We can just imagine a vehicle’s engine yelling to its transmission: “MOAR gears! I need MOAR gears!” And if The General’s engines could speak, they’d probably be doing quite a bit of yelling.
Luckily, the engine’s demands will soon be met thanks to the fact that General Motors will soon release an eight-speed transmission across most of its rear-wheel drive model range. In fact, Chevy has already announced the Hydra-Matic 8L90E heavy-duty eight-speed for the 2015 Corvette Z06, which will allow the new super car to handle 635 lb.-ft. of torque created by the beast that is the supercharged LT4 motor. But some would say that other vehicles in GM’s lineup are in need of an eight-speed even more than the mighty new Z06. And it’s those vehicles, in particular, that represent the majority of the automaker’s sales volume.
For instance, GM’s new range of pickup trucks, such as the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, along with its line of full-size SUVs, and Cadillac luxury vehicles, would benefit greatly from the addition of two more speeds to their gearboxes, as the vehicles currently make do with outmoded six-speed gearboxes.
The good news is that The General will be able to spread the cost of developing the new eight-speed transmission by using it, in various forms of durability, across many vehicles. We expect the new transmission to be a workhorse for The General, and be available in various forms of robustness (such as 8L50, 8L80, 8L90, etc.), in the following vehicles in the near future:
- 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (reported)
- 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (confirmed)
- Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
- Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV
- 6th-generation Chevrolet Camaro
- Cadillac ATS, CTS, LTS (the 2014 CTS uses ZF-sourced 8-speed unit)
- Chevrolet SS/Holden Commodore replacement
For those who doubt that the gearbox in question will be used in trucks and SUVs, consider the fact that Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter recently stated that re-calibrating the eight-speed for a non-transaxle use will be relatively easy.
For consumers and car guys like us, the new 8-speed will unquestionably deliver higher fuel economy and better power by allowing the engine to operate at a more optimal RPM range more often. It will also make GM’s vehicles more competitive in relation to its rivals. And at the end of the day, more power, higher efficiency, and a better, more competitive product is really what it’s all about. We just wish the transmission was here today yesterday… because the competition (RAM, for instance) already has it.
Comments
I doubt this 8spd will go into the trucks, that’s where the GM-Ford developed 10spd is going. I bet they have some sort of development deal with Ford that they can’t introduce it until the same year Ford does. It will be in the 2015 F150, so expect it in the 2015 full-size trucks and SUV counter parts.
Don’t forget that this transmission would have to be modified for the non-transaxle trucks, it’s not just a drop-in and bolt-on.
Andrew — the 8-speed will be the same, but slightly adapted, for trucks. It’s not a drop-in, but it’s close. I updated the article with a comment from Tadge Juechter below the list.
Also, the 2015 F-150 will launch with a 6-speed as far as I understand, and will make do with it for the first 1-2 years of its existence.
Lol where and when did he say that? An unsourced quote is meaningless and makes me look like a dick/idiot (not something you should want to do to your readers). Without a source for the quote i could counter and tell you he said the exact opposite.
I do know he mentioned an 8spd being used, but that was an on the fly informal comment he made. And how many times have execs back pedalled on comments made. GM’s own website has a press release stating transmission intentions for their trucka (im on my phone or i would provide the link). Ford preproduction trucks have been seen testing at GM proving grounds with their jointly developed unit, and that was a while ago, maybe even as far back as last summer.
A transaxle style transmission iisn’t something you just “recalibrate” lol.
Andrew, my job isn’t to make you look a certain way… it is to report the news and other information as accurately and timely as possible. If you feel that I made you look a certain way, that was not my intention — and I apologize.
So that I’m perfectly clear, are you calling my credibility, as well as that of GMA, into question by asking for a “source”? If so, we are the source… although other outlets may have reported on it as well. If you’d like to pursue this further, please let me know and I’ll see if I can dig up a few things here and there.
And yes — not everything executives and other GM employees say is written in stone… I’m sure we can both present some examples. But again, I’m simply reporting on the facts here.
