BK Vette

will the clutches be considered a wear item or covered under warranty due to it being computer controlled?

Are they "wet clutches" designed to last the life of the car similar to Audi and BMW transmissions, or "dry" like the Alfa Romeo 4C?

I think the former due to the power

MitchAlsup

They will be wet clutches designed to last the life of the car.
Anyway, the transmissions are not a big source of problems for Ferrari and Lamborghini.

However, I suspect the drag racers in our midst won't like the life of them......

Foosh

Since it is considered to be an automatic transmission, everything will be covered under the powertrain warranty as long as it's left OEM. Since it's entirely operated by computer and software, it's immune to poor driver technique, which can quickly wear out the clutch on a manual transmission vehicle. That's why it's considered a wear item in that case.

However, there may be some circumstances where driver abuse may be cited such as racing. It will be interesting to see what, if any, guidelines are provided along those lines.

jefnvk

The last clutch I replaced on a MT lasted three owners and about 160k. I'd suspect whatever is in there will easily clear whatever powertrain warranty GM sticks on it, short of track use which will undoubtedly rejected.

Michael A

I would love to hear how long the Porsche PDK clutches last, especially driven in stop and go traffic. I doubt they last as long as any of the manual transmission clutches in my cars. I've never worn one out.

Foosh

I've never worn one out either in a lifetime of stop and go driving with several dozen manuals, but you'd be amazed how badly some were driven back in the day. Prematurely worn out clutches are largely a thing of the past because the only folks still driving them are reasonably competent.

0bbbvettes.com

It will be like the A8 is now... the car will not produce full power/torque in first and second gear to give all the wearable transmission components an easier life.

The A8's, on the z06, if the car is left with fully stock engine setup, and the transmission and engine are aftermarket tuned back up (trans is a must), the car will launch at the strip very hard. I believe stock zo6 with full drag wheels and tires on the back, are able to do 1.3x 60 foot's at the strip....

So it will likely be more of the same with the c8... the car will be limited in the first 2 or 3 gears to protect the DCT and rear diff and axles/output shafts.

RedMercy

its not immune to poor driver technique.

RedMercy

In the usa*

ByByBMW

Maybe not but probably more immune than poor MT technique since the DCT will be totally computer controlled.

Foosh

Uh, it should have been clearly apparent what I meant, but you're quibbling now. Obviously, no transmission or any other part of the drivetrain is immune to driver abuse. However, one can wear out a manual transmission clutch much more quickly by slipping it incessantly, which is why it has traditionally not been a warranty-covered item. A computer-controlled transmission can mitigate damage to a much greater extent than is possible with a human in total control.

JerryU

Can't side step the none existent clutch pedal! Now who would do that!? Ops, back in the day I resembled that remark!

However with those skinny tires available at the time they took most of the abuse! In fact to get off the line with lots of power and a light car had to slip the clutch! That was abuse!

thebishman

A well designed and built DCT is extremely resistant to ‘abuse’. R&T tested the launch control feature on a 991.1(?) Porsche TT-S and after 30 full bore LC starts the car was still going strong. Iirc the author had to stop due to being worn out, not the car. Further, the TCU will not allow a LC start should certain parameters be exceeded. So I expect the DCT in the C8 to be well sorted prior to the car’s launch date, as the warranty costs of multiple DCT failures of the car would be staggeringly high. (DCTs many times are replaced by manufacturers and not repaired at a dealership).

Now this is for cars that are in OEM configuration. Mess with the original ‘tune’ at your peril re: drivetrain warranty coverage.

Bish

NY09C6

Stock it will be fine, the ECU will be configured to protect it. Drag racers who tune are not going to be happy.

vndkshn

Its amazing the number of people who own and drive manuals in Europe and South America (at least Brazil). An automatic is pretty freakin rare to see. Getting a rental with an automatic results in a HUGE upcharge.

RedMercy

As much as 60% more

JerryU

But many new cars are going to dual clutch transmissions, one reason is they can be controlled automatically to get optimum shifting for best mpg.

Some of the lower powered cars use dry clutches so just as efficient as a manual. Tremic bought a company in Europe that produced DCT a couple of years ago for the technology. ZF, who made the 6 speed standard trans trans for my '93 Vette in Europe and builds transmissions for Porsche, Ferrari etc, is expanding their operations in the US. They have a million square foot transmission plant in Gray Court SC that will have 1200 employees.

Will be interested to see if Tremic or ZF get the C8 business! Both have been speculated.

The high performance C7 Michelin tires are made in SC. The wife's X5 BMW SUV with the sport suspension has 315 section width sport run flats made by Continental in a new plant in Sumter SC. Volvo has made their first car in a new plant near Charleston SC (where Boeing makes the Dreamliner!)

Go Tigers!

jefnvk

That is changing rapidly, at least in Europe. We are seeing new CUVs and luxury cars for the EU market which don't even come with a manual now, which would have been inconceivable even a decade ago. As I alluded to in a few other threads, the driver assist and collision mitigation stuff is having a huge impact on powertrain offerings, having a transmission the vehicle can control opens up a lot of options not otherwise possible. Couple that with one of the bigger trends of EVs being to replace short range city cars, where the crap EU econoboxs with nothing but a manual and 13" wheels ruled, and I think you are going to see that paradigm quickly turned against manuals there. In actuality, last two times I was in Europe, they tried to upgrade me free to an automatic when I rented cars.

vndkshn

The switch to CUV/SUV type vehicles is definitely part of it. I think it is also due to the manufacturers being able to control the transmission behavior more (possible emissions/economy implication). Most default now to the eco settings.

TBIRD57

i just want to be able to get it out of PARK all the time!