320' while an A6 shifts twice.
It will be interesting to see if the more advantageous gearing offsets this.
S.

Diver Down

Would love to see the stats vs A6 with all else being equal. If they bump the HP for 2015 models then we won't know.

AFVETTE

It better be what Corvette enthusiasts have been begging for for decades. And considering GM is touting faster shifts than Porsche's PDK I would think it will totally destroy any previous Corvette transmission auto or manual in similar cars. Unless this thing is going to be used to beat CAFE fuel standards and tuned for fuel mileage. We'll know very soon.

Now I wonder how much GM is going to charge for this puppy?

slief

I've got some news for you. That's completely incorrect! The fastest posted drag times in the C7 are WITHOUT launch control. Launch control is great for an inexperienced driver however, an experienced C7 driver can launch the C7 faster without launch control than with launch control. In fact, the 0-60 times are faster without LC too! The lack of wheel spin in your video doesn't necessarily have anything to do with LC. It more than likely has to do with managing the throttle. As I said, the fastest 0-60 times and the fastest drag times have been posted without using LC. LC in numerous tests proved to be slower to 60 than an experienced driver launching without LC.

Back to your video.. The first car spun the tires like crazy on launch. The second car didn't even rev the car much at all on his launch. The fastest cars in that video are not using LC. In fact, the fastest cars in that video are being really careful with the throttle when they launch and are keeping the RPM's way down when the take off. Clearly not LC.

WKMCD

We really need a Bench Racing section...

JerryU

Add in the torque multiplacation from the torque converter and it's even more if the tires can stay planted! Probably correct it will be the best in the 1/4 with the few gears it will use, but I'll still prefer shifting my 7 speed!

Ben@WeaponX

LOL... line up your benches and "pre" data!

YELLOW
YELLOW
YELLOW
GREEN!

Iker

If it won't be faster in the 1/4 mile, it will be faster in high speed +120 mph. The old A6 and even the M7 are both slow in high speed.
I'm sure someone will ask me who is goint to drive that fast! Actually in my country we go that fast in street races and I always see the new C7 is slow in high speed.

Steve_R

LOL. Define "slow." I road raced my C6 coupe with A6 trans and stock motor. As I had it equipped my tech speed that I wasn't allowed to exceed was 168 mph. I had no problem getting up to that speed quickly and running that speed for miles - in 5th gear. It had a lot of top end left. Top speed is limited electronically or, alternatively, by tires and how fast you're willing to push your luck.

As you get well above 150 mph the air resistance increases logarithmically. At some point OD gears won't get more top speed without lots more HP to overcome drag.

hawkgfr

engrish please...

WKMCD

Until then, there's always drag racing...

Mike Mercury

cart before horse ?

Jim Barker

I think eight speed non Z51,1lt would have better weight advantage and weight transfer for the drags! Unless the one inch diameter tires are that much better.

BRCC

The only problem with the non Z51 is it will be equipped with a 2.41 rear axle, the Z51 will have a 2.73, regardless of the weight difference the Z will still hit the quarter in a quicker time.