Tremec, makers of the TR-9080 dual-clutch transaxle used in the C8 Corvette, are currently developing a manual gearbox that could potentially bolt up to replace the DCT, and the DCT in the Ford Mustang GTD. This led some automotive news outlets to speculate that Chevrolet would purchase the Tremec unit for an upcoming Corvette variant.During a question and answer session with Corvette Chief Engineer Tony Roma at the 12 Hours of Sebring, Chevy put these rumors to bed. A video taken by a 2026 Corvette ZR1 owner captured Roma's response when asked about the potential for a manual option. In short, the Corvette engineering team did not mince words when it came to a potential manual gearbox."The answer has not changed. Tremec showed something at SEMA last year that is not real. So when people say there's one that's available, we don't have any plans to talk about a manual transmission."– Tony Roma, Corvette Chief Engineer No New Manual, Because Buyers Didn't Buy The Old One Chevrolet Following Roma's words that quashed the rumors about a C8 with a manual gearbox, fellow engineer Josh Holder stepped up to give a deeper explanation for why this does not make sense for General Motors."We are in a for-profit business. We make Corvette so all you guys can enjoy the affordability and attainability of America's supercar," Holder said. "But one of the things that makes that true was making business decisions. At the end of the seventh-generation life cycle, the penetration rate of manuals was super low. The market was voting with their wallets, and we didn't get enough votes."This could mean that C7 Corvettes with a manual could be more valuable as collector cars in the future, especially rare models like the end-of-run ZR1. Also, The DCT Is Faster Chevrolet Though a manual C8 would be a neat idea, it would inarguably make the car slower. Even the base Stingray can rip off a zero to 60 MPH time under three seconds, while the new ZR1X can do it under two seconds with an 8.76-second quarter-mile time. There is no way for a manual transmission to match that kind of speed, even with a highly skilled driver behind the wheel."I love manual transmissions, said Roma. "All I can say is our eight-speed DCT is tremendous. It's awesome. The car is faster and essentially better with the transmission we make. Don't believe GM Authority."Watching the video, it certainly sounds like there's a bit of exasperation in Roma's voice as he addresses these rumors that have persisted for years. As for Tremec, the company continues to make manual transmissions for a range of applications and recently confirmed to CarBuzz that it could pivot to new manuals for production cars without issue.""If an OEM were to opt for a manual transmission in a new platform, Tremec would have the ability to ramp that production up pretty quickly."-Tremec spokespersonSo while Chevrolet has seemingly shut the door on a new Corvette stick, options are still there should anything change.Source: wheelr_ / Instagram