Chevrolet Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter: Why The C8 Doesn’t Get A Manual
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No doubt about it, the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 is a deeply impressive machine. Even so, there are some that have criticized Chevy’s decision to offer the new mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette with just a single transmission option, namely the M1L dual-clutch eight-speed automatic. That said, there are a number of motives as to why the C8 is neglecting the three-pedal setup, as explained by Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter.
Juechter recently paid a visit to Autoline After Hours, where he was asked point blank why the new Chevrolet Corvette C8 doesn’t come with a manual transmission.
“A lot of different reasons,” Juechter answered. “The biggest one is commercial.”
“Nobody buys them and no one’s willing to make them at a loss for us,” he adds, laughing. “It’s hard enough to find someone to make a bespoke, high-volume [automatic], you know, because the vast majority of people choose the automatic. We used to offer the Z06, ZR1 only in manual transmission, and as soon as we made the automatic available, [it was] 70, 80 percent of the volume.”
The Chief Engineer already discussed the absence of a manual gearbox in the Corvette back in July 2019, following the car’s world debut.
Juechter adds that the decision to go auto-only was “crushing,” as he’s personally never bought a car that didn’t come with a manual transmission. His sentiments were shared by many at General Motors, but the decision came down to stick with the M1L regardless.
The Chevrolet Corvette Chief Engineer also talks about the difficulty of adding a manual gearbox to a mid-mounted V8 platform. “You want a slick-shifting manual. Now we have an engine between your shifter and the transmission, which means you can’t use mechanical linkages, it has to be a cable, which makes it kind of rubbery and vague,” Juechter says, adding that a third pedal would compromise the cabin layout as well.
Nevertheless, Juechter says the M1L dual-clutch eight-speed in the Chevrolet Corvette offers a good deal of manual-esque feel, such as the ability to pop the transmission into neutral on the fly, as well as customizability to get it exactly as desired.
Do you wish the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 was offered with a manual transmission? Post your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
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To get the best power efficiency of any gasoline engine vehicle, you now need a computer. Humans cannot choose the best shifting points anymore, and manuals can never out accelerate an automatic under the same physical and power conditions. I have driven many types for over fifty years, and modern automatics are much better, since GM makes the best automatics for over 80 years! And now the new hybrids and electrics are superior because the electric motor need no gear shifting, and modern electrics are now the pinnacle of power efficiency. The Corvette “E-Ray” will be the next “King of the Road”!
It’s not about the “best performance,” it’s about driving fun. On the street, the difference between 2.8 seconds and 3 seconds 0-60 is immaterial. The fun of actually engaging with the car, synchronizing the throttle, clutch and shifter, is more important.
On the track, sure, a DCT is superior in every way. But I’ll be fewer than 1% of C8s will get closer to a track than the parking lot.
I understands GM’s reasoning, though. Manual transmission take rate on the 2019 was somewhere around 10%, and it simply isn’t financially viable to make a transmission for such a low volume. I’ve never owned a daily driver without a manual. I wish the C8 had a manual. That won’t keep me from buying one, though.
I just hope they will add supercruise or similar to the E-Ray. This would be great for long trips.
As Bob said, it isn’t about raw performance. It is about fun to drive. For many, a manual is a lot more fun to drive. The lack of a manual makes the Corvette C8 a don’t-care for me. With a manual, the Corvette would be on a short list of cars that I would want. Without a manual, it isn’t even in consideration. I would rather drive a Camaro, Miata, Toyota 86, or numerous other cars than an automatic Corvette.
Makes sense
Having driven mid engines with cable shifters we are not missing much.
When new they are ok but with miles they really get sloppy and very annoying.
Then I would have rather Corvette not gone mid-engine.
“A lot of different reasons,” Juechter answered. “The biggest one is commercial.”
I’m actually worried there won’t even be any real follow-through with the DCTs. Make sure this thing is right. And then, any Vette Utility should put this, after a torque tube, in a case with PTO shaft all wheel drive. It needs to go in at least a couple V Cadillacs.
