C8 Corvette DCT Will Be Manufactured in Canada Thanks to $109 Million Investment
12 Nov 2020, 21:53 UTC ·
by
Mircea Panait
In addition to the mid-engine layout, the C8 Corvette also breaks the mold from previous generations with the dual-clutch transmission. In other words, you can bid farewell to the stick shift because the Z06 and subsequent versions will also rely on the Tremec-designed box.
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The Michigan-based company currently manufactures the quick-shifting transmission, but not long now, General Motors will build it under license at the automaker’s St. Catharines plant in Canada. According to Unifor, an investment of $109 million will prepare the factory for the TR-9080 DCT and V8 engine production.
General Motors has also pledged $1.3 billion in the Oshawa assembly plant where the light- and heavy-duty GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado are manufactured. The small-block V8s produced at St. Catharines are going into those pickup trucks while the dry-sump V8 of the Stingray comes courtesy of Tonawanda in New York.
An evolution of the LT1 developed specifically for mid-engine applications, the LT2 doesn’t require any routine engine-out services. Even the accessory belts are accessible with the powerplant in place, but replacing the oil pump requires the engine to be dropped. Speaking of the LT2, the only serious problem identified so far are the valve springs. Cars built from June 1st to September 15th may exhibit broken valve springs, and this condition translates to misfiring.
Turning our attention back to the dual-clutch transmission, the eight-speed box can handle up to 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque from the factory. The C8 Corvette pairs the TR-9080 DCT with either a mechanical limited-slip differential or an eLSD with active selection of the locking ratio. The latter is exclusive to the Z51 package.
The eLSD is electronically integrated into the StabiliTrak and Performance Traction Management systems, and the driver has three modes to choose from. The default setting is for normal driving, Mode 2 promises more nimble turn-in and traction while accelerating out of the corner, and Mode 3 is automatically selected when Performance Traction Management is on.
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