Repair-It

The General’s own in-house-developed eight-speed units (for its trucks and rear-drive V-8 cars) are just making an appearance after work on them had all but stopped during the company’s plunge into bankruptcy in 2009.

GM wouldn’t confirm whether the automatic Corvette is quicker on the track, but the Z51-equipped cars are certainly built for it; they will lap continuously for a full tank of fuel without overheating

Chevy says it missed its goal of achieving a 30-mpg EPA highway rating by the narrowest of margins—one hundredth of a mpg. Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter says GM will retest the car next year with an extra 2 psi in the tires in an attempt to attain the 30-mpg label. That’ll require Chevy to change the recommended pressure on the door-frame placard and then print in the owner’s manual that it is okay to run at a lower pressure for “comfort.” That’s a trick Porsche’s been doing for years.

I've had experience with various DSG gearboxes in a variety of VAG cars and can confirm that they shift incredibly quickly, however, I must say, it comes at a substantial price that few every talk about - I never ever got used to the sluggish off-the-line clutch engagement.

For anyone that's every needed to stab the throttle from a stop to make a quick and safe left hand turn across a busy intersection (read: everyone), the DSG is an infinitely aggravating gearbox in that situation. In those circumstances, I cursed that gearbox. Once rolling, however, it's fantastic, I'll admit.

If this new 8 speed is even close to as quick shifting as a typical DSG but without the delayed response, I'll consider it a win for GM.