Transmissions are Important for Improving Fuel Economy, Too
By Jeff Lux
FWD Transmissions Global Chief Engineer
With news last week of the four-cylinder 2010 Chevrolet Equinox achieving 32 mpg highway in EPA testing – best-in-class for a compact crossover vehicle and 2 mpg better than we expected – I started to reflect a little on all the powertrain systems and technologies that must work together to reach such an impressive number, especially when you consider the Equinox seats 5-passengers comfortably and weighs close to 4,000 lbs. Being a transmissions engineer, I naturally gravitated to the vehicle’s six-speed automatic transmission.
When people talk about fuel economy, they generally focus more on the fuel savings from the engine than anything else. And true, technologies like active fuel management, turbocharging or in the case of the Chevy Equinox, direct injection help to greatly improve a vehicle’s fuel economy.
But what about the part of the powertrain that gets the power to the road – the transmission? Improving fuel efficiency is key to GM’s current and future product plans, and from a transmission standpoint, we are working on a number of technology options to achieve that goal.
One of the most recent advances for our transmission portfolio is the large scale availability of six-speed automatic transmissions across a wide range of GM cars and trucks. Six-speed automatics are available in GM vehicles from small cars to SUVs and pick-up trucks.
In six short years, we’ve developed and launched nine new six-speed automatics for more than 40 rear-wheel, front-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles. And by the end of the year, we will launch another six-speed variant for a total of 10 new six-speed automatics!
Six-speeds provide the best of both worlds, delivering both improved fuel economy and performance. On average, a six-speed transmission will provide up to four percent improved fuel economy compared to a four-speed automatic transmission. In addition, a six-speed provides up to a seven percent improvement in 0-60 performance. And the six-speed’s benefits don’t stop there. Because six-speeds have a wider range of gear ratios to choose from, the engine speed can be optimized for the driving condition. The result is lower engine speeds for many conditions and better overall vehicle noise quality.
We are pursuing many more transmission advancements that have the potential to save even more fuel, such as new transmission fluids, reducing internal friction, and one of the most promising, software that controls the lock up of the torque converter in the transmission.
One of the great features being introduced for 2010 in the four-cylinder/six-speed transmission combinations of the Equinox and GMC Terrain is ECO mode. ECO mode is a vehicle fuel saving feature that the driver can activate by pressing a button on the console. The transmission plays a central role in ECO mode as it increases fuel economy by operating the engine at its optimum efficiency points. This is partially accomplished by upshifting earlier, locking the torque converter at lower RPMs and holding higher gears for longer periods of time than in normal mode operation. Driving in ECO mode can improve your fuel economy by up to three percent or 1 mpg and for customers more attuned to their vehicle, may notice a slight change in the vehicle’s drive and feel to maximize fuel efficiency.
While hybrids and electric vehicles are getting a lot of coverage nowadays, we’re also working on a broad range of internal combustion and automatic transmission technology solutions to provide better fuel economy for customers now and in the future. I can’t give away too many more details on our future plans, but stay tuned.
I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments.
74 Comments
Leave a Reply
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
Great to hear, The question is : while every one else is going for CVT, GM is going on 6 speed.
Can you give a comparison in CVT vs 6 speed because if some one introduces 8 speed tommorow and will be saying this is better than 6 speed but on that time also CVT will remail same. Same way it will be great to to have comparison with EVT ( Electric/Electronic Variable Transmission ) .
So Please publish a comparison chart with CVT, EVT , 6 speed, 4 speed and 8 speed. So we know how good is 6 speed compared to others ( not just 4 speed because GM had that before )
Why is GM not considering Dual Clutch Transmissions – which can improve both acceleration performance and Fuel Economy?
Mr. Lux,
For those worried about the efficiency of transmitting energy from the engine to the drive wheels, aren’t manual transmissions the way to go?
When you look at the EPA fuel economy figures, it looks like manuals give about 5-7% better fuel economy. That would bump the highway mileage of your Equinox up to over 34 mpg.
I note that many of the cars GM builds aren’t available with a manual transmission. Why doesn’t GM offer manual transmissions in more models?
Mt LUX
ITS will not have to improve fuel efficiency and safety through integrated control and navigation system. DI gasoline automatic mission is to make information smarter and learn to drive a car effort of effectively variable speed control program than the number of gear if you develop a model engine with a turbocharging system. Tokyo, Japan to improve fuel economy by driving fun cars and people to cooperate together and thought it important to the human testing of a country where there are traffic jams will enable the world’s worst. Summer is the worst in the world. I’m struggling with the same worries Japan carmakers
Swede,
Could you see someone trying to work a manual transmission while juggling a cellphone, make-up applicators, and chewing gum at the same time; who would steer the car?
Mr. Lux,
I expect the next DTS/Lucerne replacement will have a 6 speed auto and a V-6????
GM needs to look at gear ratios in the axles more closely. For some unapparent reason you continue to put 2.9x’s and 3.2x’s in countless vehicles. Drive a car with that type of ratio in the Northeast and you’ll soon realize the dam car does nothing but shift up and down. Revs shoot up and down during every shift. Whereas, if you ran something more civil like a 3.4x or 3.7x the vehicle tends to stay in 4th gear with the TC locked and gets much better mileage. Look at Toyota Tundra (which i hate) it averages a similar mileage as the Silvy but runs a 4.10, perfect example GM, dodge does something similar with the Ram. Performs better, drives better, shifts less and gets a within 1-2mpgs of the silvy. If you ran a similar gear in the silvy you’d pickup mileage. Rather than the engine lugging around with a high gear (numerically lower) you’d bring the engine up 100-200 rpms and bring it up in the powerband where it runs for efficiently.
Every GM vehicle i own (4 total) i had to swap different gears because of this, you’ve eliminated my options from the factory. My S10 with 33″ tires running a 4.56 gets 20-21 mpg on the highway, stock with a 245 and 3.42s i could barely pull 16-17. It now has more air resistance (suspension lift) and more rolling resistance (tire size) and gets better mileage. My brother also has an S10, exact same setup (same lift size) but with a 32″ tire and 4.56s and gets 23mpg on the highway. My 98 Buick regal now runs a 3.69 (Stock was a 2.93) and i’ve been in upwards of 33-34mpg on the highway with it, performance gains alone were worth the swap but the better mpg didn’t’ hurt either.
