- Corvette’s chief executive engineer says there are no plans for a manual transmission in the C8.
- Buyers began opting for automatic engines toward the end of the C7 Corvette generation.
- ‘The market voted with their wallets, and we didn’t get enough votes,’ said Josh Holder, a Corvette vehicle engineer.
Chevrolet has been honest about the manual-equipped C8 Corvette since its debut in 2019—it just didn’t happen. When the C8 was launched, former Corvette lead engineer Tadge Juechter said manual transmissions were a “dying” industry. He also said “no” to the manual being re-released, and nearly seven years later, Chevy is still singing the same song.
In a Instagram videos from wheeled vehicle_ In the account, taken during a question-and-answer session at the 12 Hours of Sebring for the soft-launch of the Corvette Grand Sport, Corvette executive chief engineer Tony Roma reiterated the automaker’s stance. Unfortunately, the answer hasn’t changed, he said.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X interior
Photo by: Chevrolet
“We have no plans to talk about manual transmissions,” he added, praising the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic that makes the C8 “faster and basically better.” He also called the manual-equipped Corvette from last year’s SEMA Show “unreal” and something he wishes the company hadn’t shown.
Josh Holder, a vehicle engineer, added that the manual penetration rate at the end of the C7 generation Corvette was “very low” and that, “The market voted with their wallets, and we didn’t get enough votes.” Holder repeated what Canadian dealers said six years ago: buyers are starting to choose automatic cars.
Motorcycle Pickup1: Manual transmissions are not as popular as they once were, and advances have made automatic shifts quicker and more efficient. Automatic cars also appeal more to a wider range of buyers, which is important for automakers looking to make money.
