Next Corvette Will Be Powered by Small, High-Revving Turbo V-8

[Victory Red C6]

..Next Corvette Will Be Powered by Small, High-Revving Turbo V-8
“We have to target a very different sort of buyer.”
By Paul Eisenstein | The Detroit Bureau – Wed, Jun 1, 2011 2:59 PM EDT
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Anxious to attract the sort of high-performance buyers increasingly drawn to European sports cars from the likes of Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini, General Motors is planning some major changes for the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette – starting with a high-revving, small-displacement powertrain, that will substitute for the big V-8s traditionally found under the hood of the Chevy two-seater.



GM has approved the use of a very European-style V-8 that will be only slightly larger than 3 liters in displacement. The engine will be an overhead-cam, rather than traditional overhead-valve design, using a dry sump oil system that’s particularly well suited to high-performance road courses rather than straight-line acceleration. The engine is expected to feature a narrow 80.5 mm bore and a long stroke, more like a Ferrari or Lamborghini powertrain than the approach used for traditional Motor City metal.

A very senior GM executive also confirmed that the new engine will be turbocharged, which will help yield a broad torque curve and maximum performance under a variety of driving conditions. The engine is expected to deliver in excess of 400 horsepower, which means a specific output in the range of 125 horsepower per liter. That’s the sort of number that would help the next-generation Vette stack up well against the likes of a Porsche 911 or Lamborghini Gallardo.

The engine is likely to be extremely high-revving, perhaps climbing to a near-Formula One-class 10,000 RPMs, suggested one source involved in the project.

The revelation tracks in line with a recent comment by General Motors’ North American President Mark Reuss, who recently promised that the so-called C7 Corvette, due to market in less than two years, will be “completely different” from the very American sports cars that have come before it. Since its launch in 1953, Corvette has been governed by the philosophy, “there’s no replacement for displacement.”

While Reuss and other senior executives have declined to discuss plans for the next Corvette publicly, several well-placed sources have given TheDetroitBureau.com a good sense of what’s to come. The small V-8 underscores what one of those insiders says is the desire to “target a very different sort of buyer for the next Corvette. Let’s face it, the current customer is getting old.” But without making significant changes, that source acknowledged, younger sports car fans will continue to be “conquested” by more modern, high-tech imports.

Significantly, Corvette won’t abandon its more classic powertrain roots entirely. There will be several different types of engines offered for the C7, including a more classic, big-block OHV V-8 designed to appeal to traditionalists.

In fact, some of the design cues of the new car will be borrowed from early generations. There have even been rumors of the C7 going with the split window of the very collectible 1963 Corvette, though TheDetroitBureau.com has not been able to confirm that that particular detail has been given the go.

Meanwhile, expect the interior to be much more modern than the current car’s, which GM’s global design chief Ed Welburn admits “is a disappointment.” The styling boss, a long-time Corvette fan himself, says he is personally overseeing the development of the C7 interior and promises it will be “absolutely world-class.”

Adopting a mid-engine layout, rather than the long-running front-engine design, is considered a strong possibility, though it would be a significant engineering shift for GM. Nonetheless, sources say that wouldn’t be entirely out of line, as the Corvette has often served as the technological test bed for the maker.

GM adopted the then-radical approach of using a fiberglass body when the original 1953 Corvette was launched. The sports car has introduced plenty of other features over the years, including the MagneRide suspension, which uses a magnetically controlled fluid to continuously vary suspension settings to match road conditions and driving behavior.

When migrating from the fifth-generation Corvette to today’s C6 model, GM trimmed weight and brought the sports car’s overall size down to something closer to that of a current Porsche 911. Anticipate further cuts in mass for the upcoming remake of Chevy’s halo car.

GM is investing $131 million in the Bowling Green, Kentucky plant that produces the Corvette to prepare for the C7 launch.

The use of the new small-displacement V-8 is likely to have some knock-on effects at GM, said one source. As with current Corvette powertrain technology, the high-tech engine will find its way into the Cadillac line-up, it appears, where it would help that brand’s V-Series evolve into a more sophisticated offering, rather than the brute-force line-up it is today.

The switch to a smaller, turbocharged V-8 isn’t exclusive to GM, incidentally. Ford made the move with its big F-Series pickup for 2011, offering a downsized EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 — which delivers the same sort of towing power as the F-150′s biggest V-8, while yielding significant fuel economy improvements.

[6 Shooter]

Next Corvette to Target Euro-Supercar Fans With Small, High-Revving Turbo V8

[TooManyIDs]

It damn well better have an ample "broad torque curve", and at low RPM, or I'm gonna be pissed !

[korvettekarl]

As long as they give us a choice.

[David Fogel]

I hope the transmission is smoother than the one Im driving

[korvettekarl]

I've had 8 Corvettes in the last 18 years. Each year EVERYTHING seems to get smoother/better. I am reminded of this every time I take the Camaro or Bel Air for a weekend cruise. Can't wait to get back to luxury, smooth horsepower with gobbs of torque and excellent handling.

[David Fogel]

No knocks on the handling whatsoever. just seems GM/Chevy are slow on the driving experience uptake, like a less than adequate dash (the HUD is great though) and a sound system from the 80's. The Cayman's stick is smooth as silk and short at the same price point. Thats probably my biggest beef. As far as exterior design there are maybe a half dozen cars that are consistently better designed, ok, cooler looking, but this car does it for me and there are none better at this price point of mid $50's. Im happy, just wish 1-2 gear wouldnt gnash as much.

[v8dave]

In the bad/good old days we used to put it as:
The only way you can beat cubic inches is with cubic money.
Sadly that seems to be passing.

I still like to feel the power vibrate my body, not by my fingers tingling.

[hoosierdaddy]

Glad to hear at the very least it's still going to be a V-8 that has been tradtional since what; 1955; isn't that correct?

Bill

[TooManyIDs]

Any kind of 6 cylinder in a Vette would be an insult to its heritage (I know they started that way - but it was mercifully brief).

The V-8 is a positive differentiator.

[hoosierdaddy]

I totally agree; unless it's a 53 or 54 it needs to be a V-8

Bill

[njlouc]

2012 BMW 528i To Get Turbo Four-Cylinder

It's the wave of the future!!
At least it's not a 4cylinder like BMW.

I am not a great fan of little engines with turbos etc.

[hoosierdaddy]

2012 BMW 528i To Get Turbo Four-Cylinder

It's the wave of the future!!
At least it's not a 4cylinder like BMW.

I am not a great fan of little engines with turbos etc.

They can make these 4 bangers run like sono***un today that's for sure but nothing sounds like a V-8, those 4 poppers are wound up like a $3.00 watch and sound like they are going to blow anytime. Just keep them and the v-6 out of the Vette, V-8 says Corvette in my book

Bill

[Mac]

Given the ever-tightening CAFE rules, I can see why GM would want to push toward smaller displacement and turbo. GM doesn't have to raise the MPG much to make a significant difference in their overall average but every little bit helps.

Corvette buyers aren't going to accept greatly reduced power; they would vote with their wallets elsewhere. So if they make the "standard" Corvette have an engine which consumes less fuel but still delivers 400 hp but at higher revs, it will attract the younger gen who are buying the high-revving imports. They like the sound of engines spinning fast, I guess?

The Z06 and ZR1 will remain larger displacement as optional buys.

-Mac

[hoosierdaddy]

it will attract the younger gen who are buying the high-revving imports. They like the sound of engines spinning fast, I guess?

Point well taken Mac, guess I am just old fashion and love the sound of 8 cylinders going off like dynomite in a hole after ignition not something that sounds like a HP Briggs & Stratton

Bill