Unni:
Its a stretch to say “everyone” is going with CVTs. Who is everyone? Nissan has made the biggest commitment to CVTS so far. Aside from hybrid models, Ford and Toyota have made no major push in CVTs. Ford, Toyota, BMW and others are commited to 6 speed transmissions to improve fuel economy and performance. CVTs are not to everyone’s liking because they don’t shift and there are limitations to the size of engines that can be coupled with CVTs. Furthermore, there is little evidence that CVTs get superior mileage compared to 6 speed autos. The Altima 2.5 has a CVT and is rated for 23/31 vs 22/33 for the Malibu. Hardly a major difference.
How about eliminating the torque converter all together and going with a wet clutch+superlow 1st gear like Mercedes does on its E-class. I believe they are also considering external electric oil pump
“Drive a car with that type of ratio in the Northeast and you’ll soon realize the dam car does nothing but shift up and down. Revs shoot up and down during every shift.”
Mike,
Wouldn’t happen if you drove a car with a manual. You’d be the one to select the gear you needed instead of letting an automatic transmission “hunt” for the right gear. The last GM car with an automatic I drove did exactly what you said. It was a brand new Impala rental on a business trip. It was constantly shifting gears up and down as though it had no idea what to do; and what was worse, when starting from as top would not move until 2300 rpm, and then the car would lurch forward. It was an extremely unpleasant car to drive, just because of the automatic transmission.
I would have much preferred a manual. Then when the car lurches forward, or is in the wrong gear on a hill, it’s my fault, and most importantly, I can do something to keep that from happening.
On my last business trip, I rented a Ford Focus. I would have liked a manual, but had to take one with an automatic, but at least I found its automatic shifted better than the Impala’s.
“Could you see someone trying to work a manual transmission while juggling a cellphone, make-up applicators, and chewing gum at the same time; who would steer the car?”
kgm777,
We’d be better off if automatic transmissions were banned from our roads. Our country’s average fuel economy would be better, and we would have better drivers who paid more attention to the job at hand. (Obama’s Auto Task Force, are you listening?)
In my experience, people who drive cars with manual transmissions are almost always better drivers. They have better situational awareness, understand better the dynamics of driving and thinking ahead, and aren’t just aiming their cars as though on autopilot.
Mr. Lux, why did it take GM years and years to develop 5 and 6 speed transmissions? GM was dragging on with the venerable, reliable, but severely outdated and behind the times 4 speed hydramatic dating to the early 1950’s up untill just a year or two ago. Meanwhile, Honda, Toyota, MB, and BMW were building 5 and 6 speed gearboxes to push the envelope and move ahead of you. Now the Lexus IS-F has an 8 speed dual-clutch gearbox. Do you have anything like it ready to go? How about in a V-Series Cadillac?????
See, and GM continues to wonder why their market share shrinks.
I hope the GM downsizing will allow GM to focus a laser light on all aspects of design and construction of their products. I am still wondering why the GMC brand will still exist or at least why the same models as Chevy will be rebadged as GMC? I think Buick and Cadillac could operate in separate little boutique buildings on the same lot. Each of them will have a unique full range of vehicles from cars to SUV’s. We see this with Acura and Lexus dealerships. Why mix in the heavy faux upgraded Chevy SUV’s on the same lot. Chevy should stand along as a full spectrum company and alone offer Trucks in the GM stable.
I think you should address the logic of keeping GMC when efficiency is so critical for your survival.
I’d like to second the manual transmission question. I was recently looking at the G8 GT. With an 6-M it would be a great car but it’s stuck with an auto. The GXP is the only one offered with the 6-M and it’s notably more expensive. I won’t buy a car with an auto or CVT. I was really interested in a midsize GM truck for a while until I found out you can’t get one with a stick, 4wd, and the I5 (unless this has changed in the last couple years.) I ended up buying an old full size with a V6 and a 3+1 manual.
Nice to see improvements in GM transmissions, and the upcoming ‘10 Equinox seems a major step forward for this model.
I hope that the Equinox driveline improvements will eventually include an AWD system that will equal, if not surpass, the Haldex in Saab, Volvo and VW, and the systems used by Subaru. The lack of such for any GM car I researched was one reason I now drive a vehicle with a newer AWD system (it saved my bacon during several major snowstorms this year).
Nice upgrades and features. However, for those who plan on keeping your fuel guzzling GM vehicles, try upgrading them instead.
Carpartscentral.com has great quality aftermarket headlights and tail lights for reasonable prices. Check it out, that’s where I got mine! Great way to have a better trade in value!
Sheth jones : Thanks, I just want to know the difference as the presentation emphasizes on the 6 speed transmission. The intension was to know the pros and cons of different ones like CVT, 6 speed, EVT, 4 speed , 8 speed etc.
As he talks on efficiency and mpg, my another question is why we are not looking for solutions like utilizing the heat for extra cycles and why thinking is only limited to direct injection and 6 speed transmissions ( the heat is going as waste ) ?
example on one such thought i found is : http://yankandpaste.blogspot.com/2009/05/np-stroke-engine-and-active-stoke-cycle.html
How about explaining to us, your few loyal customers still left, why these DI Engines are not going into the 2010 Malibu?
You have the technology yet you refuse to continually improve the models you already have out.
Reason # 20 why your company is failing.
Coming up with a stupid name like Cruze is Reason #19.
Swede,
Agreed that people would be more aware, but I can’t agree with a ban. Had a BMW with a six and a 5 speed. Back then (1985), the automatic was awful and I thought the car needed it for motivation. But, I don’t think many people would go for it in their DTSs and Lucernes, nor would I. But, do take away their cell phones and driver side vanity mirrors.
Oh, and Mr. Lux, I would like to add, that I have just purchased a 2009 Honda Accord EX-L V6 coupe with a 6 speed manual. Why? It was not because I think Honda is better than GM. It is because GM does not offer a 2 door coupe with a V6 engine and a manual transmission (I gave up on the Camaro because dealers are being idiots selling them for sticker and above).
Perhaps when you realize you have lost sales for the Camaro because dealers are being complete jerks about price, I may buy one. But not for a while….. I plan on driving my Accord for years.
“While hybrids and electric vehicles are getting a lot of coverage nowadays, we’re also working on a broad range of internal combustion and automatic transmission technology solutions to provide better fuel economy for customers now and in the future.”
Jeff
You have made me happy!
This is what I’ve been ranting on about for a while now!
The way to make a meaningful contribution to the majority of GM customers is to do the unglamorous and hard work of refining and optimizing the conventional internal combustion engine and transmission.
A 1mpg improvement achieved on a vehicle line that sells 500,000 units is a far greater positive impact on the environment than a 10mpg improvement using expensive technology that only reaches a small fraction of the population.
