September 26th, 2013

Drew Dowdell

Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com

Patent Drawings published on September 19th reveal that General Motors has filed a patent for a 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission. While there has been talk about a conventional GM 8-Speed automatic for a while, a 7-Speed DCT could give GM an upmarket transmission to offer in premium products from Cadillac or the Chevrolet Corvette.

At the moment, the 2014 Corvette Stingray will be shipping with a 6-speed auto when the buyer opts not to row his own, leading us to believe that this 7-Speed DCT could be offered in the Corvette in the future. We also speculate that with a couple of V-series Cadillacs on the way, the timing could be right for an introduction in one of them.

Update: A reader points out that the output shaft in the above drawing is offset to the side of the transmission (label 16). This means it is highly unlikely that this is a rear wheel drive transmission, but instead is a front wheel drive, transversely mounted transmission.

Source: CorvetteBlogger.Com, US Patent Office

Drew Dowdell is Managing Editor of CheersandGears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @Cheersngears

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Kinda wondering if this will be offered instead of the 8-speed conventional automatic in, for example, the V-Sport Cadillacs (RWD/AWD)...

Well an Aisin 8-speed is in the V-Sport CTS now, but I could see it possibly being replaced with this instead of a GM Hydromatic 8-Speed in future.

Quite obvious that GM have gone on to do this! Such patenting offers some protection for their brand value!

Very Cool, Hopefully more reliable than the news on 9 speed tranny's.

The 9-speeds that Jeep is using are a ZF design but built by Chrysler.

My complaint with DCTs is their performance in traffic situations. I hope GM can address that with this transmission.

The 9-speeds that Jeep is using are a ZF design but built by Chrysler.

My complaint with DCTs is their performance in traffic situations. I hope GM can address that with this transmission.

The Ford one (Powershift or whatever it's called) used in Volvos is quite smooth even in traffic. Sampled it once in Sweden with a 1.6L diesel V60 wagon and with that engine I actually liked it better than the standard manual gearbox.

I seriously doubt that this will ever find an application in the C7 or a Caddy. The output gear arrangement is clearly that of a transverse FWD box.

Dangit! I didn't see that till you pointed that out. I guess I should update the article.

Not sure about the DCT...