General Motors has official announced its new 8L90E Hydra-Matic eight-speed automatic transmission will be available in the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 from the 2015 model year onward. The new eight-speed was developed in-house and introduced in the 2015 Corvette Z06, but will also be used in several of the automaker’s other models.
The new transmission has 11 percent greater torque capacity than the outgoing 6L80 six-speed automatic trans which is currently in use in the company’s full-size trucks and SUVs. Thanks to creative packaging, the eight-speed has remained the exact same size as the six speed unit but surprisingly, is lighter than it. In truck applications, the transmission has a wider 7.0 overall gear ratio to help drivers start with confidence when towing a heavy trailer.
GM says the 2015 Silverado 1500 equipped with the 6.2-liter engine and eight-speed automatic transmission will have a maximum trailer rating of 12,000 pounds. EPA estimated fuel economy ratings will likely improve and are to be announced closer to the start of production in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Comments
Now put that combo in the HD’s and you’ll have something.
No dealers seem to have the 6.2 anyway, a great engine but maybe not worth the $2000 increase in price. Also it requires premium fuel. So, there will be what, between 20 and 50 2015 Silverados with 8 speed trannies? Enough so the car mags can sample them and the rest of us fools drive off the lots with the lackluster 5.3 and the clunker 6 speed.
The 6.2L does not require premium fuel. It will quite happily run on regular in a pickup truck.
Wow!!!!!
GM is going to make little improvements on MPG and No One will really notice because Ford will Continue to grab all the headlines with leading edge Aluminum and EcoBoost technology that gets 20-25% better MPG in the F-Series trucks…!!!
Greg,
I guess you did not get the memo. Ford, aka Found On the Road Dead, aka Fix Or Repair Daily aka F**KED-up Old Rotten Dodge aka F**GOTS On the Rag, Driving is about to recall all Eco-Boost engines because they are catching fire. Maybe that better mileage in the F-series trucks is because they are free rolling downhill with a 3 mile smoke trail leading behind because the engine cut off and caught fire.