8-Speed Transmissions Coming to GM Products Late

General Motors will end its internal-only approach to transmissions, opting to buy some 8-speed units from suppliers to mate with its upcoming twin-turbo V6. For the most part, however, GM will continue to develop and manufacture its own auto-boxes, with a new generation of 8-speed units arriving soon. But not soon enough.

While domestic rival Chrysler has already begun a roll-out of 8-speed units in its models, GM’s in-house developed units won’t be available until around 2016. As a result, many of GM’s exciting new flagship models won’t have an 8-speed at launch, instead relying on older 6-speed units.

Included in that list of models, reports GMInsideNews, are cars like the next-generation Cadillac CTS, Chevy Camaro and even the upcoming C7 Corvette. The 8-speed automatic transmission should arrive in time for a mid-cycle update on those cars. Expect the 8-speed auto to then arrive in GM’s full-size truck lineup about the same time.