You are correct on both counts.
The curved additions that semi-cover the air vents seem to be their 1st attempt @ increasing the cooling to the trans + diff over the Stingray. Even Vette magazine criticized insufficient on track cooling on the C7 auto.

 

Unless one is taking their Z06 to the track and concerned about performance issues in the manual vs auto choice, the rest of us that just drive on the street are mostly looking for a fun car that makes them feel good ( course if one is into street racing, then that's a different story). What most are concerned about going to an auto in the new Z06, is losing some of the fun factor. For me, when I drive my 6 spd manual supercharged GS, there is a definite fun factor. When I drive my 2012 Caddy CTS-V A6, there is also a fun factor, but in a different way. I like both, but if I have to choose as I'm planning on, when I consolidate to just one daily driver, I'm definitely going to the A8, unless GM doesn't deliver the DCT/PDK comparable tranny as advertised. The advantages are just too much in favor of a modern day auto( I spent a lot of years enjoying shifting all kinds of fun hot cars).

 

I understand you wanting something cheap, I place a higher value on being faster so I'll pay the extra $$$ for the A8.

Don't forget a lot of old men buy these cars to race.

 

I'll preface my comment by stating that IMO you provide some VERY good info and I really appreciate it. I know you have a good amount of knowledge and firsthand experience on-track.

However, considering I can overheat the A6 in about 12-14 minutes on an "easy" track like Daytona-Rolex, I am very skeptical that the A8 will really be "track certified" as GM/Tadge is claiming. Very skeptical. This weekend, I'll be at Sebring. 10-15* hotter than Daytona was and a lot harder on hardware. I'd be surprised if I could get in a warmup and 4 hot laps in my A6 C7. I don't even consider taking the it.

IMO, GM is going to have a LOT of convincing to do to make me believe the A8 is really going to be "track certified" for "98 percent" of drivers.
S.

 

Agreed. I would imagine that the new Z06 automatic will be equipped with more transmission cooling/fans than any Corvette in history and it's even possible that the new trans runs inherently cooler (even if just by virtue of slightly lower overall RPM) as well, which will help. But the laws of physics simply do not allow a torque converter/fluid based automatic to avoid generating extremely high temps during extended periods of aggressive driving on a road course.

 

the new auto in the new Z06 is a response to all the exotics that uses Paddle shift auto trans. The whole idea is to shift faster to reduce shifting time from gear to gear in order to increase performance. ALL race cars use auto shift if it is allowed or they use sequential manual shift. The Corvette is joining the rest of the super car ranks in teh 21st century in order to stay relevant to teh young buyers of Porsches, Audis, GTR, Ferrari, Lambo and mclaren. the new auto trans is faster shifting than a PDK and there is a reason to advertise that, it is call competitive marketing to grab the Porsche buyers money. Chevy has no plan to pander to the old buyer of the Corvette with auto trans, for the simple truth that it is a shrinking market Due to .......death...a fact. They want young Iphone hugging, yoga pants wearing, Googling, face booking, buyer market....so give up your flip phone and sansabelt and join the future.

 

why a dual clutch? the whole idea of auto shifting is that the auto transmission can do it quicker and more efficient than you can, and it increases the performance you get out of a car (in this type of a car). the Corvette developed their own transmission to meet very specific design, weight, durability and performance criteria because the Dual clutch cannot.....so what's your reasoning for a dual clutch?

 

Just because the transmission can execute a forward shift as fast as a PDK doesn't mean it will be anywhere near as good all-around.
I will never forget my experience driving an automatic C6 (six speed). It was a rental car I put it to the floor in first gear, told it to shift at 6000RPM, and watched it hit the rev limiter before the computer executed the shift; the shift delays were simply out of this world; you tell it to shift and then wait and wait and wait. In "D" it was even worse: the car feels like it is powered by a rubber band. It annoyed me so much I drove back to the rental place the next day and traded it for a Mustang. The mustang automatic was marginally better and the car cost 5 times less to rent, so I didn't feel bad wasting money driving something I didn't like.

You hear a lot of people her say "Its not a normal automatic: it has paddle shifters, just like a Ferrari". These people have clearly never driven a Ferrari. I've rented F430s, Gallardos and driven a few Nissan GT-Rs. There is no comparison. If the C7 Z06 was offered with a transmission like that I would seriously consider it. But it isn't. It has a torque converter just like any other economy car. Its been tuned to shift fast and I am sure it will be fast in the drag strip; probably faster than the manual, but I doubt anyone who enjoys road racing will like it much.

 

I consider myself a hard core purist and could not see having a Corvette, yet alone a Z06 without a manual transmission. I will admit however that the new 8 speed that is coming has me curious. Since I will not be an early buyer of the new Z06 I will have time to review the real life experiences that I am sure will be shared on the forum. I do think the offering of the automatic is going to get a lot of people into a car that they should have never considered owning.

 

Very well put. The original A6( I had one in my 06 C6), was a total POS, except for Caddy type cruising. Horrible upshift lag and lurching downshifts, when using the paddles. My 2012 Caddy CTS-V A6, is a huge improvement with fast upshifts and rev matched downshifts. That said, it is not in the same league with the 2013 M3 with a dual clutch tranny, but not bad. The 8 speed auto I tried in a new 335I, was better than my caddy, and not far off the DCT in the M3. So as these auto tranny's have progressed, I wouldn't be surprised to see the C7 A8 be very close if not equal to the DCT/PDK trannies, for street use. For track use, only time will tell how they hold up.

