I think a 7 speed automatic is out of the question for a very long time. If you think about it....Just how much of an additiona benefit can be obtained from going to 7 from 6 speeds? That is about a 16% increase in gears. Going from a 4 to a 6 is a 50% increase.

 

It was difficult to tell what torque number the author was referring to. If it is engine torque that would be remarkable. So it seems GM has already fronted the money for two plants and two different types of automatics (rear and front drive). The rear drive application is set for 2006 models to be produced in 2005 and the front drive applications are a respective year later.

I too hope these 6-speeds can handle the sort of torque we can expect from a Corvette. The torque limits will have to be quite high given how long GM keeps transmissions for. I so hope their are not too many engineering/certification issues to its integration into the Vette. It has been a target for auto reviews for quite some time.

It seems increasingly likely that the 6-speed auto will make it into the C6 though the timing is still uncertain. I will consult my spies within to see what they know and/or are willing to say.

Anyway, Frenchie, don't let any of this keep you from getting a C6 now. I have had a '99 which I loved and now my '05 which is simply beyond words. Even if they brought out a 7-speed paddle shifted C6 next year I would not shed a tear. The car as it is now is fantastic. If you take a wait and see approach you will always be waiting because there will always be something a bit newer and slightly nicer next year.

Get in the game. Now.

 

Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner . Two thirds of vettes sold have auto tranny. It would make sense for GM to keep info regarding a better tranny under wraps for as long as possible so as not to damage current C6 sales. For me, one of the biggest disappointments for the C6 has been the A4 rather than moving to the next level and offering an A5 or A6 with touch shifting capability. I suspect GM couldn't get the tranny ready in time for the C6 release and will do so as soon as possible, hopefully as early as next model year.

 

Bwright, you have spies?! (BTW, "spies within"? Within what? GM?) Yes, consult them! ASAP. Then post info, please. If it's too sensitive and will endanger national security, you have my e-mail address.

"Anyway, Frenchie, don't let any of this keep you from getting a C6 now. [...] Get in the game now." I'm already in the game, and happy with my C5 with only 32K miles. My next car will be a MY2006, and I'll buy in Jan 06. It's not the trans that I'm waiting on, but the trans will determine whether it's the C6 or the SLK55.

 

If you can wait. I would suggest 2006 for the C6 six speed Automatic transmission.

 

Confirmed. The 6-speed auto debuts in model year 2006 Corvettes. It is done.

Don't ask, I most certainly will not tell you how I know that. However, I do so look forward to the technical explanation of how they did that.

It seems your car and year are now determined. Enjoy.

 

This is also my understanding and the very reason I would not buy a 2005.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=802824

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=809743

Since going from 4 to 5 was worth 2-3% in mileage (at constant
performance) and going from 5 to 6 was worth 1-2%, I'd guess
that a 7-speed is worth 1% over a 6-speed.

http://books.nap.edu/html/cafe/ch3.pdf

All of GMs 7-speed AT patents state that:

"Seven-speed transmissions provide further improvements in acceleration
and fuel economy over six-speed transmissions."

 

Thanks for the great news!

 

Way to go, Bwright, the "spymaster"! Thanks for making those inquiries. Talk about being well connected...

Kudos also to Runge_Kutta, who thought it would happen all along. Now that my 2 forum "authority figures" are in agreement, I can take this to the bank.

My next car, in Jan 06, will be a mag red C6 w/cashmere. The SLK55 is not in my future. No retractable hardtop, but 10k more in my pocket.

This forum, and its members, are great.

 

Do you know when the 2006 C6 will have the 6sp Auto? In middle of the 2005 or in 2006?

 

If I read these plots correctly:

http://media.gm.com/division/2004_pr...rwd_6speed.pdf

then there will be no more Performance Rear Axle Ratio (G90) in MY06. It looks like
everyone will get a 2.56 (or maybe a 2.73) to go with their A6. Also, I
suspect that

X16R = 6L90-E
X15R = 6L80-E
X14R = 6L50-E

 

Did not think to ask and am reluctant to revisit the well. I would assume the start of the 2006 model year.

 

In response to Csun213's last question, I too would assume, Bwright, that the AT6 would debut in Aug 05 when MY06 comes out. But Peter Robinson's WardsAuto.com article (see above in this thread) says: "The new 6-speed automatic is expected in late 2005, for the ’06 model year." I'm having a hard time putting all this together. IF Robinson is right (a big "if"), then the AT6 wouldn't be ready to debut with the MY06 in Aug 05. That would mean it would make it into the C6 in MID-MODEL YEAR, say Jan 06. Wouldn't that be odd: such a radical change introduced not just mid-model, but mid-model year?

 

There have been other indications indicating the same delay in fitting the 6 speed auto. The factory was announced to be ready for builds of that tranny in 2006.

 

What is interesting is that the top model? (90) shows with engine capacity between 7-9L and certainly enough toruque to handle even Z06 projected torque (if I did the math correctly).