5 Important Transmissions in Corvette History

From automatic overdrives to durability and longevity, these five transmissions left their mark between you and your Corvette.

Many things made the Corvette stand above the rest over its long life: design, engine choices, technology. Every piece that ever found a home within America’s sports car shaped the way the ‘Vette would be on the road.

This includes transmissions. Without a way to put the power of the big V8 to the ground, all you have is rolling art. However, some transmissions stand out from the others. Here are five such transmissions which controlled the Corvette’s power.

Tremec TR-9080 DCT (C8)

Behold the sole transmission powering the C8-era Corvette! The Tremec TR-9080 DCT eight-speed dual-clutch automatic came about as a result of what the engineers wanted out of their first mid-engine ‘Vette.

According to SAE publication Automotive Engineering, chief engineer Tadge Juechter benchmarked Porsche’s offerings, especially the company’s PDK transmission. Thus, the TR-90080 DCT “can transition from gear to gear in less than 100 milliseconds without interrupting torque,” Tremec said in a statement. The current version can handle up to 590 lb-ft of torque, while versions for higher-performance ‘Vettes are in the works.