Mechanical C8 Corvette exists, and it is very expensive
Peitz Performance Tune has developed a conversion for the base C8 Corvette Stingray. According to the company's founder, it will cost an additional $60,000–70,000 on top of the car's price.
The company has created a solution for installing a manual transmission in the C8 Corvette, which Chevrolet did not originally design for such a gearbox. Currently, the conversion is compatible only with the base Stingray model, and all installations are performed by the company itself.
The design incorporates a clutch, gear shift lever, associated components, and software. The transmission from Tremec is already engineered for installation in the C8, while the MoTeC control unit simplifies bypassing the car's software limitations.
The conversion modifies the central part of the interior: space is freed in the central tunnel for the gear lever, and a new console is installed. It conceals the PRNDL controls but retains a row of buttons and the driving mode switch.
According to company founder Alex Peitz, Tremec will begin producing the manual transmission in the summer of 2027, closer to mid-year. Until then, Peitz Performance Tune will continue refining the solution and handling all installations independently. Later, the company plans to prepare a complete kit that other service centers will be able to install.
Chevrolet has no plans to release a production C8 with a manual transmission in the near future. When developing the model, the automaker abandoned this version due to the high cost of developing a new transmission and customer preferences: owners of the C7 Corvette predominantly chose the automatic option.