To address your doubts surrounding to the ability to use a transmission in a certain application: GM uses the current 6L90 transmission in the following vehicles:
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Cadillac CTS-V (second-gen)
Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD (with the L96/LC8)
Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL (with the L96)
Hi Chris it’s been confirmed that 2015.5 Denali 6.2 will be getting the 8 speed 4th Quarter. My question is do you think the people that bought the 2015 Denali’s with the 6 speed , do you think that the SUVs drop in Value as others are claiming on another Forum. Just curious on your thoughts. Thank you
Chris, any clarification on that quote from Tadge? Who really has nothing to do with truck development at GM. Had it been Jeff Luke who made those comments it would have a more solid foundation.
I don’t see them taking a trans-axle transmission and fully redesigning it for truck applications.
they should put it in to the Delta, Epsilon, and lambda platforms as well
Those are fwd platforms, this is is a transaxle rwd transmission. Along with the 10spd i mentioned in my other comment, GM and Ford did/are doing a 9spd fwd transmission, that’ll be what you are referring to!
I’m just saying it so they can put it asap not waiting for another few years
I think all of gm’s lineup needs an 8-speed( I’m talking in general, I know this article mostly about the RWD vehicles) especially the SUVs those things are gas hogs (buick enclave, chevy traverse)
I have a 2007 Silverado with the 4 speed. Last summer I spent several weeks driving my brothers 2013 Silverado with the 6 speed and I must say I saw nor felt any difference. In fact my mpg is better then my brothers 6 speed. He does have a crew cab and I have the extended cab, but both are 4×4’s with the 5.3.
So I must say is it really that big of deal? I’m sure they will be nice, but more tech to go wrong. I wonder if anyone will just say lets build a plain jane pickup with out any tech?
It’s difficult to believe that a vehicle that has a more efficient engine (thanks to AFM and VVT) and 2 more gets the same MPGs as that with a less fuel fuel efficient engine and 2 less gears. Are you guys driving them the same way and in the same conditions? I don’t think there’s any question that adding 2 more gears to a transmission will improve the power delivery and fuel economy of any vehicle compared to the same vehicle with 2 less gears.
As it relates to a “plain jane pickup”: that’s what the work trucks are for. Outside of those who buy them, the market just doesn’t seem to want something like that.
Chris I think you may be disappointed to find that when you factor in the increased weight on the newer vehicles the fuel economy is generally stagnate across the board when comparing newer models vs out going models.
Actually, I am in the same boat. I owned a 2008 4-speed 5.3 4WD extended cab and traded it at 192,000 miles for a 2011 6-speed and my mileage went down, as well. The trucks were virtually identically configured except for color, added E85 compatibility, added Stabilitrack and the added USB port.
I will also say that the INITIALLY the difference was dramatic but that could be due to the mileages and break-in periods. When my 2011 reached 50,000, the mileage went up a bit but still has not reached the levels my 2008 attained.
That said, I’m not against the 6-speed and do appreciate the part-throttle response the extra two gears do afford, especially in the hills.
I just hope the new trannies are not too shift-happy and that we can put this “more gears race” behind us as, in my opinion, we have reached the point of diminishing return.
As jzEllis states below, the narrower the powerband, the more one can utilize more gear choices to keep the engine operating at load in its designed powerband range. No vote down from me, jz.
The big difference is going from a 4l60e to a stronger Trans period. I’m a big fan of the 80e (I have in my 02 Silversdo ECSB) and love it. I’m only curious what the 8spd will do in a true performance vehicle.
Really? Thumbs down for what? I’m not for 8-Spd performance truck tranny. That’s a no go for me.
Sorry let the vote downs begin, but with the broad torque curves your average V8 (and generally bigger American motors tend to have) there is really no need for more than 4-6 well spaced gears matched to the torque and rev characteristics of the engine and it’s application.
For example the new 7 speed C7 gets the same mpg as a 6 speed manual Vette. How does that work? You mean to tell me that in 2014 we need cylinder deactivation, direct injection AND an extra gear PLUS computer shenanigans to get the same economy as a 10 year old Vette with a manual 6 speed? Oh wait, all of that was negated because it also gained weight. AND it’s a sports car so some of the supposed advantages of economic gears were dropped to maintain peppy acceleration only shorter gears could provide….so in effect a 7 speed auto (and 8 speed manual) is just a keeping up with the jones “hey look at me, I got one too” exercise.