Slush-boxes are desirable in their place. They don’t come across as enhancing.
The stick C8 would have to include up to the Grand Sport. Similarly follow through with a new Camaro, and a Chevy/GMC sporty crossover pair.
Not too long ago, a GM exec had said that we are merging with ourselves. Maybe I understood wrongly.
There should always be a manual trans corvette. Does not matter about shift points, efficiency or any other bs. Reliability comes to mind over automatics.(with a person who knows how to use a clutch properly) im personally glad there is not an overhead cam engine. All of them have timing chain and tensioner issues. Keep it simple stupid.
Blah blah blah… I’ve been waiting for this car for a long time. But once I found out it was only coming in an automatic, I opted to go out and buy mustang GT350R. As for mid engine cars having sloppy manual transmissions, I would invite you to drive my Ferrari 430 spider, or my Porsche Carrera GT. It’s not always about having the fastest car,it’s about the emotion you feel from the car. I will not argue with the fact that the auto is faster, but that’s why it should have the option of both transmissions. My best to all who are getting the new vette. I’m sure it will be a great car, but it’s not for me. I guess that’s why Baskin Robbins offers 31 flavors.
I think they should have continued to offer both options. If I’m not mistaking I saw that 20-30% of people opted for a manual transmission for the C7. It’s still a significant number to walk away from. I was very interested in getting a C8, but ended up going for Porsche instead cause I wanted a manual transmission. I’ve driven PDKs and other DCTs before. It’s faster and has precise shifts. I was impressed but the problem is it does not offer as much engagement as a manual transmission does. I love using the third pedal. I love rowing through the gears, skipping around gears, rev matching, etc. I can’t do any of that with the DCT.
I think the manual transmission buyers usually get the car first and that’s why every model year it started out strong and went down. Also the manual take rates for the Corvettes haven’t significantly gone down overall. I remember seeing it was in 29% percent in 1996.
There is a shop in Texas that converted the Supra to a manual transmission. They want to try the C8 Corvette next. They’ve been getting many requests for it. It’ll definitely be hard but if they are successful it’ll be nice.
How can Porsche offer one in their rear/mid engine cars and provide excellent feedback? Offer one as a $5k option if they sell in such low numbers to make the profit.
It’s the Vette buyers also, either the middle age guys with potbellies or the 65+ yr old guys with arthritis that cant engage the clutch…..😁
Doesnt the car have paddle shifters too, allowing the driver to override the automatic and chose the moment of the gear shift?
»the last F1 car fitted with a manual gearbox raced in 1995« — Wikipedia
Maybe the Corvette is different, but every car I have drive with paddle shifters it is like giving suggestions to the computer that can easily be ignored. It does not give anything close to approximating a manual shift.
And what is your point? How many people race Corvettes? It isn’t many. The people who want real manuals are because they enjoy the engagement with the car. Paddle shifters on an automatic are NOT the same. I find automatic transmissions boring, even on a fast car. The C8 isn’t even a desirable car to me since it is only available with an automatic.
I get it, but to say a cable operated clutch is rubbery and vague is kinda funny when a hydraulic clutch is like stepping on a marshmallow. I been drag racing all my life and use a 4 speed with mechanical linkage, you can feel the pressure plate, hell we would drive barefoot back in late 70s and early 80s just to feel the clutch, never lift period, can’t do that with any hydraulic clutch I have ever driven. My 1990 ZR-1 corvette has a hydraulic clutch and it’s OK for everyday driving but no speed shifting. Guess I just like the feel of being mechanically connected to my car.
I am confused by one of the final comments in this article.. It states that the car offers “customizability to get it exactly as desired.”
If they’re referring to the Corvette overall, you cannot get it exactly as you want. I bought one yesterday. I could not get it the way I wanted it.
