According to a story by TheDetroitBureau.com, one of the engines that General Motors is planning on offering in the C7 Corvette is a European-style turbo V8 that will be slightly larger than 3 liters in displacement. This would mark a turning point for the company which has traditionally offered high-displacement V8s in the sports car. The turbocharged engine is expected to woo the hearts, minds and wallets of European performance car buyers who are usually drawn to the likes of Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini.
TDB claims a senior GM executive confirmed the new turbocharged engine. The 3-liter turbocharged V8 engine would feature an overhead cam design and a dry sump oil system. Power output would be in excess of 400 horsepower or about 125 hp per liter. The turbo V8 will also be an extremely high-revving engine that could handle up to 10,000 RPMs.
The turbocharged V8 will be just one of the engine offerings for the C7 Corvette and that there will still be a big-block OHV V8 to appeal to traditionalists.
GM has toyed with turbo charging in the past and in fact offered a turbocharged option as an add-on with Callaway in the late 80s. Over the four year offering, 321 B2K-optioned Corvettes were built.
TheDetroitBureau.com says that that revelation is in line with recent comments by General Motors North American President Mark Reuss who said earlier this month that the C7 Corvette will be “completely different” from previous Corvettes.
That comment by Reuss has fueled rumors and led others to believe that it means a mid-engine layout is also in the offering. About the only thing we do know is that General Motors will be investing $131 million into the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green as it prepares for the next generation Corvette. The first C7s expected are expected to arrive as a 2014 model.
Source:
Corvetteblogger via TheDetroitBureau via Autoblog