GM has had cars capable of 25-30+mpg EPA ratings since the 80-mid 90s. Many of them were full-size cars with V6 engines no less. And all they had were 4 speeds…and less weight.
I’m not against new tech for techs sake. But I wonder how much more effective it would be for GM to market the fact that it’s superior design and refinement of the classic Small block V8 means that it gets better fuel economy and as good or better performance with LESS complicated gearing, tech, or gimmickry.
I love laughing over my snobby friends shoulder when pricing cars on BMW/Mercedes/Porsche web sites. He options a M4 or AMG, or 911 to well over 90 grand. then I point out how a fully optioned C7 is far cheaper, faster, and gets better gas mileage. All they can say is…”Wow, I didn’t know that” or “Well it’s a Vette, I don’t like Vettes” lol.
To which I say “well you’re entitled to your opinion. But according to the numbers; you aren’t getting the superior car”.
I’m pretty sure it’s 7 spd manual and 8 software auto lol
I was on the “8speed can’t come soon enough” bandwagon until recently. Now I wonder where it will end – will we have 15 speed autos soon? Drive a 4 speed carefully and you will get decent mpgs. Drive a 6 or 8 speed with a lead foot and you will still only get 12 mpgs in a truck. In the end is it just a gimmick, just like cylinder deactivation? Give me a manual / diesel any day, but can’t get those, unless you go for a 3/4 ton Ram. This is America and it is hard to drink that Slurpee while trying to shift.
Get an electric or a hybrid and you can drink that Slurpee and save money on gas to buy the next one!
I don’t think it has been mentioned yet, but for those of you saying more gears/VVT/AFM yields fuel mileage/performance on par with or even slightly worse than older vehicles with 4 or 6 speeds, you’re all forgetting that these new vehicles are getting those results while producing far more horsepower than those older vehicles. You’re not doing a direct comparison. If you pit the C7 with 650 hp, all that tech and the 7/8-speeds against an older machine with fewer gears and tuned to have 650 hp, you’re going to get a fraction of the fuel economy, not to mention the refinement that these new engines and transmissions have.
There’s a lot of testing and engineering that goes into these things. They wouldn’t be putting 8 speeds and VVT and AFM in these vehicles if there wasn’t benefit. Let’s leave the engineering to the actual engineers please.
The big problem with the GM 6-speed auto is not the number of gears but the economy-oriented programming. On our recently traded in 2012 SRX, when you needed a little squirt of acceleration, you’d press the gas, keep pressing, keep pressing, and then finally, boom it would downshift a couple of gears and give you too much. The transmission should more easily just drop down a gear. By comparison, if you put it into sport mode, you got the opposite problem — it would think you’re in boy racer mode all the time, and hold the engine at low gears way too long. There needed to be a mode in-between these two.
We traded it in for a Benz GLK350, which has 7 gears which are programmed well even in E mode. You press down a little bit, and the engine is willing to shift down a gear to give the needed extra power.
Interestingly, our old 2008 SRX — can’t recall if it had a 5 or a 6 speed — with the V8 engine was perfectly programmed transmission-wise. The transmission was always in sync with the driver.
GM needs to worry a bit less about EPA numbers and more about delivering customer satisfaction. The transmission was one reason why we traded the SRX in for a GLK.
Mileage will not be any better…every GM 4 Speed I ever owned got better fuel economy than any 6 Speed did (12 different vehicles-cars and trucks). Ask yourself this, “why do I need 8 Speeds with a 55mph speed limit”? High gear is always high gear no matter how many gears you have…just more things to break too!
“Ask yourself this, “why do I need 8 Speeds with a 55mph speed limit”?”
Because in 8th gear at highway speeds, the revs will be as low as idle. The fuel economy will be better than the old 4 speed auto at 55mph.
Not necessarily. L ike he said, final drive is always final drive. All the gears before that do is make the best use of the hp and torque spread of the engine.
