If you’ve been dreaming of a row-your-own C8 Corvette, it’s time to let that dream go. Chevrolet has made its position clear: a manual transmission is not coming to the mid-engine ‘Vette, and it never was.
The whole conversation was reignited last November when Tremec showed off a new six-speed manual transaxle at SEMA. Enthusiasts and automotive media quickly connected the dots, speculating that the unit could find its way into the C8 as a factory option. It was an exciting idea, but it turns out that’s all it ever was.
Corvette Chief Engineer Tony Roma addressed the rumors directly while at the 12 Hours of Sebring last weekend. Speaking to fans, he was blunt: “Tremec showed something at SEMA last year that I wish they wouldn’t have shown, that is not real. We don’t have any plans to talk about a manual transmission.” He went on to defend the car’s existing eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, calling it “tremendous” and noting that the C8 is simply faster and better with the transmission it already has.
Engineer Josh Holder backed that up with some context on the business side. By the end of the C7 generation, manual take rates had dropped sharply. “The market was voting with their wallets,” Holder said, “and we didn’t get enough votes.” For a car that’s already a tough sell at its price point, a low-demand option like a manual gearbox just doesn’t pencil out.
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