I have been keeping my eye out for information on the new C7 Corvette and here is a new one I just found, whats the need anyway for a dual clutch transmission?


Here it is:

Late last Friday after the local union officials got to hear the details about the new GM-UAW contract details started emerging about future product plans. It looks like part of the cost for the company to get the union to make some concessions was to commit new products to a bunch of plants. At first we only heard about the assembly plants with the news that the Volt would be produced in Detroit and the small RWD Alpha platform would go to Lordstown OH. Now more of the contract is coming out including commitments to parts plants.

Of interest to Corvette fans is a line item for the Toledo OH transmission plant which reads "RWD DCT for NG Corvette will be allocated (2012)". DCT typically refers to dual clutch transmission. That means the C7 'Vette will almost surely get a DCT. Another product for Toledo and the Baltimore transmission plant is the RWD Gen II Hybrid transmission for 2011/12. This could be an updated, and hopefully lower cost version, of the Two-Mode that could be applied to other applications. Hmmm... do I hear hybrid Zetas? One plant that isn't getting new product is the Livonia, MI engine plant that produces the Northstar V-8s used in Cadillacs when that engine dies in 2010. GM announced a new V-8 engine earlier this year that would be built at the Tonawanda, NY engine plant and the Livonia plant will close.

[Source: GM Inside News]

A dual clutch transmission would allow smooth engagement on higher horsepower vehicles, without overpowering the clutch.

Ed

This is some good info to read. I am waiting for the C7 to come out and it will be the next Vette that I will own! Can't wait!:cheers:

A dual clutch transmission is sometimes called an automated manual transmission or a semi-automatic transmission. The system uses 2 clutches but doesn't have the clutch pedal in the car as in a manual transmission. The clutches work independently of each other and one clutch powers the odd gears, the other the even gears. When the driver shifts gears, electronics and hydraulics control the clutches. With this system, there is little if any lag between gears and shifting can be accomplished without interrupting the flow of power. The double clutch system also has an automatic mode where the system will automatically shift the gears up or down, simulating an automatic transmission.

Wonder if this will allow for integration of the "true" paddle shifter setup for manual transmissions?? Hmmm... Corvette & GM keep pushing the envelope... no wonder Mustang & Ford gave up a long time ago trying to keep pace with GM. :iagree:

:2ni19wj: ... :seeya: ... "Rico"

sounds so good, if it would be and dual clutch trans, i mean look on the porches and all other sport cars using that type of drive train, the 0-60 improvement is just amazing that they get, i will hold my thumbs for that this will be an reality. then my next corvette for sure will be with this drive train option;)

A DCT would be nice.. and since I was planning to add a c6 Z06 to the stable and TT it...I wouldn't mind at all if the c7's came with a V-8 TT option. My only question then would be,.. is what size aftermarket turbo's to get.:beerbang:
Guess I'll wait and see what options they offer with the c7's.

DCT would be so nicee!