According to reports from the US, the next Chevrolet Corvette will house not only the 6.2-litre supercharged LT1, but three other V8s as well.
Or, more specifically, three configurations of another V8.
This mystery engine has been reported on by US publication Car and Driver to be the 5.5-litre unit we saw in leaked CAD (computer assisted drawing) images last year.
The rumours and speculation about this engine have been steady, but C&D seems confident it’s Corvette-bound.
After the LT1, a 450kW-ish atmo version of the 5.5-litre engine, supposedly capable of a 9000rpm redline though pared back a little, will put the fear into Ferrari.
This engine, as well as all of its variants, will reportedly hook up to a paddle-shifter only, so no third pedal for the next GM muscle-halo.
Next, two turbos will be added to create a different version of the engine, helped by two air-water intercoolers. In this iteration C&D says it’ll make around 600kW. You read that right.
But wait, there’s more. Apparently further down the track is the intention to add another motor into the mix, but this time it’s electric. While the TTV8 powers the rears, the report says a roughly 150kW electric motor will power the front wheels.
A 750kW mid-engined Corvette is on the cards. Really.
Also reported are a huge number of cooling methods, active aero, and a front-axle-lift system that’ll not only help with speed bumps, but also with aerodynamic adjustment.
We’ll wait until closer to the car’s launch for the specific details, but the idea that the C8 Corvette will be a true supercar rival isn’t looking so far-fetched.
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