zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Tech
/
GM’s New Patent Application Could Be Used to Do a Manual Mid-Engine Corvette
GM’s New Patent Application Could Be Used to Do a Manual Mid-Engine Corvette-July 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:10:36

We’ve seen lots of spy shots and even videos of the prototypes running around but almost all of them seem to point to the use of a dual-clutch transmission. While we don’t have any concrete, confirmed details on the powertrain yet, a new patent application from General Motors may show how a manual transmission could be implemented.

Mid-engine Corvette at the Nurburgring

This application, shows how clutch-by-wire could be implemented to operate a manual transmission without having to run hydraulic lines.

The most obvious application for such a system would be a vehicle with an engine and transmission behind the driver, as it would the use of a manual transmission without having to run a hydraulic line to the rear from the clutch master cylinder which is usually directly in front of the clutch pedal.

In a traditional application for a hydraulic clutch system, a clutch pedal is mounted to the firewall with the clutch master cylinder directly in front of it. A hydraulic line extends from this master cylinder to the clutch slave cylinder, which is mounted on the transmission in order to actuate the clutch.

When the pedal is pressed, hydraulic pressure is built and sent down the line in order to move the clutch and shift gears.

In the system shown in the patent application, a sensor is mounted on the clutch pedal which send an electronic signal to an actuator mounted on the electronic slave cylinder in the transmission in order to move the clutch plate. This allows for installation of transmission far away from the clutch pedal without worry of a long hydraulic line.

There are other methods of installing a manual transmission in the rear of a car, and they have been implemented on many recent cars such as the previous generation Ford GT, but the electronic system would allow for more flexibility.

Another benefit of an electronically-operated slave cylinder is that it would be possible to give control to a computer for certain operations such as stop and go traffic in order to prevent fatigue and the patent application even lists that as one of the benefits of such a system along with having a consistent feel even over longer periods of time which is not possible with a hydraulic system.

The system may seem like yet another method of of taking control away from the driver but, it may actually be a savior for the manual transmission as it could take away the mundane tasks of clutching in and out while in stop and go traffic while making it somewhat future-proof by bringing it into the network of modules that can be centrally controlled by one of the cars computers.

But remember, it’s just a patent. It may not go anywhere. For now, it’s an interesting piece of tech and I’m eager to see if GM does anything with it.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Tech
The 2023 Chevy Bolt Will Be the Cheapest EV in America
The 2023 Chevy Bolt Will Be the Cheapest EV in America
General Motors is cutting the price of the base to $26,595 for 2023. That’s over $5,000 less than the price of the base for 2022. But, perhaps more importantly, it’s also less than the price of any new sold in the U.S. right now, according to . Meaning that...
Jul 22, 2025
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Will Start Under $60,000
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB Will Start Under $60,000
Mercedes has finally released pricing for the newest member of its of electric vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz EBQ crossover. Including destination, the EQB will start at $56,800. The EQB obviously shares the same chassis and design with the regular compact. Instead of four-cylinder engines, buyers will get to choose between...
Jul 22, 2025
Sony and Honda's Joint Venture Could Produce a New Brand
Sony and Honda's Joint Venture Could Produce a New Brand
Back in March, an initiative to come together for the “development and sales of high value-added battery electric vehicles.” This company doesn’t yet have a name, but according to Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, both parties have agreed it should stand on its own. From , which recently sat down...
Jul 22, 2025
How EVs Are Better For The Environment, By the Numbers
How EVs Are Better For The Environment, By the Numbers
Now is a good time to ask whether actually pollute less than ICE cars. Well, it’s always been a good time to ask, but now that the will offer a truly affordable electric car in America, the EV versus ICE debate is that much more relevant for drivers in...
Jul 22, 2025
Apple's Next CarPlay Update Will Run Your Whole Car
Apple's Next CarPlay Update Will Run Your Whole Car
Car infotainment, when designed by automakers, is and . Modern cars are for , yet companies insist on anyway. But what if all that space could go to something else? Say, Apple CarPlay? At today’s Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple laid out plans for the next version of its iOS...
Jul 22, 2025
Autonomous Electric Trucks Could Deliver Hydroelectric Power Straight to the Grid
Autonomous Electric Trucks Could Deliver Hydroelectric Power Straight to the Grid
I can’t get this paper, , out of my head and it’s not just the catchy title. The idea behind it is incredibly ingenious: a system that uses electric trucks to generate power in mountainous regions using gravity and regenerative braking. Researchers from Brazil to the UK . It...
Jul 22, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved