V6 Base??
09-04-2012, 05:27 AM
#21
Le Mans Master
What's the essential Corvette powerplant?
C7 will not get a V6.
Beyond C7? Magic V8 ball says "ask again later."
.Jinx
09-04-2012, 09:50 AM
#22
Melting Slicks
I would say not happening especially since the has been no real talk of it. However would it work???? I have been saying that since Buick brought back the regal how cool would it be if they made a twin turbo v6 putting out over 400hp made the car all black and called it a Grand National. That would work. So if Chevy made a tt V6 putting out close to 500 hp I could see that. To me there is no point in getting a V6 corvette. The V8's get really good mileage and the power is always there when you want it.
09-04-2012, 11:19 AM
#23
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
After reading "Stingray Logo" posts it looks like a zero chance of a V6 option.
09-04-2012, 01:52 PM
#25
Team Owner
09-04-2012, 03:09 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
09-04-2012, 07:38 PM
#27
Drifting
I would just like to point out something that gets said a lot, the new, lighter v6 in the camero/cts is almost exactly 60lbs lighter then the ls3. Even the older version was still lighter then an aluminum lsX.
The argument was/is you may have cut 40/60lbs off the front, but you reduced it to 314/326hp. The cost/ reward was never there. It still really isn't. It would cost gm less to make a 10-1 compression, smaller bore or stroke v8 to keep as many parts the same as possible. Could reuse same heads, intake, and throttle body from a bigger engine as long as the valves weren't too big and required a certain bore. A 380hp motor would move the c7 along just the same as a 460hp motor for grocery trips and Sunday cruising. It comes down to 1)would this smaller motor get better mpg because gearing MIGHT need to be changed but maybe not and 2)they're sharing the top end for two different motors which cuts overall costs, but using 1 motor for all base models is still cheaper. Thus could msrp actually be any lower?
The argument was/is you may have cut 40/60lbs off the front, but you reduced it to 314/326hp. The cost/ reward was never there. It still really isn't. It would cost gm less to make a 10-1 compression, smaller bore or stroke v8 to keep as many parts the same as possible. Could reuse same heads, intake, and throttle body from a bigger engine as long as the valves weren't too big and required a certain bore. A 380hp motor would move the c7 along just the same as a 460hp motor for grocery trips and Sunday cruising. It comes down to 1)would this smaller motor get better mpg because gearing MIGHT need to be changed but maybe not and 2)they're sharing the top end for two different motors which cuts overall costs, but using 1 motor for all base models is still cheaper. Thus could msrp actually be any lower?
09-04-2012, 08:22 PM
#28
Yep, the LFX V6, and the LLT before it, were both a bit lighter than the LS3, however as McGirk points out, the LS3 had a superior power:weight ratio. Now, if you were to turbo the V6 in order to achieve the power levels people would expect from a Corvette, the weight of the turbo(s), intercooler, pluming, etc. would likely make up those 58 lbs pretty quickly.
The DOHC heads are definitely wider, so packaging concerns are very real. The other thing is that the LFX doesn't necessarily cost less for GM, either, as it has more components (and a turbo version even more so). At one point the small block may have also had a volume advantage, considering it goes in all of the trucks and SUVs as well. Previously GM had several different families of V6s, so volume on the HF engines was lower than it is now that they are using them across the board.
09-04-2012, 09:20 PM
#31
Melting Slicks
It didn't happen when they neutered the Camaros and Mustangs in the 70's/80's and it won't happen this time either.
I do think they will make the base engine a smaller CI V8 though.
I do think they will make the base engine a smaller CI V8 though.
09-05-2012, 02:14 AM
#33
Drifting
The point? The pursuit of better MPG. And at, say, 340hp, a 3100lb v6 corvette would still be faster then 95% of cars on the road. Still pretty impressive.
09-05-2012, 02:41 AM
#34
Le Mans Master
But likely slower than the Mustang GT and the Cayman S. That's not a good thing. Corvette should be late to the horsepower wake, not early.
09-05-2012, 10:24 AM
#36
Team Owner
Yep, the LFX V6, and the LLT before it, were both a bit lighter than the LS3, however as McGirk points out, the LS3 had a superior power:weight ratio. Now, if you were to turbo the V6 in order to achieve the power levels people would expect from a Corvette, the weight of the turbo(s), intercooler, pluming, etc. would likely make up those 58 lbs pretty quickly.
The DOHC heads are definitely wider, so packaging concerns are very real. The other thing is that the LFX doesn't necessarily cost less for GM, either, as it has more components (and a turbo version even more so). At one point the small block may have also had a volume advantage, considering it goes in all of the trucks and SUVs as well. Previously GM had several different families of V6s, so volume on the HF engines was lower than it is now that they are using them across the board.
The LSx engines produce great power in a small, lightweight package.
09-05-2012, 10:32 AM
#37
Le Mans Master
C7 - No....C8 - Maybe
Could depend on Formula 1. I believe they are going to V6 next year (or is it turbo 4's?) and if they keep that engine rule for a decade then the C8 could get less cylindered engine.
Vette power band may change with a 6 or 4 from low end drivability to high rpm drivability.
I rather have a 283 V8 than a V6.
Could depend on Formula 1. I believe they are going to V6 next year (or is it turbo 4's?) and if they keep that engine rule for a decade then the C8 could get less cylindered engine.
Vette power band may change with a 6 or 4 from low end drivability to high rpm drivability.
I rather have a 283 V8 than a V6.
09-05-2012, 06:56 PM
#38
Le Mans Master
Small V8 with a little positive manifold pressure would be palatable. 4.8L all aluminum V8 with an LSA supercharger on top. Parts are on the shelf to do it. Add more blower and more cubes for the Z models. I've never heard a v6 exhaust that rumbles my jumblies
09-05-2012, 08:39 PM
#39
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It seems to be the trend, but I don't see Corvette going there just yet. I don't think it will be that far away though.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/05/i...from-v8-power/
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/05/i...from-v8-power/
09-05-2012, 09:31 PM
#40
Le Mans Master
The twelve people who bought first-gen M45s will be saddened by the news that Infiniti is letting their V8 die. Nobody else will really care. Infiniti isn't trying to go head-to-head with BMW M5, and parent Nissan's high-performance identity rests with the turbo V6.
Still would have been sweet having their DOHC V8 in a first-gen G coupe.
As for F1, it has less than zero impact on Corvette's engine bay.
If Corvette ever loses the V8 as its base engine, what replaces it will have enough turbo to maintain fat torque.
Heck, maybe we can skip right to a turbodiesel. I know, I know, they're big heavy motors today, but maybe they won't be in ten years. I just like the idea -- more efficiency = more power
Still would have been sweet having their DOHC V8 in a first-gen G coupe.
As for F1, it has less than zero impact on Corvette's engine bay.
If Corvette ever loses the V8 as its base engine, what replaces it will have enough turbo to maintain fat torque.
Heck, maybe we can skip right to a turbodiesel. I know, I know, they're big heavy motors today, but maybe they won't be in ten years. I just like the idea -- more efficiency = more power
