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America’s seminal supercar could sacrifice its V8 tradition for force-induction V6 efficiency.
Chevrolet’s Corvette has been the poster child for America performance car design for nearly six decades.
A signature pushrod V8 bellow has been its birthright ever since 1955.
This could all change soon though.
Most European performance car manufacturers are downsizing and employing forced induction to ensure power outputs are commensurate with increasingly severe emissions standards.
The American market is not immune to the effect of rampant emissions regulation and now Chevrolet’s hand could finally be forced with regards to the Corvette.
All thanks to Saab?
An engineer at former sibling brand Saab has confirmed to a Dutch trade publication that they were tasked with developing a dual-clutch transmission for a Corvette application capable of transferring 800Nm from amidships to the rear-axle.
Why a change in configuration to mid-engined drive, though?
Well, if Chevrolet engineers option to bin the Corvette’s legendary pushrod V8 in favour of a small capacity twin-turbo V6 (appeasing emissions regulators) the need for a front-engined layout (to accommodate the traditionally oversized ‘Vette V8s) will be negated.
When can the move to a mid-engined twin-turbo Corvette V6 be expected? The next-generation C8-series Corvette is expected to come to market by 2016.
If the mooted C8 drivetrain specification holds true, it should in no way depreciate the Corvette’s performance car billing.
The DCT transmission initially developed by Saab was designed with a rotational force threshold of 800Nm in mind – exactly what the current ZR1 produces. Chevrolet's C8 generation car may lack the Corvette nameplate's legendary pushrod V8 acoustic signature, but it will hardly be any slower than any of its predecessors.
Can a V6 Corvette be justified? Share your thoughts here...
Chevrolet’s Corvette has been the poster child for America performance car design for nearly six decades.
A signature pushrod V8 bellow has been its birthright ever since 1955.
This could all change soon though.
Most European performance car manufacturers are downsizing and employing forced induction to ensure power outputs are commensurate with increasingly severe emissions standards.
The American market is not immune to the effect of rampant emissions regulation and now Chevrolet’s hand could finally be forced with regards to the Corvette.
All thanks to Saab?
An engineer at former sibling brand Saab has confirmed to a Dutch trade publication that they were tasked with developing a dual-clutch transmission for a Corvette application capable of transferring 800Nm from amidships to the rear-axle.
Why a change in configuration to mid-engined drive, though?
Well, if Chevrolet engineers option to bin the Corvette’s legendary pushrod V8 in favour of a small capacity twin-turbo V6 (appeasing emissions regulators) the need for a front-engined layout (to accommodate the traditionally oversized ‘Vette V8s) will be negated.
When can the move to a mid-engined twin-turbo Corvette V6 be expected? The next-generation C8-series Corvette is expected to come to market by 2016.
If the mooted C8 drivetrain specification holds true, it should in no way depreciate the Corvette’s performance car billing.
The DCT transmission initially developed by Saab was designed with a rotational force threshold of 800Nm in mind – exactly what the current ZR1 produces. Chevrolet's C8 generation car may lack the Corvette nameplate's legendary pushrod V8 acoustic signature, but it will hardly be any slower than any of its predecessors.
Can a V6 Corvette be justified? Share your thoughts here...
