2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Palo Alto
Posts: 5,387
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Mr.Aqua' timestamp='1458245555' post='23911875
I'm extremely impressed with the 10 speed auto. The shift speed seems insanely fast. I hope they put it in the z06 and then I may end up upgrading my z51 for one
1. While these transmissions first show up in cars like this, they will find their way into more comfortable sedans and trucks. I think traditional autos are still the standard (short of single speed electrics) in terms of smooth power delivery and launching torque. Launching torque is particularly important when dealing with a heavy car or a truck with trailer. You need to be able to apply controlled torque to the wheels at sub 5 mph speeds. A coworker of mine complains about his ~5 year old S6 in this area. The DCt simply can't drive under a certain speed without slipping the clutch. It also has trouble in cases that are the DCT equivalent of running a car in first gear at idle, then hitting the gas. With a torque converter the engine can increase a few hundred RPM where the torque curve is stronger (big difference between 800 and 1600 RPM). This makes launching from a slow roll better with a traditional auto.
2. Traditional autos are getting much better. I think it was easy to love DCTs when most people were used to 4 or perhaps 5 speed autos. With the newest 6+ speed autos and with more autos holding gears etc, the advantages of DCTs are probably dwindling. Traditional autos can shift very quickly, in drag cars they actually shift faster than DCTs because, depending on how the clutches are released, engage more than one sped at a time. While we don't think of traditional autos as having clutches, they actually have quite a few. Anyway, it's possible that traditional autos are facing an image problem similar to push rod engines. Before the LS engines, pushrods were leftover domestic tech only used because the Big 3 (GM in particular) were too dumb to see what the rest of the world "knew". Then GM came out with the LSx family. Over time they clearly showed that a pushrod motor could still be state of the art. Perhaps we are just assuming DCT should be better but perhaps GM did testing and found that in real life it isn't better.
3. Probably just didn't want to spend the money and the GM developed transmission will be "good enough". This is the most cynical answer but it certainly is possible that GM said it was cheaper buy the auto from themselves. This assumes GM went with "good" and "decent price" vs "best" at "cost doesn't mater". Certainly this car sells at a point where cost does mater.
Anyway, that's just speculation.
#15
Check out how fast the transmission responds to the paddle shift inputs. This is sweet and that engine sound. Wow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwTuJ-FAi8U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwTuJ-FAi8U
#16
Forgive my ignorance, but this isn't the big bad track car of the Camaro world, right? That would be the Z28?
#17
Registered User
UNGAH! This thing sounds fantastic and goes like stink. I think I prefer it to the Z06 surprisingly.
Mr. EG, the ZL1 is not the super track focused car, but I am sure it can't hold it's own. I am not sure what they will do as far as the next Z28 goes. The last Z28 had LS7 from the C6Z, but obviously using the LT4 that would create some overlap here. I don't think a track focused Camaro would work without some kind of engine upgrade over the base Camaro. I am sure GM could work some more power out of the LT1 but so far, they haven't.
I guess they could use the LS7 again, wouldn't be out of the question...
Mr. EG, the ZL1 is not the super track focused car, but I am sure it can't hold it's own. I am not sure what they will do as far as the next Z28 goes. The last Z28 had LS7 from the C6Z, but obviously using the LT4 that would create some overlap here. I don't think a track focused Camaro would work without some kind of engine upgrade over the base Camaro. I am sure GM could work some more power out of the LT1 but so far, they haven't.
I guess they could use the LS7 again, wouldn't be out of the question...
#18
Odd, I still don't like this car more than the gt350. I'm sure a test drive can sway me.
#19
Registered User
But that noise
Solution is just to have both