GM's V8 Production Down by Half - Should Next Gen Corvette Adopt a V6 to Keep Up with the Times?

**enviroaw** · 03-23-12, 08:37 AM

It is true that other cars from around the world have done great things with small engines... Pound for pound the Corvette is the most reliable and cheapest world class sport car to own. You got love the growl and power without blowers. A Corvette with a V6 is like a belly ring on a big woman.... "It just don't belong"

**vetmaniac** · 03-23-12, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by SolidLifters

Not no, HELL NO.

REAL CAR GUYS will never embrace a V6 powered Corvette.

REAL CAR GUYS can spot the difference between a ZR1 and any other C6 in a millisecond. And REAL CAR GUYS know that GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is a performance car's biggest enemy.

**bcherry85** · 03-23-12, 08:38 AM

We all here bought our vette's for 1. the look .. 2. well its a power house . Poor fuel economy -well I didn't buy a corvette for the fuel mileage . You want MPG go buy a V6 camaro wussy boy .

**ridste** · 03-23-12, 08:41 AM

Add DFI and make twin turbos an option, there are ways to make the 6.2 more fuel efficient.

**Rob** · 03-23-12, 08:42 AM

More responses via email:

Thank you for the article, it's pretty clear
reading the posts from the diehard Corvette fan base that they consider ditching
the V8 as a fate worse than death. They need to wake up and stop being stick in
the mud traditionalists.

Although I love the Corvette, and more still
the genius of the current LS engine range, GM must consider a new drive train
for Corvette to compete and beat it's younger rivals.
GM have the technology to produce a powerful twin turbo, direct injection V6 that
can top the likes of Nissan, that is lighter, more fuel efficient, with much
better response than the current V8's and V8 supercharged engines.

INDY Cars use turbo V6 engines, so why all
the fear surrounding Corvette engines?

GM
. . .Just do it !

[quote]Corvette should maintain it's inegrity and heritige! Keep the V8 and the 427
V8. Please, don't follow the Euro's!!/quote]

I ain't buying
no V6 vette!!! But, I know they can make big number with the proper turbos etc. Just wouldn't seem right in a vette to me.

It would be like that Harley powered yellow roadster in Hot Rod this month. Just ain't right! lol

mikep3 · 03-23-12, 08:45 AM

Smaller LS V8 might attract some buyers. The current C6 is a large car compared to its offshore cars. Gets better MPG and less cost, why do we need a $12K 400HP V6?

**vetmaniac** · 03-23-12, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by 2vetteEd

The Germans were dumb enough to start two World Wars.

How much dumber can you get?

Their leaders weren't dumb, they were evil. However, their weaponry was much more advanced than anything the allies had to offer. You are aware that the U.S. "stole" one of nazi Germany's best rocket scientists after WWII, Wernher von Braun, to work at NASA to develop our missle program, right?

**evariste** · 03-23-12, 08:53 AM

My opinion (from France) is NO.

Why ?
I was born 2 years after the Corvette and I always have been thinking that a true Corvette should have a V8 and nothing else, because the sound of the engine is a great part of the DNA of the car.

I do not see any interest in a 6 cylinder engine. I've had a 3l V6 in my daily cruiser for years.
Yes, the sound is not so bad, especially during high rev (0,00001% of the time), but does not have the caracteristic hammering strength of a small block.

If GM guys really want to improve mpg ratings, they can use technologies they already have on the shelf :
- Enable displacement on demand when cruising,
- Slightly reduce displacement and add a turbocharger.

(I apologize for my poor english)

**Hib Halverson** · 03-23-12, 08:55 AM

This pole/thread is interesting but, perhaps, irrelevant.

C7 will come to market late next year with a 5.5L Gen 5 V8. It will have DGI, VVT and perhaps AFM. My guess is 400-425-hp with a higher rpm range.

While, at one time, I thought there was a good chance of a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 being considered, I no longer believe that's in the program...at least not for the first several years of the new platform. I think turbocharged V6 is on GM Powertrain's radar but, at the time being, not for Corvette.

