There was plenty of excitement to go around when we found out that GM’s new 8-speed 8L45 automatic transmission will do shifting duty in the 2017 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. Unfortunately, the 8-speed is not an across-the-board affair, since it is only mated to the midsize trucks’ two gasoline engines. Instead, the six-speed automatic 6L50 will continue shifting the gears in Diesel-powered 2017 model year Colorados and Canyons.
The reason for this turn of events appears to be quite simple, as GM has yet to configure and validate its new 8-speed for use with the 2.8L Duramax LWN four-banger, which brings us to the question of when that will take place.
At this time, there is nothing official about when the 8-speed will be joined with the Colorado Diesel or Canyon Diesel, but here’s to hoping that it will be sooner rather than later… such as for the 2018 model year.
Chevrolet Colorado information
GMC Canyon information
Comments
That is sort of to be expected, I don’t believe there are any diesel-option trucks that come with one of the newer high-numbered transmissions.
The 2017 work vans are slated to receive the Babymax with an 8 speed, so there’s that.
only the Ram 1500 Diesel options are mated to a 8 speed tranny…not sure of any others that are relatively close in the segment
Wonder if they will skip the 8 speed and go to the 10 speed
After the zl1 gets it in MAYBE 2017 Q2, corvette and caddies are next, 1LE, Camaro’s, then maybe a few truck models?
They developed the CPVA for the 6-speed automatic, so this doesn’t surprise me. The diesel has more than enough torque everywhere that it is able to make plenty good use out of a 6-speed auto.
CPVA = centrifugal pendulum vibration absorber for those who didn’t know. Also not surprised due to this and the fact that the Duramax 2.8 makes a bit more torque than the standard 6L50 is rated for made this 6-speed a special breed. 8L45 probably isn’t up to snuff as is either, it’ll be curious how the 10Lxx series rolls out across GM with respect to the 8Lxx implementations already out there.
8spd is mated to V6 ONLY.
Not avail w/ 4cyl gas or diesel.