JoesC5

You mean like the C6 Z06, but with more, and higher quality, leather in the interior, and with another 50-75 horsepower in it's 3175 pound body with it's low coefficient of drag.

zhopper05

I hope they offer both, but with no surcharge for the automatic. I will want my stick-shift C8 to be more rare than my C7 currently is - helping resale value.

SBC_and_a_stick

I don't even need leather in the interior. We are well past the point cow products beat synthetics.

But yes, C6 Z formula but move engine in the middle and use the extra room up top to work in DOHC, clever VVT, and who knows maybe even a clever intake manifold or ITBs.

JoesC5

A few changes in the cowling and a DOHC V8 will fit in the C6 body, nd also have room for twin turbos sitting between the heads. Actually just installing a DCT with the transmission behind the differential would allow the cockpit to be moved rearward(without increasing the wheelbase) thus allowing the engine to be moved slightly rearward, while having more room in the engine compartment, and at the same time, changing the weight distribution from 50/50 to 47/53.

Want to see that now. Just look at the Mercedes AMG GT with it's DOHC V8 with twin turbos and it's a front engine, torque tube, DCT with the transmissions located behind the differential design.

Then that same DCT with the transmission located behind the differential, could be used on the mid engine Cadillac. The current Corvette transaxle will not work with a mid engine design without lengthening the wheelbase a huge amount.

JerryU

My "guess" you're going to miss all three!

GM will use one system for the transaxile; probably their 10 speed but if a standard it will be automatically operated-no 3rd peddle. May not be able to tell with the first cars that will be Caddys as they will have all automatics.

Can't get enough power from a NA 3 to 3.6 liter double overhead cam, 4 valve/cylinder with individual variable cam timing for efficiency so it will be turbocharged (or supercharged, or both!) Look at the latest Ford GT!

It may have a wide body but when all the power is from 4000 to 7000 rpm don't need real wide tires like a high torque at low rpm large cid V8.

Long live my M7, Grand Sport- Love it!

SBC_and_a_stick

This may sound rude in 'Vette forum but if C8 is only auto I will jump ship. The new GT3 is just as fast as the Z and comes manual. It's mid size FI-less 4.0 makes 520hp at top speed which is more than enough. Even if you could produce more power it's too hard to cool down more than 500hp on the road course and you're trading off reliablity to go faster.

There is a chance I would take an unreliable c8 ...maybe, but certainly not an auto/dct.

It will be sad to see Porsche the last one to carry the purist crown. I think it should be Chevy, but it is what it is.

The Ford Gt is built by a 3rd party to homologate a race car that is simply Ford powered. Ford's way to sell ecoboost in economy cars. It's FI because that's what works for racing and Ford marketing. I don't think the same is true for Chevy. GM is going to want a true road car and aero would be more simple and big engines are more reliable and oddly enough fuel efficient when you need 650+hp.

JerryU

^^^^
Hmm, just looked at the specs, the Porsche offering is interesting! By spinning a NA 4 Liter to 9000 rpm they are getting 500 hp! Actually easier on the trans. Perhaps Chevy can source it from ZF where Porsche usually get theirs. Had a ZF in my '93 40th Anniversary Vette!

Rather interesting, the 0 to 60 times are only 3.8 sec while with the none 3rd peddle PDK (also offered) is 3.2 seconds. Even I can shift faster than that-guess not!! Doubt the C8 will have an engine that can rev to 9000 (too expensive) but perhaps a NA version of the 3.6 Liter turbo engine I predicted that revs to 7500 rpm can still get to 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, that is Grand Sport territory! Perhaps that will be the low cost version of the C8!

I agree with your assessment, I want a NA 3 peddle car! 6 speeds are fine. In my case really don't want a car I need to travel an hour to get serviced as I did for the wife's Cayenne. I also like to change my own oil, couldn't even fine anybody in town who could change the Cayenne oil AND zero the miles, had to be connected to the Porsche computer! Their service rates were also very high!

Right now very happy with my M7 Grand Sport.

flyingbunnys

The days of the manual transmission are coming to an end, the technology built into an auto as far a duel clutch, shift speed, programmable settings and such are pushing manuals the way of the dodo. Computers just do it better, though I am an IT guy and a millennial so I might be bias.


Also for full disclosure the only manual I have ever driven was a 1987 Trabant. It was a 5 speed: reverse, park, neutral, gear 1, and gear 2. That car truly is the best case against communism/socialism, it was miserable.