I'm also going to guess that some version of a supercharged 6.2L engine will eventually return to the Corvette in very limited numbers in a future Z06 or ZR1...maybe in '15 or '16.

I think that, sadly, the LS7, 7.0L engine we all know and love will have it's swan song in the 2013 "427 Convertible". If you're thinking about getting one, order early. '13 will be a short model year.

**jd4u2** · 03-23-12, 08:55 AM

GM is in a faze of FORGET the details. Durring this period of time they stoped selling marine engines to boat mfg.
They also started to sell more diesel trucks. Thay also sublet the building and sales of high preformance engines.
The UAW, that is GM will do anything to get rid of anything they deem uncommon to the average.
The USSR did not produce a sports car!

**Mabolzich** · 03-23-12, 08:59 AM

NO! What's the point? If you drive a Vette, you don't think about millage, you think about how fast it goes. There is no substitute for cubes and cylinders. Give be a break! Next you'll be putting white lace doilies on the seats. Bad idea!

**XtremeVette** · 03-23-12, 09:02 AM

First off would love to know where the editor picked up his information that the new corvette gets less efficient mpg then the V6's out there. 28-30 mpg beats out or matches a lot of V6's being offered today. As far as horsepower and torque goes...yeh the supercharged V6's may make some impressive numbers but at what sacrifice? You have to be turning 5000-7000 rpm to get it and then guess what...ya you're not getting good gas mileage then. I love the Vette's V8 motor for the simple fact that I can be in overdrive or 6th gear and get 30 mpg while turning only 2000 rpm. This while doing 80mph.I believe the next version of GM's V8 will be just as powerful if not more powerful and also get even higher mpg by utilizing all the new technology available (direct ignition, electronic valve shutoff's, etc). The current model LS7 & LS9 motors prove what GM can do. V6 motors have no right even being mentioned with the name "Corvette". If you want a supercharged or turbo V6 go out and get a Kia.

**njlouc** · 03-23-12, 09:06 AM

Unfortunately the realities of life are such that a car design has to fall into the political arena.
The next president could easily set the tone for it all!!!

The way things are now a big hulking V8 is not politically correct and could possibly be illegal to produce/own.
They outlawed some lightbulbs because they were not efficient enough (and were made in the US).
AND GM is govt owned!!!!

The EPA is on a tear!! a corvette (and all sports cars) are on govt/epa life support and could disappear as we know them. Eventually the trend is toward the "tuner" style. Tiny car, tiny engine spinning at 10,000rpm to develop 200HP.

Yes it is true that BMW will be extending the use of the 4cyl in the US market replacing some of their I6s.
To achieve a decent replacement, they are using a direct injection/ turbo. they had them in europe for years.
For many years they had the "Efficient Dynamics" concept. They achieved a few extra MPG, but at the price of a world of grief! at the end of the day, those extra MPG are damn expensive. I dont think that any of you would enjoy spending $500 for a battery with registration at the dealer. And that's just a part of it. look it up!!

It sounds great and you may think that you want the good words, but IMHO, it also sounds like a lot of stress on a smalll block engine. The US market is indeed different. Translation: $$$$$$.

It's true that cylinder count is not very important. The old racing Offenhauser 4cyl put out amazing HP in the 50/60's, but for daily use they would be a pain.

let's face it, a big V8 is barely stressed and is far cheaper to own and is more reliable than a stressed turbo 4cyl.

**Tuna** · 03-23-12, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by koolaid117

Even in the gas crisis in the 70's Corvettes had V8's. We don't have a gas crisis now or even a global warming problem.

I love the sound of a V8. They sound awesome when they drive by.

No one says,"Listen to the sound of that sweet V6!"

I love the sound of a V8 also but if GM were to turbo a V8, the deep rumble we love now would be gone - turbos are pretty good mufflers. Turbo V8 or turbo V6 - it would be hard to tell the different by the sound.