Previously, the technology that allows shifting gears without depressing the clutch was used exclusively in automated manuals and automatic transmissions.
At the exhibition, engineers demonstrated their development using a six-speed manual gearbox Borg-Warner T-56, which equips the current Chevrolet Corvette. To shift up or down, the driver only needs to pull the corresponding paddle behind the steering wheel and then press the clutch pedal. Then, special actuators take over, performing the shift in about 250–300 milliseconds.
In addition, this system can "skip" two gears down at once. There is also another option: the gear lever can be used in sequential transmission mode — pushing it forward or backward to change gears.
Currently, the Chevrolet Corvette is available with engines producing from 430 to 638 horsepower. These engines can be paired with either a manual gearbox or a traditional six-speed automatic equipped with paddle shifters. The premiere of the next-generation Corvette is scheduled for January 2013 at the Detroit Auto Show.