Weight savings? How about shaving 500 to 1000 pounds off your car? I have an old Beretta – with an iron block V6, and it has a curb weight about the same as a new Vibe.
The new Camaro is close to 4000 pounds. That’s nuts. I have a 2001 Trans Am – it weighs about 3500 pounds empty, it’s only about a fender length behind a new Camaro at the drag strip, and gets better fuel economy. (I’ve seen 34mpg on the highway, and 6 at the strip.)
kgm777,
It was with tongue-in-cheek I suggested a ban on automatic transmissions. I know that would be neither possible nor desirable.
But, I do think far too many people drive automatics and that the car makers should offer and promote manuals in all their brands. I have driven very few automatics that are fun to drive, and my experience is that people who do drive manuals ARE better drivers.
I haven’t been in Europe for a few years, but they take their diving much more seriously than we do. When I was last there, well over 50% of the cars on the road had manual transmissions, and the people that used them looked down on those who thought they needed an automatic.
It could be than automatic transmissions are another sign of the decay of modern society.
Good grief. Nine six-speeds? With more six-speeds yet to come? How many different automatic transmissions do you have?
JoeD:
If you are going to criticize, get your facts straight. There is nothing more annoying than a vocal GM critic who cannot get the facts straight.
1. GM is farher ahead in implementing 6 speeds than Toyota
2. Honda doesn’t make ANY 6 speed automatics
3. GM, Ford and VW are the only manufacturers with midsize sedans that feature a 6 speed auto standard.
4. BMW used 5 speed autos made by GM in the late 90s through earlier this decade
5. GM introduced 6 speed autos to full size SUVs before Toyota. Nissan still doesn’t offer a 6 speed in its large vehicles.
6. The IS-F does NOT have a DCT- it has a convential automatic with 8 speeds
7. 3 speed autos were used into the 60s and 70s. To say 4 speeds have been in GM’s lineup sicne the 50s is not accurate. 4 speed automatics were common in mainstream brands until the early 2000s. The Accord had one until 2003. The Camry had one until 2002 and the Altima had one until 2006 I believe. The Corolla still has a 4 speed as does the Matrix and two Scion models. Suburu and Chrysler still use them as well.
8. BMWs use 6 speed autos just like Cadillac models so your assertion that they are “ahead” of GM is ridiculous. Considering the price point of MB vehicles it would seem logical that they would offer more advanced transmissions than GM. Lexus is the only automaker with 8 speed transmissions but they are only available in a few low volume models. The new 2010 RX has a 6 speed just like the Equinox.
9. The Cobalt SS, Solstice Coupe, Corvette and Camaro are four examples of coupes that offer manual transmissions. GM doesn’t offer manuals with their V6 family cars because few people buy such models. Honda used to offer an Accord sedan V6 with a manual but dropped it due to poor sales. Same with the Maxima.
SteveG:
When new technology comes out it is never launched in every new model across the board. The DI 2.4L will find its way into other products over time but its not unusual for such an engine to migrate through the lineup over time. The Equinox is heavier than the Malibu and needs the extra power and torque more than the Malibu. I suspect the DI engine will be in the Malibu within the next year or two.
Unni:
Who said GM is only limited to advancing 6 speeds and DI? I don’t think anyone said that. GM is also using mild hybrids, low resistance tires and active fuel management to boost efficiency. GM is also working on HCCI technology that can boost gas engine efficiency by 15% or so.
JoeD:
Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention the revised for 2009 RAV4 still has a 4 speed auto standard. By next year Toyota will likely have more models with 4 speeds than GM. Almost every model that GM makes with a 4 speed auto is going out of production by 2010.
SteveG:
GM does improve models that are already out. The CTS is getting a new 3L engine with better efficiency for 2010. The 6 speed auto in the Malibu will be standard on the LT trim for 2010. When the Malibu came out the four cylinder model didn’t even offer a 6 speed. The Aura got a new engine for 2008 and a new standard 6 speed for 2009. GM has rolled out 6 speeds on the SUVs and pickups over the last two years. The Lucerne got a new standard V6 last year. The lambda crossovers got a beefed up engine in their second year of production. The Corvette got a new engine for the 2008 model year. I could go on.
It’s about time. You need to adopt 6-speeds in all product where automatic transmissions are offered.
Put that together with Miller cycle engines or turbodiesels, lower the aerodynamic drag by 25% on all [products, reduce weight, cover the whole product line with a bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers the entire car for the term of the original loan, and a 10 year, 120,000 mile transferable warranty on major components, and GM might still be around in 2019.
Steve,
Probably because the Malibu already has class-leading fuel economy and there are limitations on production capacity of DI engines. It only makes sense to put those engines in vehicles where they do the most good, like in the Chevrolet Equinox (a somewhat larger and heavier vehicle) rather than increase the fuel economy of a vehicle that is already the class leader in fuel economy. When compared with other major vehicle makers GM has a larger percentage of it’s vehicles using DI powertrains and is working with all due speed under the circumstances to increase that percentage.
Raymond,
Your Beretta does not have any airbags, has no stability control, is not equipped with modern high-strength steels and side airbags required to meet newer side impact standards. It’s also not a RWD vehicle that has a driveshaft, rear differential, knuckles, and a suspension structure capable of handling an engine with almost 400 lb-ft of torque. Of course the Camaro is going to be heavier.
The new Camaro is only about 250 pounds heavier than your 2001 Trans Am but it has much better passenger accomodations, a much stiffer structure (that meets modern crash standards), side air bags, independent rear suspension, larger wheels and tires, much larger brakes, larger fuel capacity, a trunk…The 2010 Camaro is also much faster than you give it credit for (it’s more than a fender) and it gets equal fuel economy. (go to the EPA website and look up your 2001 with the standards revised to the 2007+ Federal Test Procedure).
Beaugrand:
If the things you suggested made sense or were easy to accomplish every automaker would be doing them. Turbo diesels are going nowhere in the US market. Miller cycle engines have never caught on and probably never will. The Rx-8 has such an engine and gets poor gas mileage so your suggestion isn’t even logical.
There is not ONE non luxury automaker in the US except VW that has eliminated 4 and 5 speed transmissions. Toyota, Ford, Hyundai and Honda are all using transmissions with less than 6 gears.
I find it BEYOND amazing that so many so called “automotive experts”, here in the USA, think that Americans in general will not consider Turbo-diesel engines to power their cars. I know many who would like to purchase them……BUT want something more spacious than a VW Jetta, and less expensive than a MERCEDES with a few options added in. Good GAWD Detroit…..wake up, make them available in 6 cylinder Turbo-diesel power as well as super-econo 4 cylinder, and STOP REPEATING old memories of those cheap 70’s diesels. Fully HALF of the car buying public wasn’t even born yet, and I’m sick of the so called EXPERTS denying the rest of us what Europeans have enjoyed for years! EVERYONE agrees that today’s modern Turbodiesels are nothing like the diesels of those days, just like the Corvette today has more than the 150 HP or so it did back then.
GET IT……6 cylinder Turbo-diesel cars with an INTERIOR BIGGER THAN a JETTA, CHEAPER THAN AN OPTIONED MERCEDES…!!!!! How can we buy them, if NO ONE makes them available ??? If the cars with Turbodiesel engines sold here get the same type of reviews the European turbo-diesel sedans get, you’d better believe they’d be snapped up. How did Honda and Toyota become top sellers here in the USA? It was what the American public read and heard about the cars themselves, people, and they bought them in droves…..give us decently powered and built Turbodiesels here ion the USA, and history will repeat itself. HOPEFULLY MADE BY AN AMERICAN AUTOMAKER…..!!!
And please DROP the 70’s remembrances……unless you preface it with the underpowered Corvette from the same period…
What about an electric transmission?
If the Volt ICE drives a generator which directly powers the electric motor and still achieve good mileage would it not makes sense to forget about gears altogether? You automatically get a CVT this way.
For small cars you could even have a 1 liter motor with a small/cheap (lead foam?) electrical supply to boost power in passing situations.
Everything is important when improving fuel economy. Everything from the size of the motor all the way down to the tire pressure.
Beaugrand,
I agree with you that GM needs to put 6 speeds in every application, and I think they probably will soon. They are moving very agresively towards 6 speeds.
A bumper to bumper warrenty for the life of the loan? Come on, GM has no control over how long a bank will provide a loan for. If a warrenty covered the life of the loan, I would just get a 100 year loan for about $1 month, and never have to buy a new car again. It’s not realistic. What goes through you mind when you come up with these outlandish ideas? Oh, what about people who pay cash? I guess they get no warrenty.
Raymond,
Does your old Baretta have 4 air bags? Does it have as much sound insulation as the new Vibe? Does it have as big of brakes? Will it perform as well in a crash? I would answer no to all of those questions. New cars have more technology – some of it mandated by the government and some by comsumers – which all add weight. Cars back in the 60’s probably weighed less with big blocks then new cars with 4-cylinders do now, because they didn’t have the safety features and creature comforts demanded today.
And another thing, it seems that warrenty is a big deal. Everyone wants a 10 year warrenty or apperently in some case, lifetime warrenty. My question is this: Why does everyone demand that the TV screen in your car have a 10 year warrenty when the one you just bought for your house has a 1 year warrenty and you don’t give it a second thought. Or how about a new Dell or HP computer you bought that comes with a 1 year warrenty, which you can upgrade for several hundred dollars to 2 or 3 years, and yet, the one in your car must be 10 years. Not only is that a double standard, but look at the operating conditions. The TV in your car might see a temperature range from -40 in Alaska to 150 in the baking sun, and be subjected to vibration over rough roads. All along your TV in your house sits there perfectly still, between 65 and 75 degrees it’s entire life. But yet, no one demands a 10 year warrenty on that.
With respect to the transmission, do the testing and put in 6 speed, CVT, or whatever makes the most sense. I agree with the request for a 2 door Malibu coupe. It would most likely get even better gas mileage and if you kept the lines European, you would have a hit on your hands (sorry, not much of a fan of the Cobalt) . One more request relating to drive train. Get an all-wheel drive in the Malibu (2 and 4 door) as an option. I am this close to buying the Ford Fusion all-wheel, but hoping Chevy Malibu will get there soon enough to allow me to purchase that in stead.
Sheth,
First, the 4 speed hydramatic was first used in the early 1950’s by Olds and Cadillac. So yes, it is a 60 year old design. No getting around that. That is a fact.
Second, and this shows how you conveniently overlooked what I wrote just to try to show me up, I did mention both FIVE and SIX speed transmissions. If GM was building the 5 speed boxes for BMW in the late 1990’s, why didn’t GM use them on any of their own cars? Honda started using the 5 speed auto in 2003.
Cobalt and Solstice only have 5 speed boxes, and they are hardly usefull in everyday life. The Corvette has 6, but again, not usefull and hardly affordable.
Honda continues to sell the 6 speed manual V6 coupe because there IS demand for it. I know GM finally came out with the Camaro with the 3.6 DI-VVT and 6 speed manual, but it’s too late and I won’t buy a first year car or pay MSRP, let alone over MSRP.
mike the emission standards are in parts per mile and the car needs a tall rear gear to reach these numbers by turning less RPMs per mile. like i have posted before the legislators have more to do with your cars than the engineers. your cars with deeper rear gears would not meet federal regs on emissions
Dear Sir:
I grew up on our family farm. Every truck that we owned that was used to haul grain, (a single axle straight truck) had a two speed rear axle in combination with a four or five speed manual transmission. There was a push / pull cable attached to the gear shift. Switching the rear axle gear ratio, would drop the engine rpm significantly which increased the fuel mileage. Has anyone considered a similar set up on GM pickup trucks?? Since the 1960’s, we had Chevy, GMC, and International Harvester trucks and never had an issue with the rear axle set up.
So, we can formerly kiss the “upgraded” 700R4s goodbye? FINALLY. Those transmissions are trash. Funny how the 4L80E is stout even in HD use, yet the 4L60E fails in commuter vehicles.
David,
The new Camaro is a pig. Safety standards, comfort options, the media-pleasing IRS, all add up to an insane amount of additional weight. And for the record, that suspension can’t handle all of the engine torque. Not since the ‘81 has the Camaro had a stout rear axle. Rather than source a version from AAM here in the US, they use an oddball rear end, similar to the GTO, that has little aftermarket support. AAM makes an IRS assembly for the 860 series, which would have been perfect. Ford’s Cobra IRS used a version of the Visteon 8.8, which worked out great since the 8.8 has been in V-8 Mustangs for 23 years!
JoeD:
Cadillac may have had a 4 speed in the 50s but that was not MAINSTREAM at that time. As I said, 3 speeds were used into the 70s and 80s. In additon, its foolish to say that a 4 speed automatic today is a “60 year old design”. First of all, GM wasn’t making FWD cars with 4 speeds in the 1950s. Secondly, today’s automatics have all types of electronic controls that couldn’t have been fathomed in the 1950s.
You totally ignored the fact that Honda has ZERO six speed automatics on the market as well as the fact that Toyota uses 4 speeds in numerous products. You claimed that GM was behind Toyota, Honda, BMW, etc. in implemening 6 speed transmissions but that is false. The only manufacturers that are clearly ahead of GM in modern transmisson implementation are European.
GM has been using 5 speed automatics since 2002. The same transmission that was in the CTS was in several BMW products. It took a while for GM to use 5 speeds but once they started moving to 6 speeds that actually moved FASTER than several of their competitors. Chrysler still doesn’t have a RWD 6 speed transmission in production.
You asked for coupes with manual transmissions and I named several. The CTS Coupe will have a manual as well. Now you are saying the coupes I named don’t count because they don’t meet your specific criteria. There is little demand for manuals and V6 engines in midsize cars. That is why there are so few options. The Mazda 6 dropped its V6/manual combination due to lack of interest. I assure you only a small fraction of Accord sales are comprised of V6 coupes with a manual transmission. I’m glad you are happy with your Honda but don’t try and change the facts to fit your agenda. GM is ahead of Honda in engine and transmission technology- period.
Tim:
Don’t mind thepeople asking for 10 year warranties. Chrysler has a lifetime powertrain warranty and Hyundai offers a 10 year powertrain warranty. Do these people own either brand? Probably not. If you don’t like a particular car or brand you are NOT going to buy a vehicle due to its warranty. 5 or 10 year full warranties are not coming anytime soon. The entire issue is moot because dealers will sell you a comprehensive extended warranty for a few hundred dollars. Anyone wanting extra protection can buy it easily.
James,
The rear axle in the Camaro has an 8.6″ diameter ring gear and is made by AAM. The ring gear diameter of the AAM axle is larger than the 1981 axle.
This is the webpage at AAM for the differential module. http://www.aam.com/index.php?s=63
I know that the weight is higher than you would have liked but a vehicle without those features (that do tend to add that weight) is DOA in today’s marketplace. I don’t think it’s about pleasing the media, it’s about pleasing the customers who are comparing this car to it’s competition. In spite of the weight gain, the Camaro is turning in impressive performance numbers.
Raymond:
Cars are getting heavier in general due to added features and increasing desire to excel at crash testing. Everyone wants 5 stars these days and you do that by adding structural integrity and airbags. All of that adds up. In addition, modern cars have larger wheels and brakes which are incredibly heavy. Additional wiring and computers also add mass. Older cars were light because they had low strength steel, pathetic rigidity, less airbags, smaller wheels, smaller tires, smaller brakes, less sound deadening, less luxury features, etc.
Swede,
Used to be that manuals had better performance and fuel economy, but I’m no so sure now that most automatics are electronic and shift points are controlled by computer. If drivers knew as much about their cars as pilots are required to know about their airplane’s systems (and were also as disciplined), we’d all be blessed with more competence on the roads, but don’t hold your breath.
Lots of great questions and comments. Keep them coming. Here are some responses to some of your questions; stay tuned for more.
Unni:
Thanks for the reply. I wouldn’t say everyone else is going for CVTs. I think you’ll find there are quite a few manufacturers out there who see six speeds as a simpler solution for comparable fuel economy savings.
I don’t have a chart handy to publish but in general the fuel economy savings for a six speed is about 4 percent over a four speed. As you go to an eight speed, you generally don’t see that much incremental improvement. Depending on how the total vehicle is balanced, it might be possible to get 1 percent more.
SR:
We have found we can accomplish most of the FE and performance benefits of a DCT with our six speeds. We are still looking at the possibility of developing a DCT. We believe we can accomplish most of the benefits of the wet-DCT with our six-speed products without the added costs of the DCT. For the very small applications (250 Nm and less) we believe that the dry-DCT has advantages for fuel consumption and we are pursuing the development of this technology.
Mr. Halstrom,
Inherent fuel economy improvements used to be the norm with manual transmissions due in a big part to the immediate connection to the driven gear vs. the losses through the converter. With today’s advanced controllers we are seeing fuel economy with automatic transmissions that are close to those of a manual.
Automatic transmission vs. manual transmission availability is largely customer driven. Thanks for you question.
Kgm:
Sorry, I can’t talk about future product. However it is probably a safe bet to say there will be a six speed transferring the power. Thanks.
Mike:
You raise a good point about the choice of final-drive ratio. We select these carefully to provide an optimum balance for fuel economy and driveability under a number of different driving conditions including urban, rural and highway. One of the advantages of our six speeds is that the difference between individual gear ratios is smaller than on the four speeds and is less noticeable to the driver.
Deep:
With some of the advances we are working on, we expect to achieve efficiencies that rival those of a wet clutch DCT.
Hi Joe:
Just to reiterate, by the end of the 2009 calendar year, GM will have introduced 10 new variants of six-speed transmissions, producing 3 million units annually available in over 40 models. This rollout began in the 2006 model year. I don’t know for sure, but I think it would be hard to find a company that has rolled out this kind of change in this amount of time in this volume. As far as the Cadillac CTS-V goes, I think its level of transmission performance speaks for itself on and off the track. The auto trans features steering-wheel- and console shifter-activated tap up/tap down gear control, as well as driver-selectable modes that deliver different performance characteristics (i.e. shift points, shift firmness, for different driving conditions. Performance Algorithm Shifting is part of the 6L90’s controller programming and provides a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained high-performance driving. 3.9 sec 0-60, 30K less than an M5.
Check these out:
Car and Driver CTS-V Video
and …
Car and Driver CTS-V Road Test
Thanks for your comments.
Bob:
Thanks for the comment on cars like the G8 needing more manual availability. I’ll pass that on.
If you are looking for a stick 4WD with the I5, that is available in the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Hummer H3.
Thanks Jeff .Nice to hear back
Geez, JoeD. First you whine about no 50-speed automatic transmissions in the CTS-V (but Lexus has ‘em on the way, no doubt — yes, I’m being facetious), then you whine about Camaro dealers, then you bark about manual transmissions; finally admitting you drive a Honda which is rated waay lower in the user ratings at MSN autos when compared to the Chevy Malibu (both of which would strain mightily to compete in the CTS-V/Lexus class).
I really hate to say it, but the credibility of “I would have bought a …, but I didn’t,” is rather low. You didn’t because you didn’t: simple as that.
