GM looked at hybrid for new GT2 Corvette - passed for now, could happen down the road
Corvette C6.R GT2 - click above for high-res image gallery
During yesterday's conference call to announce the new GT2 version of the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, we asked program manager Doug Fehan about using a hybrid or KERS powertrain in the Corvette. The Corvettes race in the American Le Mans Series where the Green Challenge is becoming an increasingly interesting part of the action. Corsa Motorsports has recently begun competing with a hybrid powertrain in LMP1 class.
With Corvette Racing moving from the GT1 class down to GT2, a new powertrain was needed so this seemed an obvious time for something different. The interim 6.0-liter V8 that will run for the remainder of 2009 is a de-stroked version of the GT1 engine and it will continue running on cellulosic ethanol just as the GT1 Vettes have since early 2008.
Fehan emphasized that GM has as much in-house hybrid technology as anyone and that hybrid or KERS technology was investigated for the GT2. Fehan is not ruling out the idea in the future saying, "If the dynamics of the sport move in that direction, we'll be prepared to move in that direction." Here's looking forward to a hybrid racing Corvette.
Gallery: 2010 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2
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[Source: General Motors]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 9:26AM (8/05/2009)
So, uh... when can we buy a Vette with KERS? I'd be down.
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jpm100 11:18AM (8/05/2009)
I'd rather sit on a 600V battery or over 3 tanks of hydrogen long before I'd drive a KERS for everyday.
In the context of a crew and constant inspections, KERS may be ok for racing, but I wouldn't want to take one home. The relative simplicity of the concept leads to vastly underestimating the difficulty keeping such a system safe, happy and durable.
Matt 12:29PM (8/05/2009)
I'm not exactly sure how it works, but we have really complicated engines that work just fine ~99.99% of the time. This is new tech so reliability may be less, but like I said I don't know how it works, but I like the idea.
paulwesterberg 12:18PM (8/05/2009)
Corvette buyers don't want an engine that is constantly turning on an off. KERS is for race cars, it is too expensive and complicated to adapt to a normal car and would probably not reduce fuel consumption at all.
Corvette buyers might go for the instant acceleration 0-60 in 4 seconds, 13 seconds in the quarter mile of a tesla roadster drive train.
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Throwback 1:37PM (8/05/2009)
Not if the car only goes 200 miles every 8 hours. Vette owners drive their cars long and hard.
Paul 5:21AM (8/06/2009)
Why are you people even reading this blog if you're so anti-KERS? If you're a meat eating V8 moron, go elsewhere.
Sports car races are generally ENDURANCE events. If a race car can SAVE FUEL then it reduces the number of fuel pit-stops it has to make... giving it a HUGE advantage.
A KERS system without the artificial limits imposed by the FIA in F1 allows a race car to accelerate out of a corner using energy stored when it braked going into the corner, resulting in enormous fuel savings.
Lemans will allow hybrids next year and short of early technical teething problems they will win laps ahead of non-kers cars.
BTW I drive a V8 but I'm not a narrow minded MORON!
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