If they put it on a diet 440 would be plenty, and connected to a DCT or similar trans, will put me be back in Vette right away.

 

Not that they'll adjust the engine for history at the expense of engineering, but I'm liking 5.7L (350ci) or 5.4L (327ci).

You know accessories vendors would **** themselves over one of those two numbers. Badges badges badges badges badges badges badges badges badges badges badges badges cash-vroom cash-vroom!

.Jinx

 

I think hp anywhere in the 450-475 range for the base car will be more than sufficient as long as you lose a couple hundred pounds from the current car's curb weight.

 

Maybe the pp for the mid engine model.

 

My crystal ball says the C7 will weigh more, not less, make slightly more power in the base engine, will have better EPA mileage figures due to switching the engine off at idle and shutting down cylinders during cruise, but that the extra horsepower will come from tried and true historical hot rodding tricks, intake and exhaust flow, heads, cams. Direct injection will not be responsible for adding power or improving fuel economy, but will reduce the emissions to ULEV status.

 

Might want to research the benefits of direct injection a little more then

 

Already have, plus I've owned it, in a high performance V8. Happy to debate the merits.

 

Think he meant that it will create a hp gain while increasing mileage. GM has done this with every other platform so no reason not to expect it here.

 

Fuel needs oxygen to burn. To make more power takes more air. Direct injection is an improvement to the timing and thus efficiency of the burn, but not really to the quantity. To the extent you want to say more power through efficiency so be it, but the main driver for DI technology is reduction in the carbon footprint, lowering the smog index.

 

Yes, thank you.


More power through efficiency, yes. Any way you look at it, DI done right will give you more power and better efficiency all else being equal. Better efficiency meaning better mpg and less emissions. Efficiency is that main driver for DI, correct. But the more efficient the engine is, the more power it will make with the same amount of fuel/air.

 

BTW What engine is this?

 

Actually efficiency, aka more complete burn, is what makes the power. Not every single oxygen molecule gets burned in the combustion chamber. The fuel being burned hotter and making more hp is due to more oxygen molecules being ignited. Hence when tuners lean out the air fuel ratio, it adds more power yet your not actually allowing any more air molecules into the combustion chamber. Also direct injection almost always cools the incoming air, allowing for more compression. Ferrari's 450 engine runs 12.2 comprssion I believe? My guess is the new 5.5 liter will run 11.6-11.8 for easy use of 91 octane. Besides, its alway a case of the sum of the parts resulting in the net hp.

 

GM stated a while ago that they planned to put the vette on a diet. I imagine they'll shave 100lbs by using carbon fiber on a lot of stuff since carbon fiber parts are getting really cheap to make.

 

Actually, it is as you say a case of the sum of the parts, and DI makes the most insignificant contribution. I'm not against it at all. I have first hand experience with it. The role of 32 valve heads, quad cams and variable cam timing plays the far larger role in making big power from small displacements. And DI should supplement, not replace port injectors. There is a real problem in DI engines that aren't combined with port injectors, because the port injector spray prevents power robbing carbon buildup on the intake valve.

No tuner could overcome the loss of displacement from 6.3L to 5.5 by leaning the mixture alone, nor can DI combustion efficiency make up that difference. The sum of the changes will make the difference. And if you drop the displacement to make the same power, will require more torque or more rpm. More torque can come from more complete filling of the cylinder as made possible with valve area (32 valves), or more rpm in a 16 valve design by spreading apart the lobe centers, or some combination of lift and duration or other airflow improvements. DI alone plays a virtually insignificant role in adding power, but in combination becomes part of an overall advancement.

My opinion is that with expectations for more power, lighter weight, advanced composites, smaller dimensions, mass centralization, better interiors and exterior styling, GM if they are capable of all that should just create a new model, a new legend. I don't think they are capable of meeting all of the ambitions expressed for the corvette, and feel the C7 will continue the tradition of leaving its critics unsatisfied. If GM can't sell the Corvette product in the world beating configuration they already have, they should cancel it.

 

They better keep the price down or come in with a base model that more people
can afford. The corvette is getting too expensive for what it is now.

 

That's right. Most everyone is asking GM to make the Vette all things to all people, when it's not even certain they can improve on what they have. And they want it cheaper. The latter they can do. The former, not so sure.

 

I certainly think they can improve the steering so it is not numb - the reason I never bought a C6 when I test drove them 2 times. A little update on the interior seems like something they can pull off & both can be done without a price increase.

 

Looks like my ole Northstar eng but for 2 gigantic valve springs mounted externally, guaranteed not to break.

 

So M/T announces 440HP and GM announces a ZL1 Camaro for intro in Jan 2012! I expect GM to offer more options but you just never know.

On "Technical Advances"....
I remember the "These smart engineers" @ GM saying they were able to improve on the C5 (future C6) fuel system w/newly designed tanks mid year in the 03 model. This climaxed into a (voluntary?) recall on certain 03-04 to fix leaking gas syndrome after NHTSA got inundated with safety complaints from this foum membership. And the cheapy Harmonic Balancer was an issue that 'advanced' into C6. And lets not forget those Valve springs. After nearly 60 yrs of R&D they still can't get it right for some reason. Those are all critical components. How did they ever win in competition? With plenty mods I bet.

New GM: if you're going to do it do it right. Aren't you guys tired of warranty issues & recalls?

 

8.0 liter Bugatti Veryon W-16