You ever watch those V-8 commercials? Maybe you’ll smack yourself in the forehead eventually. We’re waiting…
Joe D, Cleveland OH said,
“First, the 4 speed hydramatic was first used in the early 1950’s by Olds and Cadillac. So yes, it is a 60 year old design. No getting around that. That is a fact.”
That old Hydramatic, sold in GM cars from 1939-1964, was an Oldsmobile design that used a simple fluid coupling. It was a four speed by necessity as the first gear was extremely short in order to overcome the slippage of the fluid coupling. The three higher gears were comparable to other three speed A/Ts of the time, and top gear was direct drive. The last version in the early 1960s – the Controlled Coupling Hydramatic – actually shifted 1-2 and 3-4 by filling and draining the secondary fluid coupling.
The first modern “Turbo Hydramatic” was Buick’s 1964 “Super Turbine 400″ – the TH400. A descendant of it lives on as the 4L80E. Other 60 year old GM designs – the Dynaflow, the Powerglide, the Roto Hydramatic, the Turboglide, the Dual Path, and the Jetaway/ST300 all died in the 1960s (except for the PG staggering on til 1972 in the Vega). GM’s current 4-speeds are all modified 3-speed units from the 1980s and so are “old” but not “ancient”.
The four speed FWD transaxles trace their lineage to the 1979 TH125 and the 1984 TH440T4. Nothing short of a complete departure in design would allow for more forward gears because of the need for an additional planetary gearset to provide the additional range(s). As vehicles gained weight and engines shrank, the need for the 6sp transmissions emerged, and so GM delivered them. The new 6T70 and the light-duty Chinese 6T40 are completely new designs that share nothing with the 4TxxE designs.
The additional ratios are not needed for pushrod engines as they don’t need to rev over 2000rpm to move the car. My car with the 4T45E transaxle keeps up with traffic, even after I retrained it with careful throttle modulation to upshift at 1800rpm. And I can get it to hold overdrive down to 36mph, rolling along in suburban traffic with the tach at 1050rpm and achieving mid-40s mpg in a large, heavy car. A six-speed offers no significant benefits under these conditions, as the taller overdrives are not available at this road speed. That being said, the new 6 speed transaxles offer class-leading fuel economy and they are a welcome addition to GM’s powertrain technology.
David, Sheth and others:
My point about the curb weight of new cars is that if you want to make them more fuel efficient, one quick way to do that is by not having a Camaro weigh 4000 pounds. A Cobalt sized car should be about 2600 pounds. A Vibe – 2400 or less. Dragging all that weight around can’t help fuel economy one bit.
I’m well aware that every car now has to come with onboard Nav, 18 airbags, etc…. but does a regular 1/2 ton pickup really need to weigh 5500 pounds?
I think the new Camaro is sexy. But the trunk looks about the same size as my 80 TA’s… and the interior gets a FAIL. I’d have a G8 already, but the GXP makes it too expensive and I’m a stick-shift only guy. It’s also why I’ve yet to replace my old truck, because I can’t find a GM 1/2 ton that comes with a stick.
Getting back on topic, GM used to lead the industry in transmissions, and some of them like the TH350 and TH400 were class leaders. GM needs to get back to the front, I’m hoping it survives past June 1.
David,
If GM is using AAM and the 860 IRS for the Camaro, opposed to the ZF unit in the G8, I will gladly eat crow. That is if it accepts parts for the common 8.5 10 bolt, like the SRA 860 in the pickups does. If it does, why isn’t GM promoting this? “Hey racers, all those 8.5 10 bolt parts will work in the new Camaro!” If that were true. Instead, the “performance parts” are pretty tame.
While you are correct that the 8.6″ ring gear is larger than the 8.5″ 10 bolt in the ‘81 Camaro the strength advantage is through the modern 30 spline axle shafts, which weren’t installed in Camaros. The slightly larger ring gear gives better NVH performance. 3rd and 4th Gens had the 7.5/7.625 10 bolt, or the bizarre Aussie 9-bolt. Neither was strong, lasted long with a manual trans or in HD use. My point is that the aluminum center section IRS and the 3rd/4th Gen F-bodies are not as stout as the 8.5 10 bolt, especially with later 30 spline axle shafts. That’s a fact.
The problem is that the GTO had a horrid IRS, the G8 uses a slightly better ZF unit, and all of them have aluminum diff sections. Not sure why GM is repeating Ford’s mistake, but aluminum suffers from thermal creep so unless there is extensive cast-in supports, heat sinks, and other measures to prevent the depth from changing, aluminum diff sections are prone to premature gear failure, especially under heavy duty use. This also applies to the HD trucks IFS and why the H3 Alpha uses a cast iron 760 IFS.
All I hope is that the Camaro is more robust than the GTO.
“With today’s advanced controllers we are seeing fuel economy with automatic transmissions that are close to those of a manual. “
Mr. Lux,
How close? Can you please give me a specific example. The EPA’s fuel economy numbers don’t show that automatics are “close to those of a manual.”
“Automatic transmission vs. manual transmission availability is largely customer driven.”
Really? No one from GM has ever asked me whether I would like an Equinox with a manual transmission. With whom at GM can I register my preference for a particular model with a manual transmission? Do your dealers keep a log of how many people come in and ask, “Is it possible to order this with a manual transmission?” and then pass that up to GM HQ?
Mr Lux,
You seem to be an automatic transmission expert, perhaps you can tell me why I had such a bad experience with a brand new 2008 Impala I rented last year. (Only 800 miles total when I got in the car.)
The car had the unfortunate tendency of not moving until the engine got to ~ 2300 rpm, and then would suddenly lurch forward. You talk of today’s “advanced controllers.” Would I be correct to assume that GM must not have given the Impala’s transmission the benefit of those “advanced controllers?”
While driving, the transmission also continually “hunted” for what it thought should be the correct gear. All in all, I found driving that car to be a frustrating experience and could never recommend an Impala with that transmission.
Could you guarantee the transmission in the Equinox works better? And if I bought one and it didn’t, could I come to you for corrective action?
Swede:
Your quest for increased offerings of manual transmissions is noble but you need to face the facts. In current cars there is no advantage to having a manual in terms of fuel economy in many cases. The Civic gets better city mileage with the manual but better highway mileage with the automatic. There are numerous vehicles in which there is virtually no difference in mileage between the automatic and manual transmission- the Camaro is one example.
