Chevrolet has been honest about a manual-equipped C8 Corvette since its debut in 2019—it’s not happening. When the C8 launched, former Corvette lead engineer Tadge Juechter said the manual transmission was a “dying” industry. He also said “no” to the manual ever coming back, and nearly seven years later, Chevy is still singing the same tune.
In an Instagram video from the wheelr_ account, captured during a Q&A at the 12 Hours of Sebring for the soft-launch of the Corvette Grand Sport, the Corvette’s 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 don’t have any plans to talk about a manual transmission,” he added, praising the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic for making the C8 “faster and essentially better.” He also called Tremec’s manual-equipped Corvette from last year’s SEMA Show “not real” and something he wished the company would not have shown.
Josh Holder, a vehicle engineer, added that the penetration rate for manuals at the end of the C7 Corvette generation was “super low” and that, “The market was voting with their wallets, and we didn’t get enough votes.” Holder echoes what a Canadian dealer said six years ago: buyers began preferring automatics.
Motor1’s Take: Manual transmissions are just not as popular as they used to be, and advancements have made automatic gearboxes quicker to shift and more efficient. An automatic is also more appealing to a broader range of buyers, which is important for automakers who want to make money.
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