For example, if you choose the 3LT, you must take the three season tires. I wanted the all season tires. I would have gladly purchased the 2LT to get the all season tires.
However, if I made that choice, I could not get the interior I wanted. Any statement that you can customize this car exactly as you want is incorrect. There are other things I would like to change but I think my two examples make my point.
Interested purchasers should also know that in spite of Chevy asking the dealers to not gouge purchasers of the new Corvette, some dealers are adding a premium to this vehicle. in my case, the dealer somehow forgot to tell me that they had added a $5,000 premium to the car when I went to buy it. Because of this, they did not charge me the premium. However to be clear, I am an exception to the rule.
As far as me and you will transmissions go. They are fun. however, they are fun for short periods of time. I cannot stand trying to deal with a clutch in rush hour traffic and I live in a major metropolitan area. I understand why most people do not buy manual transmissions.
I never understand why people say a manual is no fun in traffic. I like a manual transmission because it’s fun. Traffic equals more shifting and more fun. What’s not to like about endless clutching and shifting? Note I’m being serious not sarcastic.
Driving in bumper to bumper traffic is no fun no matter what car you drive. I don’t find the manual transmission to be difficult in rush hour traffic. Automatics will often ease forward without pressing the gas pedal. That is one thing I DO like about the manual in bumper to bumper traffic. It doesn’t go forward on its own. I don’t have to step on the brake to stay in one place.
The push button gear selector is like a hot poker to the eye. They could have at least offered a gear selector stick that let’s you pretend to shift. Oh well that’s why I have a 6 speed 2020 mustang in my driveway
Fully 22% of new 2019 Corvettes were sold with the manual transmission. When the C8 was announced with only the automatic I immediately went out and purchased a new 2019 Corvette Grand Sport with the 7-speed manual transmission. My license plate reads: “C7STICK”
Smart move. I never liked the rear of the C7, but I now wish I had bought a dark (likely dark blue) C7 Grand Sport with Manual Transmission since the C8 is not interesting to me w/o a manual. In a dark color, I could have lived with the rear end.
I’ve had three corvettes in my life two were ZO6 and all three were manual trans. I want to drive this amazing car, I don’t want it to drive me. I’m sorry to say no stick no Corvette. Waiting for the new ZO6 manual trans with knock your socks off power. Please don’t take the fun out of it.
My c6 is manual, no upgrade till they put a manual in new one.
Manual transmission is all I am waiting for. When/if it comes out I will be a buyer!
Same with me (though I also want to see that the C8 quality is OK as well). The reason I even found this article was to look for news on whether Chevy had maybe come to their senses and decided to do a manual.
As soon as GM announced the new C8 wouldn’t come out with a stick I immediately went out and purchased a 2019 Grand Sport with the manual 7-speed trans and couldn’t be happier with it. My license plate: C7STICK
I have owned 6 corvettes over the years all manual transmissions. Currently have a 66 427/390 4 speed convertible and a 2016 ZO6 7 speed convertible. Without a 3rd pedal I’m out of the new corvette market. I’m 64 yrs old and hope the boys and girls at the Chevy asylum come to their senses with a C8 ZO6 manual. I will order it right now!
No manual, no desire to own the Corvette. I’m sure if you like automatics, the Corvette C8 is a great car. However, I have zero desire to own an automatic sports car (or any automatic outside a pickup truck which is no fun to drive anyway). There is just no comparison between the fun of driving a manual and driving an automatic. Once you learn to drive a manual, I don’t see how you could ever go to an automatic unless you had some sort of physical ailment that prevented using the clutch or shifter. Something like a Miata may have to be in my future. Way cheaper than what I wanted to spend, but I align with their design philosophy a lot more than the Corvette design team. Corvette is performance over EVERYTHING. I don’t really care about performance that much. I care more about fun to drive. A light weight manual transmission car is going to be far more fun to drive than a Corvette C8 even if it isn’t nearly as fast.