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Cadillac ATS, CTS, New Camaro, Chevy Colorado & GMC Canyon On Deck For 8L60 Transmission (UPDATE)

Unsurprisingly, General Motors has big plans for its eight-speed transmissions, which seems suitable for just about all of its cars with a rear-wheel-drivetrain. At first, it will be offered in the 2015 Corvette Stingray, followed by the 2015 Z06, and as a rolling update for the 2015 GM trucks and SUV models equipped with a 6.2L V8. This includes the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum, 2015 GMC Yukon Denali, and the top-end GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado half-ton trucks. In fact, an IHS Automotive forecast for the transmission predicts that GM will make nearly 200,000 of the eight-speed gearboxes for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in each of the next two years.

Now, Automotive News is reporting that the eight-speeds will make its way into the likes of the Cadillac ATS and non-Vsport CTS models in the future. IHS also predicts that the eight-speed, built at the Toledo, Ohio powertrain plant will find its way into the upcoming Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups by 2016 and possibly GM’s next generation of cargo vans by 2018. The compact gearbox is also expected for the sixth-generation 2016 Chevy Camaro. Probably the upcoming 2016 Cadillac LTS, too.

General Motors won’t confirm any of this, but global product chief Mark Reuss shared that the mass-produced automatic transmission will be “a big part of our product lineup.”

The transmission, along with faster shifting, should bring increased fuel economy in all applications. The Cadillac ATS, for example, lags in the segment when it comes to miles per gallon, and could greatly benefit from two extra gears. The 2015 Canyon and 2015 Colorado, meanwhile, are already anticipated to bring class-leading fuel economy, and adding a few more gears to the equation will only strengthen their positioning in the segment. It sounds like a win/win, if buyers can wait long enough.

Update: A previous version of this story cited the 8L90 eight-speed transmission as the go-to gearbox for all of these applications. However, we believe that the lighter-duty 8L60 eight-speed transmission will be utilized for the aforementioned vehicles based on our latest intelligence.

Former staff.

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Comments

  1. Fuel Economy is going to be a biggie down the road. This fracking may prove not to be without a downside. Europe gets oil from Russia and that could be an issue. So, GM and other American car makers have to keep up the effort to be more fuel efficient. I would like to see an SUV on the Colorado frame and have it have the VOLT technology …

    Reply
    1. I want to see massive tow number egualling ecoboost F 150. This truck has the torque not tty he hp. I hope Gmc is CONSERVATIVE ON TOW RATING.

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  2. I hope all this comes for real! I now GM can do it, i love it. I want it on my new 2016 Colorado Diesel !

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  3. 8 speed Colorado diesel… Count me in.

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  4. I have my doubt that it will be on the Colorado/canyon unless it’s on Denali or high country or just equipped with the 3.6 v6

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  5. What did you think they were going to build it and just put it on display?

    Hell yes they are going to use it and it will be replace even with another transmission later.

    The development cost of these transmission as such will be spread over the entire company. They will use it in as many cars as possible as they can. The cost need spread out and the increase of MPG is a must.

    This is the next Turbo 350 of the next 10-15 years.

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  6. I am glad that they are planning on putting them in the new vehicles. I like the fact that they are putting them in the small trucks as well because I like to them V6 to as fuel efficient as possible and having 300 horsepower will be big plus. If they wait and 2-3 years down the road it won’t have a big of an effect like next year or 2016 model year. If I’m not mistaking the 8L90 is as light or lighter than the 6L80-90, so that is another plus. And all the new cars need them so hope they will push to get them out soon and have all the bugs if there is any out.

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  7. Great news for RWD vehicles. What about FWD vehicles? Their old 6-speed auto is ancient. Is there help coming for them soon? I wonder if it will be a 7-speed DCT.

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    1. GM and Ford are co developing a 10 speed transmission. I believe the 10 speed is for front wheel drive vehicles and rear wheel drive vehicles. I thought they were making 2 transmissions a 9 and a 10 speed, but I do know that they are making the 10 speed and it will probably be out in a couple of years hopefully. I don’t know what car will be the first to use it but they are developing a new trans for FWD for sure.

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      1. The 10-Speed and 8-Speed Automatic’s are RWD-Based only. That said, GM will be putting out a new 7-Speed DCT and 9-Speed Automatic for FWD-Based vehicles. Of course GM will still keep it’s “updated 6-Speed Automatic” around.

        6-Speed Auto-
        Spark / Trax
        Encore

        7-Speed DCT-
        Cruze / Sonic / Equinox
        Verano / Cascada / Envision

        8-Speed Auto-
        Camaro / C7 / SS / Colorado / Tahoe / Suburban / Silverado 1500 / Express
        Canyon / Yukon / Sierra 1500 / Savana
        ATS / CTS / LTS / Escalade

        9-Speed Auto-
        Malibu / Impala / Traverse
        Regal / LaCrosse / Enclave
        Terrain / Acadia
        SRX

        10-Speed Auto-
        Silverado HD’s
        Sierra HD’s

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    2. Just get rid of FWD and the world will be a better place.

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  8. Everything will get an 8 speed, but I doubt everything will get the 8L90. I’m sure we’ll see other variations for applications with lower torque ratings. (8L50, 8L80? etc…)

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  9. What about the AWD version of the ATS? Will it receive the 8 speed transmission as well?

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  10. Remember, there are going to be two different 8 speed transmissions. Even the Writer of this article got them confused at first. There is the 8L90 8-speed that is coming out now. It just now became available on the GMC Yukon Denali. The rumor was that it was supposed to be offered on all Sierra models by the 4th quarter of this year. It’s getting pretty late already and it is still is not available on the Sierra just yet. I’m waiting. Then there is the 8L60 8-speed transmission that is a lighter duty transmission made for the non truck RWD vehicles in the Chevy line such as the Camaro and Cargo Vans. This transmission is likely to be available in 2016 model year vehicles.

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  11. Loaded Canyon, 4door, 6′ bed 4×4, diesel with 8speed, 30+mpg city and 35+hwy these will sell all day long. I will be first in line.

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  12. Be careful what you wish for! I have a 2015 yukon denali xl with an eight speed and it had shifting problems and a pan gasket leak. I’m on my second eight speed and it has shifting problems, but no oil leaks. My dealer has been great with service but gm can’t dial in the fix on the problem.

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  13. These transmissions are no good! I have a brand new 2015 GMC Canyon and the transmission slips and hesitates way to much. It shifts so hard! I’m fixing go take it back to the dealer. Don’t get your hopes up..!

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  14. I also have a 2015 GMC Canyon. Great truck, but the auto trans is NOT its best feature. Too much hesitation/searching when I need to accelerate. It’s especially noticeable between 20 and 50 mph. Actually unnerving sometimes when I need to pass quickly on freeway. I’d welcome a fix from GMC, but doubt that it will happen unless all 2015 Canyon and Colorado owners start complaining loudly. Let’s hope.

    Reply

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