Corvette celebrates 50th anniversary of racing at Le Mans
There are all manner of rumors concerning the next-generation C7 Chevrolet Corvette, with stories ranging from the possibility of a mid-engined platform to all-wheel drive powertrains and even the arrival of a dual clutch version. Although there isn’t much substance to any of these rumors, an inside source has revealed to Motor Trend that the new car will come with GM’s next-generation small-block V-8.
GM recently announced that it was investing more than $890 million to produce a new generation of fuel efficient truck and car engines and in the process also create or retain more than 1,600 jobs. One of these new V-8 engines is destined for the C7 Chevrolet Corvette.
According to the latest report, the new V-8 will displace just 5.5-liters and develop around 440 horsepower in base form. More performance oriented models like the replacements for the Z06 and ZR1 will almost certainly develop more power, likely to be somewhere around the 700 horsepower mark.
Some of the advances the 5.5-liter V-8 will benefit from include aluminum blocks and heads, direct-injection and a new combustion system. The current engine’s overhead-valve layout will remain, ensuring low production costs and compact dimensions.
You can see a preview rendering of what the C7 (or 2013 Chevrolet Corvette) could look like over at MotorAuthority.com.
