Ah, the Corvette purist. Well, I'll start by agreeing that I love the push rod V-8. The rumble and growl at low RPM and the scream at high RPM, there's just nothing like it.

That said, guess what, times are a changin'. You know all those pesky kids that annoyed us, and still do, with their hopped up boosted ricers? Well those kids are getting ready to or just have graduated college. They do not feel the same way as we do about the push rod motors we worship. Guess what else...and GM knows they are the next generation of Corvette buyers. GM also knows that the baby boomers are getting to be almost done with their Vettes. Not because they don't like 'em, they just won't be able to get in and out of 'em. So they are going be getting their Caddies and Buicks. So GM is going to have cater to the next generation, beginning now. If they want to survive in the future.

Then let's throw EPA, CAFE, and the green movement into the mix, and you have the perfect storm for radical change to the Corvette. Sorry guys, but these are the facts of the upcoming automotive market. Really, if we honestly look at it, GM has no choice at this point. If they want to continue the Corvette line, it will have to be smaller, lighter, more effecient, and cheaper.

But, these powerplants will be supercharged, not turbo charged. That is the technology GM has chosen and for alot of reasons I do not see them going in the other direction.

 

These same kids also dream of owning a Ferrari, Lambo, Mclaren, Aston Martin, Audi R8 etc They grow up watching F1, 24 Hour lemans etc. I don't see a hint of a V6 in any of those? Corvette knows it's up there with the big boys and will have a V8 in it for sure. The Corvette will always be the affordable supercar, it's probably why all of us own one here because we can't afford one of the aforementioned. This will always be the market place of the Corvette, GM knows this.

 

Having had a few friends, myself, invested in that tuner culture...I believe that the majority of them only do that because that's what they can afford. In their heart of hearts, they know that cars like the Corvette are just plain better. Most of them dream of owning one. And when they grow up, some of them do own one.

The sheer number of younger folks on this site speak volumes about how the baby-boomers aren't the only ones with good taste. I think GM will keep the formula the same as long as possible: simple, but brilliant design and engineering, and affordable price when compared to rivals. That IS Corvette.

 

Is that why the '53, '54, and some '55 Corvettes have I6's in them!?

 

"Then let's throw EPA, CAFE, and the green movement into the mix, and you have the perfect storm for radical change to the Corvette."

THE SKY IS NOT FALLING. And Corvette is not a mainstream automobile.

And motorhead kids respect the Corvette already. Some of them will own one someday, as long as GM doesn't screw it up.

Corvette will continue to do what it's always done -- improve incrementally, pilot advanced materials and production techniques and designs, and deliver mind-warping performance and exotic style at an upper-middle-class price. And it'll do it with a V8 engine for the foreseeable future.

.Jinx
the phrase "perfect storm" should be taken out back and shot

 

In the SLS AMG the 6.3lt 32-valve engine produces 571 bhp at 6800 rpm and 480 lb.-ft. of torque at 4750 rpm.

In the SL63 AMG the 6.3lt 32-valve engine produces 525 horsepower. Torque is 465 lb-ft

The Corvette’s6.2lt 16 valve engine produces 436hp. Torque is 428 lb-ft.

 

Why are you comparing a twin turboed V8 to a NA V8?

 

So you means the SL63 that has a base price of $135k and a highly stressed engine that get 12 city and 19 highway versus the $55K Corvette convertible that gets 16 city and 26 highway.

Or comapare it against the SL550 that has a similar hp/liter at 382 hp in 5.5 liters at a base $98.5k that gets 13 City and 21 highway.

Yeah that is astounding performance out of the Mercedes....... astounding how inefficient it is.

 

Gas mileage correlates much higher with weight (when holding hp constant) than it does with any other variable. Just putting it out there. And yes, Mercedes makes some really heavy cars.

 

Aerodynamics? (at least when looking solely at hwy figures.

 

Dont know how the epa actually tests highway fuel economy. For instance, do they cruise at a constant speed or make the car accelerate and slow down?
At steady state driving aero would be huge but it seems to me most car manufactures have similar cd ratios and cross sectional area.

 

The next vette engine will be a smaller v8...probably around 5 liters with direct injection and as much power as the current engines have. I bet similar engine architecture.

 

I was speaking more in terms of real-life driving. And the Corvette is supposedly the most aerodynamic vehicle GM's made, aside from the Volt. (could be wrong there)

But if I recall correctly, the EPA tests cars on a dyno-like machine. They simulate aerodynamics, and they test at combination of 55% stop and go city traffic, and 45% hwy (hwy being steady state driving at 45mph) driving.

 

A TT V6 seems like a step back to me. Why not a TT V8? Every point that has been made about the TT V6 can be made about a TT V8. Of course MPG is going to be a bit lower, but, the power will be waaaaay up there and that is the direction I want to go! Back in the 60's the vette had a 427. Now, the Z06 has a 427. That is a proven formula. Don't go backwards; improve on established standards.

 

Packaging. They're supposedly trying to make the C7 smaller, remember. Unless my memory fails me, didn't they try to make the ZR1 turbocharged first....and it resulted in a..."thermal event"?

 

Smaller?!?!?!? Have you sat inside a C6? If it were any smaller inside it would resemble a power wheels.

 

I wasn't aware that power wheels had grown to over 160 inches in length...

I said "smaller", meaning inches off the exterior dimensions. It shrunk from C5 to C6, and they're supposedly planning to cut a few more inches for the C7 (as well as more weight, bless their hearts...)

That shouldn't have any effect on the interior (and yes, I've sat in many), and may not have any effect on engine bay...I only mentioned it as a consideration.

 

It seems like it would be hard to chop on the C6 other than to use more expensive/stronger parts - hence the Z06. I wonder how all of this will play into the base price provided they accomplish the weight/size reduction.

 

The 6.3 is a NA engine. You are refering to the 6.2 engine which was the prervious engine.

 

It needs to be a lighter car with better power to mass ratio. So I propose a smaller V8, direct injection, higher RPM capability, power around 450- 475 hp. Natural aspiration for the base car.