C7 Corvette Doesn’t Have the 5.3 Motor for One Good Reason

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Roll your eyes at the thought (and I’m sure you will), but sometimes a question is asked that no one really needs the answer to. That’s the case when someone recently created a thread asking why the Corvette doesn’t come with the 5.3 motor as an option. Don’t dismiss the idea as hogwash just yet, because there’s some good points made in the thread.

As we know, the 5.3 has been known to be a cheap LS swap. So prices could potentially drop for the guys who buy the Corvette simply for the name and the look. There’s some debate, however if that’s as straight forward as it sounds. The engine in the Stingray has a lot of external differences to make it fit in the slim confines of the C7’s engine bay, so that initial low cost might not remain.

Then there are those who I side with. They say that the new Corvette should stay as it is: fast, and faster. In Stingray and Z06 guise, it stands as a formidable stoplight racer. Even with the increased displacement, it still manages to return 30+ miles per gallon, according to some forum users. So when you have a better motor by all accounts, why change that formula?

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

Patrick Morgan is an instructor at Chicago's Autobahn Country Club and contributes to a number of Auto sites, including MB World, Honda Tech, and 6SpeedOnline. Keep up with his latest racing and road adventures on Twitter and Instagram!


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