Having more gears just lets u allow for more efficient acceleration BEFORE you drop to a nice low 1:1 final ratio or a overdrive ratio.
can we all just look at what people actually avg with the 8 speed transmissions like Ram 1500, Charger, 300, 3 series, etc THEN we can discuss?? Geezus christ!
Tadge, head of Engineering, indicated in April 2013 at the C 6 bash when asked about the new C 7 comming out with a 8 speed auto. We do not have one. Porsche will NOT sell us theirs. The C7 does NOT need it because of the TORQ of the car. When we think the C7 needs an eight speed we will offer one. Obviously many of us would have delayed our order if we were AWARE six months AFTER my delivery, the world would here GM indeed has one, and will put it in the 2015 stingray. Talk about DECEIVING thousands of us at the bash. Shame shame GM. You can make this right by offering a retro fit to all of us that were stupid enough to trust what you were saying. The transmission will fit, it’s lighter and would require a computer upgrade. What say you GM……….
Dont be so naive, GM isn’t going to give away their product intentions. People buy cars all the time, then the car gets a midcycle refresh or entire redesign the following year, such is the market. Do you get this butt hurt when a new model of your phone comes out?
You bought a car in it’s first model year, don’t sit there and say you didn’t expect small and also significant changes in subsequent years.
Regarding being NAIVE. That is simply a smart ass remark with no bases of fact or truth. Think, after buying over thirty new cars, many jet and turbo prop aircraft I have some basic knowledge of business. GM was pushing the new C7 big time.
Questions were asked at the bash and GM refused to answer. That sir is understandable. That is their right. However, when the question is asked and answers given, and they are not truthful, that sir I, and I am sure others, have a real problem with. Obviously you think deceit is OK and strictly business…… Not if as a business you ever intend to sell another products to the people you have just deceived.
“You bought a car in it’s first model year, don’t sit there and say you didn’t expect small and also significant changes in subsequent years.”
Apple swore up and down they would never develop a phone with a bigger screen, that likely drove some people to Android and Windows phones, then bam the i5 comes out with a bigger screen, and apparently they are going even bigger.
GM doesn’t owe you shit in terms of their future product. You want to always have the newest options available, lease the vehicle.
Dear Andrew. Again you are twisting the truth. Everyone expects changes and upgrades. No one expects to be deceived. You might want to consider a job with the Feds. They think exactly like you do, justify their action like you do, and then twist what was said and blame others like you do. My remarks were based on what was said at the corvette bash, nothing more. Mistakes are made, but those remarks made at the bash regarding the eight speed trans. were NOT a mistake. They were meant to deceive. If you feel it’s just fine and dandy to do this, it’s your, not my problem. I say if you worked for me and did that to prospective customers , you soon would not be. My opinion.
Yeah, better mileage, more power and make GM more competitive !! It had better save a lot of gas because when it has to be repaired or replaced it will break the bank. At the rate things are going I had better buy me a lot of pairs of shoes because I may not be able to afford to ride much longer. I used to be able to work on my own car & truck but not anymore.
I personally don’t care how many gears are in the transmission, could put a three on the tree again if it works. If fuel economy isn’t improved, what is the point, as my old ’03 4 speed worked just fine pulling my travel trailer. Is an 8 speed really an improvement, or just a look how many gears I have thing.
I just drove two different GMC yukon xl…..both 2015 model yrs one with 6spd other with 8spd I have to say I like the six speed way better than 8 spd..stupid CaFE standards ruining these trucks….IMHO the 8 spd felt sluggish and slower( hunting for gears so annoying)…and therefore until they figure out software etc I am not purchasing my third suburban/yukon xl! Btw CVT transmissions are for boring people who drive boring cars!
I just took delivery of a 2015 GMC Denali 1/2 ton p/u . equipped with 6.2 LS3 and 8spd auto at about 1250 miles the trans began to shift erratic and would not immediately go into gear when selected. GM has replaced the trans with a complete new unit. I do like the way the truck feels it shifts very smooth throughout the span from takeoff to highway speed. I have a 2015 Z06 on order and am being told the 8spd is on hold and don’t know when production will be available. I wonder if these two events mean that there problems with the performance of the transmission ?