Auto Guide found a California Air Resource Board (CARB) document that pairs the 6.2-liter engines in the 2019-model-year Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette with their respective transmissions. In the “Trans Type” column, the two Corvettes get listed with both “M7” and “SA8” gearboxes — representing General Motors‘ TR-6070 seven-speed manual and 8L90 semi-automatic eight-speed auto. The single Camaro gets assigned M6, M7, and SA8 transmissions, indicating that the Camaro will get a seven-speed manual.
Unless GM’s been hiding things or The General plans to head to ZF for a seven-speed gearbox, the suggestion is that GM will finagle the Corvette’s unit into the Camaro. We say finagle, because although the V8 Camaro SS uses the 6.2-liter LT1 engine also used in the base Stingray, the Camaro’s transmission mounts to the engine, whereas the Corvette’s transmission mounts at the rear axle.
We can’t tell from the CARB document which Camaro trim is in question; the 2018 version of the same paperwork listed just one Camaro as well. However the 10-speed transmission in the Camaro ZL1 isn’t listed. Since the ZL1 uses the LT4 V8 from the Corvette Z06, we could take this document to refer only to the LT1 engine. In that case, running all the way with the guesswork, the two Corvette trims would refer to the base Stingray and the Grand Sport, and the Camaro SS would be the seven-speed manual recipient.
The 2019 Camaro gets a mid-cycle refresh, and a seven-speed manual option would be among its plum features. The triple overdrive top gear in the TR-6070 would increase fuel economy and decrease CO2 emissions, benefits to please both owners and CARB. Expect a reveal in the next few months, and dealership availability at the end of the year.
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