Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Tech, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM
C7 Corvette could get a dual-clutch transmission
Late last Friday after the local union officials got to hear the details about the new GM-UAW contract details started emerging about future product plans. It looks like part of the cost for the company to get the union to make some concessions was to commit new products to a bunch of plants. At first we only heard about the assembly plants with the news that the Volt would be produced in Detroit and the small RWD Alpha platform would go to Lordstown OH. Now more of the contract is coming out including commitments to parts plants.
Of interest to Corvette fans is a line item for the Toledo OH transmission plant which reads "RWD DCT for NG Corvette will be allocated (2012)". DCT typically refers to dual clutch transmission. That means the C7 'Vette will almost surely get a DCT. Another product for Toledo and the Baltimore transmission plant is the RWD Gen II Hybrid transmission for 2011/12. This could be an updated, and hopefully lower cost version, of the Two-Mode that could be applied to other applications. Hmmm... do I hear hybrid Zetas? One plant that isn't getting new product is the Livonia, MI engine plant that produces the Northstar V-8s used in Cadillacs when that engine dies in 2010. GM announced a new V-8 engine earlier this year that would be built at the Tonawanda, NY engine plant and the Livonia plant will close.
[Source: GM Inside News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fordman 4:41PM (10/02/2007)
I want the simple days of regular automatic and regular manual back.
I dont want no paddleshifter automatics, dual clutch automatics, clutchless manuals, sportshift automatics, hill assist manuals, and on and on.
Give us more gears but dont be everything to everyone.
Either 3 pedals full manual or Full automatic with PRND432.
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zamafir 5:17PM (10/02/2007)
bwaaahahahaha, man you made my day. ever driven a DSG equipped car? You know, where you can select PRND432? Only... you select it instantly and where the car makes seamless transitions between the gears while in drive? Man I hope you're kidding.
Nick 5:16PM (10/02/2007)
Why in God's name would you want an old slush box instead of a dual-clutch system? A DCT can run in full auto mode like a traditional auto, and it has the capability for manual mode, all while providing extremely fast, and incredibly smooth shifts, with none of the downsides of the old slush boxes.
A traditional manual along side a DCT option is the -ONLY- way to go. The old automatic transmission is a relic of the past.
John 4:53PM (10/02/2007)
Hmm...I'll take a DSG where ever I can get it.
Faster shifts than a manual AND I get an Auto mode for when I'm feeling lazy or stuck in traffic? I really don't see the downside.
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500 5:14PM (10/02/2007)
All these articles about what GM promised to the unions, and it still isn't clear to me: did GM cave big time to the unions to avoid a prolonged strike, or did they pretty much just commit to projects they already had planned?
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Azrael4h 5:43PM (10/02/2007)
I think they committed to keeping those projects produced here in the U.S., instead of using slave labor in China.
And while I miss the days of the indestructible Torqueflights as well, even that is bested hands down by a DCT. All a DCT is is a manual that can shift itself.
As far as "hillholders", Studebaker had a hill holder option, and they haven't been building cars since '66. My '53 Had the hill holder. So that's not even remotely new. Just something that should have become standard equipment on all manual transmissions long ago.
Paddleshifters, whether auto or not, make sense as it removes the necessity of driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on the gear shift. Important when tearing up a dirt track or road course.
Now if you complained about the rubber band CVT, that lacks the reliability of a real slush-box and both the economy of a stick as well as reliability, then I could understand. DCT? No, it's the best thing to happen to automatic transmissions since the A-727 3 speed.
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naggs 5:49PM (10/02/2007)
slush boxes can die whenever, a better alternative solution has arrived
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Dude 6:01PM (10/02/2007)
Fordman, no need to worry. Ford can keep its traditional automatics. Power to GM! I hope they actually do it.
DSGs/DCTs are fantastic... I drove a GTI with one and it was absolutely amazing. Fast, power-on shifts when you want and you can also just put it in "auto" mode if you're in traffic.
