New Eight-Speed Transmission Could Give Corvette Stingray 30 mpg

If there were any skepticism about General Motors’ commitment to making the Corvette Stingray one of the most competitive sports cars in the world, then a recent report by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) eradicates any doubt.

According to the top engineering industry source, GM is pretty certain its all-new 8L90 automatic transmission will give the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray an EPA-certified 30 mpg on the highway. And while that’s only two mpg over the 2014 Corvette’s current 28 highway mpg with the 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission, the improvement would definitely put the ‘Vette in an elite class as a sports car.

The new 8L90, which will go into production later this year, is the automaker’s first eight-speed planetary automatic transmission developed in house.

Short of saying it is a for-sure thing, General Motors seems pretty confident it will reach that 30-mpg number with the new transmission when questioned.

“No comment—but we’re giving the vehicle team a ratio spread of seven that’s wider than the current six-speed, and will be useful in improving overall efficiency,” Kavoos Kaveh, GM Powertrain’s Global Chief Engineer for six- and eight-speed automatic transmissions, said according to the SAE report.

Tadge Juechter, Corvette Executive Chief Engineer added: “We’re very close to 30 mpg with the six-speed car, so two extra ratios is something we like very much.”

The new eight-speed is also said to enable upshifts that are up to 0.08 seconds quicker than the DCT-equipped Porsche 911, while also improving the Corvette’s overall NVH attenuation.

To read more of the SAE report on the new 8L90 transmission click here.