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

**tmpugel** · 03-23-12, 09:21 AM

I'm in favor of going to a V6 engine. I have an '03 Malibu with the small V6 and was so impressed with how it ran that I was tempted to take it to a track just to see what it would do in a quater mile. I regret not doing that. It's too old and slow now.
Tom

**gedupont** · 03-23-12, 09:21 AM

It may be true that GM built 500,000 less V8's in 2011 than in 2006 - BUT how many less vehicles did they build in 2011? Far more than 500,000! Don't forget that they also closed down Pontiac and the Tonawanda engine plant in that timeframe. And in closing Tonawanda they discontinued all Big Block motors and are now out of the medium and heavy duty truck segments. Lot of reasons for less V8's being built other than people don't want them.

Sounds like marketing hype to me to justify going with smaller engines.

Originally Posted by Rob

A source at General Motors has told Edmunds Inside Line that GM's engine production data indicate that GM produced 500,000 fewer V8 engines in 2011 than it did five years earlier in 2006.

Source: GM's V8 Production Down by a Half-Million in Past Five Years

With the success of V6 engines such as BMW's inline-6, as well as other notable V6 engines from other automakers, should the C7 Corvette get with the times and adopt a V6 engine, or should it stick with the heavier, less fuel efficient V8?

Cast your vote above and tell us what you think!

**Dad** · 03-23-12, 09:22 AM

Slap that ol V6 in there and name it "Rumble Blunder" and sell if for 5 years like they did for the Solstice. Sales were a thing to behold, 50,000 plus and it had "Cute" going for it. Maybe whip up a Crossfire (83,000/5 yr) or a Prowler (11,702/5 yr) and see if it would make more than the Saturn Sky (Solstice afterbirth).

Not really an issue for me, if it's not a V8 it's not a Corvette and will not be owned by me. The real problem is that the decision will be made by those meaning well while ignoring the customer base they have worked 60 years to obtain.

The run away HP race in the Camaro is not being done with a V6 and as long as we have pickups and heavy haul trucks we will have V8s. As long as that is happening they can slip them into the Corvette.

**4 the ride** · 03-23-12, 09:26 AM

Who's going to be buying Corvettes in the future? Where's the money? If they can predict this and apply the new market realities then they can build the product to fill the demand. Near term, I think a lighter smaller Corvette with a pressurized direct injected engine, dual clutch manumatic and AWD option would be a world beater.

**DCShark** · 03-23-12, 09:33 AM

No way.

What's next a hybrid vette. I think not.

V8 all the way

**Strodder** · 03-23-12, 09:38 AM

I voted NO V-6! What's so bad about the mileage on the newer Vettes? It gets better than some imports. I had a 06 Subaru Turbo 4 cyl. with 250 HP and 250 LB torque. It was fast, but a slug off the line, and got bad gas milage. My 01 C-5 gets a lot better mileage. I say keep the V-8, but make the vehicle more efficient, as being lighter, a little smaller, more areodimatic, and give it another gear. Maybe that will get it closer to 40mpg.

I remember back in the 60's, a 61 Chevy Biscaine in line 6 got worse mileage than a V-8.

**jcdouglass** · 03-23-12, 09:45 AM

blown 427 bigblock, 4barrell, side pipes on headers. When I look under the hood, I like to see the engine.

**JFCalvano** · 03-23-12, 09:45 AM

I've thought for years that NASCAR could do a lot to help influence future buyers and designers to adopt V6 engines. Hot rodders and fans would eventually fall in line. Now, as far as the Vette is concerned, I feel the V8 should remain the only option albeit with options there (supercharges, turbos, etc.). I'm just glad the decision wasn't made prior to my '06.
Could you imagine: 2006-C6-V6-Z06

**dcsteg** · 03-23-12, 09:48 AM

Corvette is not a high volumne seller for GM.

Ecomony and the price of gas I would think would be a low consideration for the potential buyer. So why even think to go smaller.

Leave it a V8. There is a lot that can still be done to the LSX.

I would bump the LS3 to 480 H.P. ZO6 to 600 and the ZR1 to 675 and design some decent tires to get this car to hook up.

I would take a 600 H.P. Zo6 anyday over the ZR1 675. No substitute for cubic inches.

Just one mans opinion...don't make a big deal out of it.

**Dad** · 03-23-12, 09:50 AM

Amazing how many first timers this thread is drawing in. Much like our voters at election time, just skip it unless it affects them.

**Strodder** · 03-23-12, 09:56 AM

What ever happened to the economy Z-06 with very little options that never happen? It they must, put a V-6 in a basic Corvette entry level model. Then see how that takes off. But keep what they have now.

**Red69** · 03-23-12, 09:58 AM

Advanced engine building technology parlayed with computer technology has never made a more powerful and fuel efficient product. Think what the V8 can be in another 10 years. If it doesn't have a V8, it isn't a Corvette! If I want a V6, I will buy a base model Camaro or some other lesser vehicle. The Corvette has never been better, why ruin it?

**dcsteg** · 03-23-12, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by Dad

Amazing how many first timers this thread is drawing in. Much like our voters at election time, just skip it unless it affects them.

Never missed my opportunity to vote since I was old enough.

I am new on the forum and I will participate.

**RC135_Tx** · 03-23-12, 10:03 AM

Some seem to think the Corvette needs a V6 because it needs a V6. Exactly why? What would a V6 do for my favorite fun machine that I would really, really like?

Fuel mileage? Check the mileage figures here Gas Mileage of 2012 Vehicles by BMW - nothing there that gets me excited.

Power? Get a grip.

Lovely sounds from the exhaust? You should hear the cr@p that comes out of my DI V6 CTS. Ugh.

So. Really? Why bother? Just to be with the current in crowd? What?!? I don't get it.

**RC135_Tx** · 03-23-12, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Strodder

What ever happened to the economy Z-06 with very little options that never happen? It they must, put a V-6 in a basic Corvette entry level model. Then see how that takes off. But keep what they have now.

As has been posted earlier, they sorta did the entry-level thing with the Sky/Solstice. Didn't work.

Now, if they did it with the Corvette body and made sure to install really big f@rt can exhaust tips, then just maybe it might?