As for supply and demand: that is pretty simple. Automakers often drop features and options that are not popular with consumers. GM choses not to offer manuals on models in which the public overwhelmingly selects automatic transmissions. Only a small percentage of family sedans and crossovers are sold with manuals and that is why they are increasingly rare. If you visit any car dealer today you will find few manuals on the lot unless you are considering a sporty coupe or something similar. You continue to pretend that GM is alone in focusing primarily on automatics but that is not the case. With few exceptions, most V6 powered family sedans do not offer manual transmissions and even fewer crossovers are available with manuals. At this point the only reason manuals are offered is to lower the starting MSRP of many mainstream vehicles.
“GM choses not to offer manuals on models in which the public overwhelmingly selects automatic transmissions.”
I know that. But how can the public select a manual if GM doesn’t even offer one? And do GM dealers keep records of how many people come in and ask for a manual and are told one is not available in that model? And if GM dealers keep those records, does GM HQ ever ask for that data from the dealers? (My guess is, “No.” and that there philosophy is, “Let them buy what we decide to build.”)
It’s just another sign of the continued decay and erosion of modern society caused by people who want everything automated and are unwilling to learn to do things for themselves.
Personally, I would never buy a car I couldn’t get with a manual transmission.
Best regards.
Dear Mr. Lux,
a few days ago I was sitting in the all-new Chevy Cruze for the first time. As you know, it’s on sale in Germany since last Friday. First of all, it even looks better than in your brochures and numerous car-magazines. It’s stylish and roomy, overall a beautiful vehicle for sure. However, regarding the transmission options there’s something I don’t understand: “Your” official fuel-economy rating for the 1.8 LT with 6-speed automatic transmission is 7.8 liters/100 km (=30.16 mpg) combined, versus 6.8 liters/100 km (=34.6 mpg) for the 5-speed manual (same engine). In contrast, the fuel-economy ratings for the Cadillac CTS are telling, that the 6-speed automatic transmission contributes to improved fuel-economy versus the manual… After all, for the Cadillac it’s about 1 liter/100 km lower consumption for the automatic in the average. So I am wondering, what’s the reason, that the 6-speed automatic obviously delivers decreased fuel-economy in the Cruze, but better mileage in the CTS… Well, due to other (to me) important advantages, I’d choose an automatic anyway. Nevertheless, a short explanation would be most appreciated. Thank you very much.
I’ve always liked the feel of my GM 4 speed automatics, they shift smoothly.
Six speed seems to score better fuel economy.
At the auto show, noticed one of the competitors was offering an 8 speed on its high end. Does GM plan to offer an 8 speed. Are there any disadvantages to 8 speeds vs 6?
I’d like to see more manual transmissions too. Automatics may get similar fuel economy but they in no way offer the same driving experience. I’d be all over a 2010 2.4L Equinox AWD with 5 or 6speed manual.
“Are there any disadvantages to 8 speeds vs 6?”
Edwin, it’s not necessarily all about the number of gears. Just looked up the EPA-ratings of the Chevy Impala 5.3 V8 and the Mercedes E-350. Despite of the 7-speed automatic of the E-350, its average EPA-rating is just on par with the Impala’s rating with its 4-speed automatic, whereas the Impala has the significantly larger engine and body. That’s just one example.
I am driving a 2001 Olds Alero with a 4-speed automatic and enjoy its smooth operation, either. Of course GM’s new 6-speed may bring certain benefits, but nevertheless, I don’t have the feeling that the transmission of my current vehicle is something inferior.
Swede,
Obviously there is something amiss with that Impala, or is there a carrier launch option that we consumers don’t know about?
“In current cars there is no advantage to having a manual in terms of fuel economy in many cases.”
Sheth, I absolutely agree with you.
Swede, Did you know that nearly all German police-cars are equipped with an automatic transmission? Ask yourself why. The answer is quite simple: Maneuvering under any condition of traffic is faster and easier with an automatic. Whoever denies this, probably has never driven a car with automatic. And it’s very reliable: The automatic transmission of my 1977 Opel Rekord still works very fine after 32 years now and 284`000 miles… IMHO manual transmissions are as “contemporary” like cassette recorders versus MP3-players.
the cost to engineer and pass all the govt tests that would be required for GM to build stick shift cars and trucks would need a lot more % of buyers that want stick shift to make it cost effective. even the corvette has a 50/50 stick vs auto and it is a sports car.
General Motors – Already has begun “stiffing” owners on warranty work!
The sure fire sign I have recently gotten GM anticipates going out of business is the manner in which they have treated me on warranty work. About a year ago GM replaced the transmission in my GM vehicle but charged me over $1500 in labor although they did provide the “new” transmission. In about a year when that transmission failed, I found out rather than a “new” transmission they told me I was getting, they installed a salvaged or rebuilt one which just failed again. When I complained that I had been lied to about getting a new transmission and asked them to make good on the warranty, I got absolutely NO satisfaction and GM wants another $2200 to fix the defective transmission they gave me.
One can only conclude that by lying to customers, performing faulty warranty work and installing “new” transmissions that last only a year, GM isn’t worried about customer loyalty because they are not going to need customers in the future.
As Gereon pointed out, more gears does not always equal better fuel economy. MB models with the 7 speed automatic get mediocre fuel economy. The new E550 is supposed to get 14/20 with a 7 speed vs 15/24 for the G8 GT with a 6 speed automatic. The C class also gets mediocre mileage in spite of its 7 speed. The G37 has a 7 speed and gets virtually the same mileage as the heavier CTS with 6 speed auto.
Gereon (from Germany),
The 5.3L V-8 with AFM and 4 speed automatic is one of my favorite powertrains. If they want to add SIDI and a six speed, thats even better for the customer. I’d hope to see the 5.3L V-8 offered on the 2010 LaCrosse Super. The 5.3L V-8 uses 87 octane, and the E-350 7 speed probably needs 93 octane and still doesn’t get the mpg that GM gets. It seems to show that GM makes a better automatic transmission. The foreign engines and transmissions really aren’t very impressive.
I’ve driven the six speed automatics and except for the better fuel economy, the four speed still feels good by comparison.
Swede Halstrom
Manual transmissions can be ordered on certain models and they are typically in stock on sports cars like the CTS-V and the Corvette. Ford also offers manuals. Seems like there are lots of Mustangs and Camaros with manuals driving around. 95% of the market is automatics though so there may not be as many in stock. It would be worth it for GM to offer a manual on the base CTS which may generate some additional sales.
A_COL,
I’ve heard of only very few who experienced problems with GM on transmissions, on the other hand have known of many who’ve experienced problems with foreign transmissions. The cost of replacing some of the foreign car tranmissions can be double or triple since they don’t always back up their network with parts like American makers do.
