C7 Corvette likely to get smaller, lighter and more efficient
Last month Chevrolet officially revealed the fastest, most powerful Corvette of all time, the 2009 ZR1. At a minimum of 620hp, the ZR1 will very likely be the most powerful Corvette that ever gets built, at least with an internal combustion engine. Fuel economy rules and rising prices will mean that future generations of the Corvette, starting with the C7 that is expected to debut in about 2012, will follow the same path as most other vehicles. It will get smaller, lighter and more efficient.
That's not to say it will be competing with the Volt, but Corvette Vehicle Line Executive Tom Wallace gave some hints as to where the C7 will be going during the Detroit Auto Show. According to Wallace, a C7 that's 300-400 lbs lighter and has 150hp less from a 4.7L V-8 would have a similar power-to-weight ratio to the current 6.2L 405hp C6 model. GM has already demonstrated direct injection on the small block V-8 and the combination of a smaller displacement DI engine with a dual-clutch-transmission would likely easily meet the fuel economy rules for at least the middle years of the next decade. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess where things go. As hybrid systems get smaller and less expensive, some form of hybridization seems likely at a minimum. Even smaller engines with less than eight cylinders are also likely after the C7.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john 5:33PM (1/23/2008)
Even tho it will have a smaller engine i bet its still a muscle car.
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Dr. Kenneth Noisewater 8:09PM (1/23/2008)
Turbo HCCI with methanol/ethanol ability would be AWESOME, as would an 8-9 gear small-block diesel...
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rob 11:07PM (1/23/2008)
4 PML Flightlink 120kW hub motors, a smallish (2kWh?) high-power battery, 500Wh of ultracaps for surge power and regen braking, and a 200kW microturbine powered from adsorbed natural gas tanks. (Using gas that is recaptured from landfill, maybe).
Toss (sorry, carefully integrate) it all into a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis?
Think they could pull that off by the time they need to reveal the 2020 Corvette? I think that would rock!
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mike 12:21AM (1/24/2008)
The electric motor has already surpassed the Gas Engine V8. This is antique tech.
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Throwback 9:13AM (1/24/2008)
The electric motor has surpassed the V-8, in what way? How many electric cars were sold in the USA last year? How many electric cars can be driven from NY to LA and back, fueling up whenever and wherever the driver wants? How many electric cars have passed NHTSA and Insurance institute crash tests? Electric motors "MAY" be the future, but until people can and do buy them in large numbers I wouldn't say they have surpassed any gas/diesel engine in the real world.
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Jared 9:26AM (1/24/2008)
When has GM displayed direct injection technology on a small block or OHV motor? Just curious.
That would be great for emissions, mileage and power. I mean V-6 and V-8 OHV motors usually get better mileage than DOHC motors do the just don't rev like them. Example the 07 'bu got 32 on the highway with the 3.5 OHV V-6 the 08 'bu gets 27 with the 3.6 DOHC
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Sam Abuelsamid 9:27AM (1/24/2008)
Every summer GM has a powertrain technology demo at their proving grounds and last year they had a vehicle with an experimental direct injected small block
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BGJ 10:53AM (1/24/2008)
GM currently has a DI ecotech 4 cyl in the HHR-SS, Cobalt-SS, Solstice/Sky.
Also they have a new 3.6 DOHC DI V6 in the CTS & STS. I'm sure it will proliferate to other models quickly.
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Derek 7:52PM (1/24/2008)
Either you or Autoweek need to recheck your numbers in the article.
a) the current, 6.2L base Corvette makes 430hp
b) if you drop 150hp and 400# from the current vette, the hp/weight ratio is worse.
-560# and -150hp works, or -400# and -80hp.
Interestingly, 400# less would require a 350hp motor, which is right where the 5.7L LS1 engine was...
I'm hoping this could be the best 'vette ever.
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