Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission Confirmed for 2015 Corvette Stingray

After weeks of circling the rumor mill, General Motors has made it official: the Corvette Stingray will be offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission for 2015.

Designed and built by GM in-house, the automaker says the new transmission will deliver world-class shift times that will rival some of the best dual-clutch systems on the market, all while delivering better fuel efficiency.

“Corvette Stingray’s new eight-speed automatic delivers the comfort and drivability of a true automatic transmission, as well as lightning-fast shifts and the manual control that enhance the performance-driving experience,” said Bill Goodrich, assistant chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions, in an official GM statement about the new transmission. “It was designed to enhance the Stingray’s driving experience, with performance on par with dual-clutch designs, but without sacrificing refinement.”

As if the Corvette didn’t already have enough to brag about, right?

The new automatic transmission, known as the 8L90, is based on the same eight-speed automatic that will be offered on the supercharged 2015 Corvette Z06, but modified to match the torque capacity of the Stingray’s LT1 6.2L naturally aspirated engine, according to GM.

The automaker says wide-open throttle upshifts are up to eight-hundredths of a second quicker than those of the dual-clutch transmission offered in the Porsche 911. That should make the boys overseas even more envious of the C7.

image [Edmunds]