 

Very objective point of view. As I've read many of these responses from everyone I've concluded no matter what is said there are those that prefer manual transmissions and those that prefer automatics and very few are going to change their minds about it. In many respects I agree, at least partially with everyone's take on this issue, and respect everyone's personal experiences in the past. I personally have seen automatics come a long way over the years, yet there remains a certain level of skepticism on my part, knowing they may still have a ways to go in the development of automatics. Nonetheless, I think I personally am willing to give it a shot.

I guess all of us are going to have to wait and see what GM has come up with, with this new A8 and all our questions will be answered. Thirty-forty years ago I would never have considered an automatic, but then the automatics back in those days weren't what they are today. Not even close.... In fact, I didn't want any part of any of the electronics we now see and enjoy today. The advancements today have allowed the automakers to provide cutting edge technologies and performance for everyone's likes and dislikes. We have a choice now we may have not had years ago.

Being an old dinosaur myself, I look back at all those years I spent tearing up parts at the track and spending large quantities of money feeding my passion to be faster than the next guy, but now I'll leave it to the youngsters and simply enjoy my technologically advanced 2015 Z06 in style and convenience. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy tearing it up from time to time, but not necessarily on the racetrack. I still can't overlook the fact that in various video's of the C7.R there appears to be paddle shifters on the steering wheel those guys are using. Regardless, there are those that are going to order their Z06's with manual 7-speeds and others orderings theirs with A8's. We all have a choice of what works best for our own personal needs and it's a mute point to attempt to change anyone else's minds about it.

 

If the torque converter clutch in the A-8 is designed so that it can stay locked during shifts then a major source of heat goes away. But if it is unlocking for every shift and running unlocked during significant periods of time on a road course then heat is going to be a big issue. Although far too big and heavy for a car, since 2001 GM has used an Allison in their diesel pickup with this lockup capability and it has to withstand more engine torque and higher sustained loads than the Z06 will ever provide. Hopefully they have a car sized locking converter with this capability now to reduce heat contribution from the converter. I have been amazed at how difficult it is to actually get the transmission hot (hot as in 200 which is far below the safe limit) in my pickup.

 

While the C7R has paddle shifters, it does not have a torque convertor automatic transmission. It has a special racing transmission (around $40,000). http://www.xtrac.com/sectors/motorsp...car/product/65

 

Wow!!!!! $40K? That's incredible! They made so many comparisons in the marketing of the Z06 between the C7R I guess I allowed my ignorance of being out of it for so long to come through. Totally stand corrected Joe. I probably should have known better.

On another note though, someone mentioned the heat in the automatics comes from converter slippage, making reference to the Allison transmission minimizing such slippage due to heavy payloads from trucks. From what I've been lead to understand all the newer automatic transmissions are electronic now and use "Lock-Up Converters" with programmable TCM's that control shift points, slippage and converter lock-up parameters under various load and driving conditions? Wouldn't that address many of the concerns through being infinitely adjustable in regards to feeling sluggish during up and down shifts? Also many of the heat issues connected with excessive slippage of the converters?

 

Right, and Formula 1 cars have paddle shifters too, therefore the paddle shifters on a C6 automatic mean it must have the transmission out of an F1 car or a C7.R, right?

Did you know the Chevy Malibu has a paddle shifted six speed automatic? GM puts that garbage on most of their cars because they know people like you can't tell the difference... The Toyota Camry comes with a paddle shifted auto too.. There aren't many automatic cars nowadays that don't have it, and the C7 Z06 is the same thing. To the average waxer it is "Just like an F1 car or a Ferrari".

Here's a 2010 Toyota Camry... Just like an F1 car

 

Well Golly Gee Sam, your arrogance and totally disrespectful nature precedes you..... But then I'm noticing more and more individuals with backgrounds such as your own seem to totally lack any kind of tact. You appear to represent what gives forums a bad name. Thanks for your critique and keep doing what you do so well.....

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the A8 has heavy duty locking features like the Allison transmission used behind the diesels. Based the torque capacity of the A8(835 lb-ft) I'm guessing that the GM Hydramatic A8 will be used in the diesel powered pickups to replace the Allison transmission.

 

I'd have to be physically incapable of driving a stick before I would buy an Auto ZO6.

The only way I could see buying an auto is if I lived in LA and fighting traffic on a daily basis.

 

Yes, the new 8L90/A8 still utilizes a torque converter but I think it's going to be a bit of a departure from any traditional GM automatic transmission that's come before it. So how about we NOT ignorantly (and arrogantly) lump it in/confuse it with the previous generation 6L80/A6 just yet. Perhaps we could at least wait until it's merits and/or inefficiencies are truly determined and the trans is fully track tested first?

 

I have Missouri blood in me, show me!

However, I've also seen a lot of the design elements in this transmission in things ranging from press releases to SAE papers. I don't have any inside info but based on the info available, I can tell you GM has gone to great lengths to minimize heat generation and maximize heat dissipation. My educated guess has the torque converter stall speed in the 1600-1800 RPM range...pretty low which will minimize slippage and reduce heat in the upper RPM ranges. The 8L90 will have a maximum of two clutches NOT engaged in anyall gears, again to minimize heat generated. The biggest area where GM minimizes heat generation is in the hydraulic circuits themselves by reducing the flow and pressure demanded from the two pumps with one pump capable of being unloaded completely. Remember hydraulic pumps demand HP from its driven member by the equation HP=PSI*GPM*.0007. But the HP given to the system is HP=PSI*GPM*.00058 and HP is heat, 1 HP=746 Watts...ever grabbed a 60 watt light. And finally, a much higher capacity cooler will be used.

I'm pretty confident GM will convince both of us...we'll see soon.