GM’s 8L45 Eight-Speed Automatic To Debut In 2016 Cadillac CT6
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Having announced a new engine family for the upcoming 2016 Cadillac CT6, General Motors just announced the new paddle-shift 8L45 eight-speed automatic transmission.
The new 8L45 gearbox is based on the same eight-speed transmission family as the 8L90 introduced in the 2015 Corvette Z06. It will launch in the non-performance variants of the 2016 Cadillac CT6, 2016 Cadillac CTS and ATS, and the 2016 Chevy Camaro.
Engines
Vehicles
- 2016 Cadillac ATS 2.5L I4 LCV
- 2016 Cadillac ATS 2.0L I4 Turbo LTG
- 2016 Cadillac ATS 3.6L V6 LGX
- 2016 Cadillac CTS 2.0L Turbo I4 LTG
- 2016 Cadillac CTS 3.6L V6 I4 LGX
- 2016 Cadillac CT6 2.0L Turbo I4 LTG
- 2016 Cadillac CT6 3.6L V6 LGX
- 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0L Turbo I4 LTG
- 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 3.6L V6 LGX
The 8L45 has been scaled to match the performance on offer from the less powerful engines, with the 8L90 will serve in high horsepower and high torque applications like the ATS-V, CTS-V, twin-turbo CT6, and the 2016 Corvette (include the 2016 Corvette Stingray and 2016 Corvette Z06).
Like the 8L90, the 8L45 occupies the same space as GM’s previous six-speed while weighing less. The 8L45 is actually a bit smaller and approximately 33 pounds lighter than the 8L90, but has the same grouping of four gearsets and five clutches. The 8L45 also incorporates special components necessary for engines with start/stop technology.
One of the major changes to the 8L45 compared to the 8L90 is the gear ratios. With a wide 7.0 overall gear ratio and numerically higher 4.62 first gear, the 8L45 will help drivers “start off more confidently, with a greater feeling of immediate performance.” The gear ratios and smaller steps between gears also result in a 5 percent fuel economy benefit over a six-speed automatic.
“The 8L45 was designed to enhance the CT6’s driving experience, offering a strong balance between performance and efficiency,” said Bill Goodrich, GM’s assistant chief engineer for eight-speed automatic transmissions “Perhaps its best attribute will be that customers really won’t notice it – they’ll simply enjoy the CT6’s seamless, smooth driving experience and on-demand performance.”
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Finally Cadillac can put the archaic 6 speed automatic transmission to bed where it belongs.
Luxury and non-lux automakers, for some time now, have gone to 7, 8 and 9 speed transmissions.
Gosh even the Ram truck has a 3 speed numerical advantage over some Cadillac models.
GM has made some of the best transmissions in the industry where even BMW and Jaguar has used them in the past. The only issued I always had was that as engine technology was advancing, the transmissions were not keeping up. My 2002 Chevy Trailblazer with the 4.2L I6 could have used a 6 speed tranny. A brand new engine with really good HP, but torque was a little high on the RPM band. With a 6 speed the power could have been spread better. The New Corvette should have been sold with the 8 speed since the beginning. I can not even imaging how expensive is to roll out a new engines and transmission, but if you want to be taken seriously in the world you have to compete.