2015 Corvette Stingray buyers will now have the option choose between the manual version or an all-new eight-speed automatic.
No, this is not the same eight-speed found in the Cadillac CST, but rather an entirely new transmission designed in-house by GM for the 2015 Corvette Z06. The new eight weighs eight pounds less than the previous six-speed found in the Corvette Stingray. Get this: Chevrolet says it will outperform the Porsche 911’s dual-clutch transmission by up to eight hundredths of a second. That’s a lot of eights.
Boringly, the new transmission is named the 8L90. Interestingly, however, the 8L90 is made out of aluminum and magnesium. Chevy is using these metals to abide by the gas mileage game. We’ve heard no rumors surrounding what mpg numbers the newly geared Stingray will produce. It should be comparable to the 17 city and 29 highway figures that the 2014 Stingray seven-speed manual produces, though.
Remember, the new Z06 will also be offered with the 8L90, which is impressive considering the Z06’s LT4 will put down 625 horsepower. If the new transmission can take a beating from that supercharged beast then it should handle the Stingray’s ‘mild’ 455 hp without a problem.
