While the very notion of a Corvette with fewer than eight cylinders may send chills up the spines of many a red-blooded Chevrolet fan, the folks over at Popular Mechanics seem to think that changing market conditions (read: higher fuel prices) and increasingly stringent emissions regulations may force GM to look at alternative powerplants for the mighty ‘Vette.
It may be heresy to some, but plonking a force-fed V6 under the Corvette’s shapely bonnet does make sense on at least a few levels. A turbocharged version of GM’s direct-injected 3.6-litre DOHC V6 should be more than capable of equalling the 298kW output of the 6-litre LS2 V8, while more power could be eked out with larger turbos and a lower compression ratio. Fuel consumption when off boost can be kept to sensible levels too, meaning that muscle car fans will still be able to get their hedonistic thrills without feeling quite so much pain at the pump.
The good news is that V8 engines probably won’t disappear from the Corvette’s spec sheet, as the hi-po Z06 and ZR1 should continue to fly the bent-eight flag for the next generation. However displacement may drop from the Z06’s 7 litres and the ZR1’s 6.2 litres to around the 5-litre mark, and turbocharging and variable valve timing may be employed to make up the difference.
While PM’s article is entirely speculative, GM refuses to discuss any future plans for the Corvette, meaning that - for now - the C7 Corvette is very much a blank slate. A replacement for the current C6 is expected sometime in 2010, so we should get a definitive word on what GM has in store for the Corvette over the coming year. In the meantime, click the link below to read Popular Mechanics‘ article and don’t forget to give us your thoughts in the comments field below.
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Would make more sense to have Direct injection and cylinder shutdown on the v8.
With the twin snails,all the plumbing for the intercoolers and the DOHC heads I cant imagine it weighing less than a big,dumb,simple but incredibly light alloy v8.
But if any one can show me a big capacity turbo v6 that uses less than a a ls3 than i might change my mind.
Tinkering with the V8 is a better idea - putting in a V6 would be devastating to the Corvette image. Lest we forget, no one driving a Vette cares all that much about gas mileage and GM has enough economy cars to counter balance the books to make the EPA happy.
A Corvette is meant to be a V8. It would be a sacrilege for it to have anything but.
What next? Are they going to badge a sedan with a Corvette badge?!?!?
I see Alan has already covered my sentiments
Weren’t the first Corvettes in the 1950’s offered with a six cylinder engine? It’s not unheard of, so therefore not every Vette needs and eight. I think a TTDIV6 as an entry level engine isn’t a bad idea, true the economy from the LS3 is already impressive and could probably be improved with cylinder de-activation and direct injection, but in peoples minds a V6 is more economical than a V8, and it’s that perception that GM needs to meet. Plus if you really need a V8 go for a Z06 or ZR1
I’m pretty sure old school Monaros were offered with a 6 cylinder, but look how well the VT SV6 did when the new Monaro was released?
Like any other car with such nostalgia and values, I don’t think that such an entry model would sell. People who can afford ‘vettes wouldn’t want anything less, especially not in the US of A.
Yep your right Alan ,unlike GTs that only came out in 8s Monaros came in 6s and 8s.
If this happens, the American V8 crowd will understand how it feels to us rotary-heads when we see LS1s dropped into RX7s… just because it’s ‘better’ doesn’t make it any less painful!
Kezza. They cant really have a TTDIV6 as an entry level corvette if the motor costs more than the v8 alternative.