It may be a particular dealer not following warranty procedures. Some dealers don’t seem to be as company and customer loyal as others. Perhaps that will change for the better when some dealers are closed.
“Did you know that nearly all German police-cars are equipped with an automatic transmission? Ask yourself why.”
Gereon,
That is because it allows the police officer to drive one-handed while using the other hand to talk on the radio, or to use the car’s computer to access the German equivalent of the NCIS database.
That is also the reason (though not a very good reason) many in the U.S. prefer automatics. They can drive with one hand while using the other hand to hold their cell phone, Blackberry, put on lipstick, comb their hair, etc.
Police officers have the training and discipline to be able to do that — average drivers don’t.
Edwin, thanks for your response. You are right with your assumption: The Impala requires just “regular”, in contrast, the E-350 “premium” (according to fueleconomy.gov). Considering this, the annual fuel-costs for the Impala reportedly are 181 $ lower, after all.
Great automatic transmissions by GM seem to have a long tradition. The before mentioned automatic transmission in my vintage Opel Rekord already was so well-engineered, that no significant decrease in fuel-efficiency or performance can be observed versus the manual. Not to forget: We are talking about a 32 year old car.
Regarding your statement about foreign (i.e. non-American) engines and transmissions, I also agree with you. This Opel already has hydraulic valve-lifters and a power-steering. Features, which my brother’s Nissan not even had in the middle of the 80’s. So I regard it as just ridiculous, when people over here are claiming that GM screwed up Opel in terms of innovation and product excellence.
“That is because it allows the police officer to drive one-handed while using the other hand to talk on the radio…”
Swede, that’s definitely not the reason. Two friends of us are working with the regional highway-police. There are always two persons on a police-car during service-time. So the other guy, sitting next to the driver, always could operate the radio or whatsoever. I have been driving both, cars with manual transmission and automatic. To me it’s just a matter of fact, that I can adopt to changing traffic-conditions more easily and faster. Furthermore, a German survey found out, that drivers of cars with automatic are causing relatively less accidents than drivers with manuals. By the way: There’s no doubt, that drivers with manuals also use their cell-phones during driving, what is prohibited in Germany. I watch that frequently.
Swede Halstrom,
I totally agree with you, which is why I bought a Honda Accord V6 6-speed manual coupe.
Now, if GM offered, say, the G6 coupe with the 3.6 VVT and a 6 speed manual, I would consider it. I would also consider a G8 if you could get a manual on it (I know it’s offered on the GXP, but that’s out of most people’s price range). Could you imagine a Malibu with a manual? I think it would be quite a fun car to drive.
Swede:
Manuals were going out of favor long before cell phones were prevalent in US society. One reason manuals aren’t popular here is that US engines often have enough power and torque to preclude the need for a stick shift. In other parts of the world much smaller engines are commonplace and a manual transmission is needed to extract reasonable performance from these engines. We get more than adequate performance from our engines with automatic transmissions and most owners like the convenience of an automatic. Many people have never even learned how to drive a manual.
“…most owners like the convenience of an automatic.”
True, we’ve become a nation of wimps ~ always seeking the easy way, putting self-interest above the common good. It’s all part of the ripping apart of our social fabric and the decline of Western Society. Whatever happened to “Duty before self?”
“Many people have never even learned how to drive a manual.”
True. Can this really be the same nation that once had hardy, rugged pioneers willing to put up with weeks and weeks of hardship to go by wagon train from Missouri to Oregon and California?
how many stick shift advocates here would pay a extra premium price to have a stick shift like $1200 the auto cost extra in a new corvette ??
Here in Brazil we have cars with small engines (1.0 and 1.4 liters for small cars and 1.8 and 2.0 for bigger cars).
Here in Brazil GM is using a manual automatized transmission. We call it “Easytronic”. The car has a standart 5 speed manual transmission, but it´s automatized, so it works like an automatic transmission.
This kind of transmission is less expensive than a automatic one and the vehicle doesn´t have to use a torque converter.
Do you consider using this kind of transmission in US? Or other countries?
Excellent discussion on transmission-related issues.
Another major gain in fuel economy would result if the new 2010 Equinox, Terrain, and SRX had had the advanced “two-mode hybrid” system optionally available upon their initial arrival this summer (and not at some “unspecified” point in the future). Would love to see this system additionally offered on the 2010 Enclave, Acadia, etc.
Virtually all GM vehicles across-the-board should now (or very shortly) have the BAS+ / BAS-II hybrid system available as at least an option at reasonable cost. Plug-in hybrid variants should be brought to market as soon as possible as well. And of course, bring on the Volt…….
A Cruze SS variant with the excellent suspension tuning and LNF turbo engine of the existing Cobalt SS should also have been made available from its introductiion as well. The Cobalt SS is a true “overachiever” but needs its performance placed within a more modern vehicle with a better interior. All GM performance vehicles should have the option of a true performance dashboard having at least additional oil pressure and voltmeter included. An optional data display screen should also be available ala the Cobalt SS for really interesting data from the onboard computers.
Even if it “costs” up to 50hp (bringing the Corvette down below 400hp), kindly offer an Active Fuel Management equipped V8 with E85 option and BAS+ together to see what sort of mileage could be obtained. My guess is you could easily demonstrate the most fuel efficient and powerful vehicle of its type available anywhere in the world today. Do it, and you can sign me up this moment…….. The next Corvette (?) should be designed to allow for an advanced two-mode hybrid (and plug-in option) system — period!
Virtually all of the above is essentially completed and available for use. JUST DO IT! Thanks.
To anyone that will listen.
I would like to submit an idea that would in my opinion help with the transition from where we are now to where we are going.
The 1957 chevy is one of the most valued collectors vehicle ever made. With styleing like that you don’t have to look farther.
With modern technologies this vehicle and the attendant boomer generation would have a winner for General Motors.
But do yourself a favor make it maintenence friendly so the avg. American can work on it.
Today less is more. Given a choice between an 283cu.in. motor and a lighting fast electric model the public would bring about the necessary progression into the future for G.M.
Allthough it may sound like a frivolous idea. I believe that you have to learn from the past.
Distinction with fins is a simple matter today back then the cost as well as the materials used made the look destined to go out of style.
Cadillac had the biggest fins but the 57′ chevy was the poor mans caddi.
GM Should still offer a choice of a 6speed manual transmision in there full size truck line. Up until a few years ago you could get your choice of what you wanted in these trucks not what they say you have to get in them.