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SPG 6:50PM (10/02/2007)
I think I say this everyday on here.
GM is on a roll!
Damn I used to hate this company.
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Larry 7:12PM (10/02/2007)
Am I the only one who thinks this "C-6" is OVER-STYLED? Like the '68 was, (but hey that was 39 years ago!) All those unneccesary lines, angles, scoops, etc........ It may be a great car, but, styling? NOOOOOO! Bring back the UNIQUENESS OF '53, the '63, and the '83!
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FLR 10:03PM (10/02/2007)
I'm sure you're not the only one who thinks that, but probably in the minority.
I've loved the C6 since I saw the first pictures in Car and Driver back in 2004. Never a big fan of the C4 or C5. I loved the C1-C3. As of this past Saturday there is a Lemans Blue C6 M6 parked in my driveway.
I just washed it for the first time tonight. As I was washing it, I began to appreciate the curves and angles even more. The general shape reminds me a lot of the C3 as it has a Coke bottle shape to it. The nose really slopes down.
However, washing it tonight, a thought began to sink in....."Holy $hit!!! I own a Corvette!!!" Woohooo!!!
Oh yeah, about the DCT....I love shifting myself. It's a skill. Anyone can leave the car in "D" but not everyone can drive the hell out of a stick. I'm sure the DCT will be just as quick if not faster than a manual. However, I like being connected to the car. I'll have to drive a DCT to see how I like it, maybe I'll change my mind.
Ligor 7:13PM (10/02/2007)
DCT are jsut fine by me
and if GM makes it a good one for the Vette, this car will become even more desirable
Then the CTS/STS need to get one and maybe even all the RWD pontiacs
I'm sure they first need to get the supplier capacity up to be able to produce enough for the demand that for sure will grow.
CVT's should be fine for anything boring like minivans and maybe even CUV's
my wife loves the one on her Murano - she could care less about how quicks shifts happen on a DCT, but the smoothness of the CVT has her enjoying her car.
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Evan Brom 7:24PM (10/02/2007)
Has any one had to do a DCT clutch replacement yet? What do 2 friction plates and what ever the other wearable parts cost? How does hard launching work with one of these? I would be glad to not have to heel to shift as I am horrible at that.
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zamafir 7:42PM (10/02/2007)
Should anyone have to? The clutch pack should be covered by the power train warranty, including launching (as VW warranties their cars with DSG and Launch Control). The only superfluous work required for the life of the warranty is changing the fluid (in VW's case, I'm using them as a references as they've kind of been the pioneers in this segment in regards to bringing this technology forth for public consumption).
Evan Brom 7:58PM (10/02/2007)
Grants DCT's are new so most are under warranty but I have luck where my Camaro had repairs needed right after 36k Miles and my hybrid now needs a new battery after 85k both right after the warranty periods. So some day that GTI, TT or Evo will need a new clutch and who knows what that will cost.
Zamafir 9:58PM (10/02/2007)
A significant amount as they are closed systems akin to other autoboxes. Ive heard a few thousand for upgraded clutch packs and up to ten for the entire transmission - though that's dealer not your oem pepboys drop in dsg price LOL
MikeW 11:49PM (10/02/2007)
They are wet clutches. The fluid is supposed to wear (shear out), and that is why you change the filter and fluid. The interval to change is determined by how you drive.
Race cars are really the only vehicles that need paddle shifters. Especially F1, isn't the steering limited to at most 1 revolution from lock to lock.
Double clutch transmission don't shift gears. They transition gears. They could be programmed to shift, but why?
Audi 2.0tdi dsg
http://www.zeroshift.com/pics/graph1.jpg
dean 11:53AM (10/03/2007)
DSG? Wow, Corvette just got the 6spd auto a year or two! I wonder if it will be a corvette exclusive, or appear in Cadillacs and other models too? Would be pretty rad (yes, rad) if the Malibu got a DSG ahead of the Camry and Accord and Fusion. Scoop the competition.
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