Judgment Day

If we assume to trust other factors in the C8 that wouldn't deter us from buying the vehicle other than what was mentioned, initial response would be no (though I could be prone to change my mind). And I say this due to the level of competition that the Corvette would have at the time. It would certainly help if a manual was available because it always helps to have more options for the consumer; especially one that traditionally has a manual transmission for the die-hards.

So even with the tech specs, Chevy has to keep their friends close and their enemies closer. There are loyalists to the brand, but if their competitor offers a comparable product with a manual, I don't think you want to test their loyalty in that regard. It's a very fierce business.

And a side note: While the average of MTs are substantially low here in the US, and the manual sales for the C7 have decreased year after year, they're significantly higher than the national average. Based on recent production numbers, 1 of 5 Corvettes are still being produced with a manual in 2017 for both the Grand Sport and Stingray. Almost 1 out of 3 for the Z06. Now whether that equates to sales is another story, but it hardly warrants consideration for dumping the option once the C8 (mid engine or otherwise) is out.

99HRDTP

Porsche had to come back to it with it's special models, 911R and now GT3, because of customer demand. Hopefully Chevy learns and doesn't repeat the mistake. There will always be customers for 3 pedals, albeit less percentage than for auto's. Offering both would remain a wise choice.

ShahulX

100% agree on both...leather is overrated. Microfiber/alcantara interior like the special edition ferrari's and 911 gt3 RS...

If auto only I'llend up getting something else.. I bought the vette for many reasons, but was the fastest car I could afford with 3 pedals...

I work for Mercedes and AMG.. but I bought the vette because we don't sell a manual 3 pedal AMG. Although I daily drive a MB.

high revving mid engine manual and i'd trade in my grand sport

65 fi

Why not kick this mid-engined Corvette in the pants. A sequential transmission teamed to 800+ h.p. with about the same torque all sitting in an aluminum body would be cool. If limited production for such a car is the only option then so be it. It seems crazy to me to remain behind the times with delusions of a bunch of aging baby boomers (myself included) as the targeted market. Youth likes younger ideas that will excite and make the adrenaline flow. A lack luster wana-be Ferrari is just as weak as a Holden GTO.

flyingbunnys

I am a millennial and I voted to keep the corvette front engine.

65 fi

There was an interesting you tube regarding front engined automobiles reaching a point where further refinement is limited by the inherent characteristics of a front engined car. Conversely, the mid engined design opens up numerous possible development possibilities.

morgy2036

I had a 335is between vettes with a dct so that's what I thought too. I couldn't live with it.

not08crmanymore

I thought GM already stopped making manual tranny Vettes..or maybe it is Ferrari. lol. Either way,today's tech makes the auto faster and more efficient than the manual tranny and the majority of people in today's world prefer auto with paddles or just a straight auto. Sucks but tech marches on.....I prefer a stick myself but should I get back into a VETTE and it's new...I may be left with no choice but the auto.

ROUTE 66

I will never own a auto anything.
This is not meant as a boast to anyone. So you should not take it that way.
This is a message to GM. If you stop putting manual transmissions in corvettes. You have already sold me my last one. I have purchased 3 new corvettes from your dealers. My 1st was a 1993 ZR1, 2nd was a 2007 Z06, 3rd 2010 ZR1. In 2001 I purchased a 2002 Chevy step side Pu. All manual trans. I still own and dive them all.
I would like to have a new Pu but you no longer put manual trans in full size Pu. Two weeks ago I went to the dealer where I purchased my Z06.
I was thinking of downsizing to a Colorado Pu just to get a new truck with a manual trans. I was told by the salesman the only motor I could get with the manual trans would be a 4 cylinder. [ What kind of cr.p is that].
It looks like I will be driving my old truck tell I can no longer drive.
Foot note,,
In 1975 I bought a new Trans Am with a auto trans I sold it because of trans. Hated the d.mn girly man transmission.

Larry/car

I purchased a 2016 Colorado a few months back. It came with a V6 and a six speed automatic. There is a 8 speed auto available. The V6 performs great, over three hundred horse power, the automatic sucks. Shifts occasionally are slow (actually have to wait on the transmission at times), has six gears and shifts all the time, the truck shutters as the transmission decides what to do and the transmission thinks (often times - wrong), hate it. If it was on my C7 Corvette, I would trade it off, it is that bad. I will live with it on the truck.

ROUTE 66

Thanks
I had no idea how they preformed.
It sounds like they should put a manual in. I wish they would.

Z_Rocks

If GM doesn't offer manual, they will lose a big market who do not buy, GTR, Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche, AMG and others who don't offer manual.

GM can grab this huge market of manual mid-engine. I hope GM is reading this.