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

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/next-corvette-will-be-powered-by-small--high-revving-turbo-v-8.html

"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."

me and chris have been talking about this.... makes me worried

Shoot I'm young and I'd rather them bump it up to a ten-cyl instead. I don't want a small high tech engine. It's simple really, go big or go home!

I agree. I am also young and love the way of American car manufacturers. I would be very sad to see the mustang go a similar route.

We're starting our own car company if that's how ford goes!

They will still have a V8 option for the corvette

Future engine development will continue to get more power with less displacement. It's evolution. I don't mind that at all. Fast is fast and performance is performance. However.... you just can't replace the sound of a V8.

xXBIGxBAREXx wrote:Shoot I'm young and think ten-cylinders is cool even though they arnt in american cars cause american cars need big V8's. I don't want a small high tech engine. It's simple really, go big or go home!

fixed!

finally going with an overhead design, huh? those chevy guys will love having that in common with us.

ARMORINE wrote:

xXBIGxBAREXx wrote:Shoot I'm young and think ten-cylinders is cool even though they arnt in american cars cause american cars need big V8's. I don't want a small high tech engine. It's simple really, go big or go home!

fixed!

What about a 10L V10?

still not worthy. a 10 liter v8 however is very cool in an american car

BMMC1 wrote:Future engine development will continue to get more power with less displacement. It's evolution. I don't mind that at all. Fast is fast and performance is performance. However.... you just can't replace the sound of a V8.

WORD