CAFE bites: Next Generation Corvette C7 on hold . . .
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CL Community Team
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From: Canada
CAFE bites: Next Generation Corvette C7 on hold . . .
Affects of CAFE 35: Corvette to get greener and lighter
Posted on: January 22nd, 2008
The gaz-guzzling Chevrolet Corvette was considered an ‘endangered species’ when the tough fuel-economy rules came in, but the redesigned car, due out in 2012, could be lighter and smaller than today’s models. For example, the V8 that powers the Corvette of the future may be smaller than the one used today.
“I don’t think we’re going to design a 700-hp Corvette,” Tom Wallace, vehicle line executive for the Corvette, said here at the auto show. “What’s going to be more important is fuel economy, carbon footprint and green. We have already paid a lot of attention to those areas. Where we can pay more attention is pounds per horsepower.”
Currently, two engine choices are offered in the 2008 model year including a 6.3 liter V8 that produces 430hp and a 7.0 liter V8 that produces 505hp. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is powered by a 6.2 liter V8 that produces 620hp.
Wallace says that the next-generation Corvette will drop 300 to 400 pounds and will have a 4.7 liter V8 that produces 150hp less than the 2008 models.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
Posted on: January 22nd, 2008
The gaz-guzzling Chevrolet Corvette was considered an ‘endangered species’ when the tough fuel-economy rules came in, but the redesigned car, due out in 2012, could be lighter and smaller than today’s models. For example, the V8 that powers the Corvette of the future may be smaller than the one used today.
“I don’t think we’re going to design a 700-hp Corvette,” Tom Wallace, vehicle line executive for the Corvette, said here at the auto show. “What’s going to be more important is fuel economy, carbon footprint and green. We have already paid a lot of attention to those areas. Where we can pay more attention is pounds per horsepower.”
Currently, two engine choices are offered in the 2008 model year including a 6.3 liter V8 that produces 430hp and a 7.0 liter V8 that produces 505hp. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is powered by a 6.2 liter V8 that produces 620hp.
Wallace says that the next-generation Corvette will drop 300 to 400 pounds and will have a 4.7 liter V8 that produces 150hp less than the 2008 models.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,285
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From: NV
Moving down to a 4.7L from the current 6.3L will already go a ways towards that, but I agree in the sense that there's not that much else to remove. It's not a very fleshed-out car to begin with.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,792
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From: Connecticut
Taking 150 hp off of the current 430hp gives us 280hp. that seems ridiculously low for a vette. also a smaller vette? its already small.
strange comments and somewhat disturbing on the future of the vette. IMO, the vette should be completely redesigned into a mid-engine monster, moved away from Chevy into its own brand with several versions, and made to compete head-on with Ferrari and Lambo.
Ted
strange comments and somewhat disturbing on the future of the vette. IMO, the vette should be completely redesigned into a mid-engine monster, moved away from Chevy into its own brand with several versions, and made to compete head-on with Ferrari and Lambo.
Ted
Lead Lap
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From: MD
Legendary HEMI not part of Chrysler’s future powertrains
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/c...ins/#more-4434
First Cadillac revealed it was canceling its V8 program and now Chrysler has announced that its legendary Hemi V8 engine doesn’t have a bright future. Rising oil prices and toughening fuel economy standards is causing carmakers around the world to rethink their powertrain options, and the future is looking low displacement and hybrid.
“The Hemi is not the powertrain of the future,” Chrysler co-president Jim Press told reporters from Automotive News during a recent interview. Young people don’t associate the ‘HEMI’ name with performance in the same way that their parents may have, Press explained. The design, after all, dates back to the 1950s and was made popular during the muscle car days of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Today’s performance, and more importantly, future performance will come from cars with compact engines and forced induction technology as well as advanced hybrids and all-electric vehicles. Chrysler has already given us a preview of that future with its Dodge ZEO concept sports car, which featured a 268hp electric motor and is capable of accelerating to 60moh from rest in less than six seconds – similar performance to the HEMI.
All hope isn’t lost for HEMI fans. Updates such as cylinder deactivation and possibly direct injection will squeeze a few more years out of the classic V8 but their place in the automotive world will be constantly shrinking. Having grown up with the phrase “there’s no replacement for displacement” this will be a sad state of affairs for a number of us at MotorAuthority.
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/c...ins/#more-4434
First Cadillac revealed it was canceling its V8 program and now Chrysler has announced that its legendary Hemi V8 engine doesn’t have a bright future. Rising oil prices and toughening fuel economy standards is causing carmakers around the world to rethink their powertrain options, and the future is looking low displacement and hybrid.
“The Hemi is not the powertrain of the future,” Chrysler co-president Jim Press told reporters from Automotive News during a recent interview. Young people don’t associate the ‘HEMI’ name with performance in the same way that their parents may have, Press explained. The design, after all, dates back to the 1950s and was made popular during the muscle car days of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Today’s performance, and more importantly, future performance will come from cars with compact engines and forced induction technology as well as advanced hybrids and all-electric vehicles. Chrysler has already given us a preview of that future with its Dodge ZEO concept sports car, which featured a 268hp electric motor and is capable of accelerating to 60moh from rest in less than six seconds – similar performance to the HEMI.
All hope isn’t lost for HEMI fans. Updates such as cylinder deactivation and possibly direct injection will squeeze a few more years out of the classic V8 but their place in the automotive world will be constantly shrinking. Having grown up with the phrase “there’s no replacement for displacement” this will be a sad state of affairs for a number of us at MotorAuthority.
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 740
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From: MA
On one hand this is pretty sad news for the future of the Vette, although I doubt that the next gen is only going to have 280hp. I can already easily get 29mpg on the highway in mine, although my city mileage is atrocious (averaging 11mpg)
On the other hand, it's good since I can just keep my current 400hp beast and it seems like most cars coming out in the CAFE-influenced future won't be able to match its performance
On the other hand, it's good since I can just keep my current 400hp beast and it seems like most cars coming out in the CAFE-influenced future won't be able to match its performance
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
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From: none
Taking 150 hp off of the current 430hp gives us 280hp. that seems ridiculously low for a vette. also a smaller vette? its already small.
strange comments and somewhat disturbing on the future of the vette. IMO, the vette should be completely redesigned into a mid-engine monster, moved away from Chevy into its own brand with several versions, and made to compete head-on with Ferrari and Lambo.
Ted
strange comments and somewhat disturbing on the future of the vette. IMO, the vette should be completely redesigned into a mid-engine monster, moved away from Chevy into its own brand with several versions, and made to compete head-on with Ferrari and Lambo.
Ted
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
From: MA
Power is one of the main selling points of the Vette. The Vette is not a Miata or an S2000, it should be powerful. I like a lighter car as much as the next guy but there's a limit to how light you can reasonably make a car, and I don't think you can make up 150hp with the loss of a few hundred pounds
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,979
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From: ca
good, I'd buy a corvette if they just updated the technology in it to something like the 350Z. Just give me a dual over head cam modern engine, get rid of the leaf spring, chop off 100+ hp and give me good fuel economy and I'd be all over it. 300hp Vette that is smaller, more fuel efficient, and competes with the Z would sell much better to younger buyers.
HEMI is an outdated combustion chamber design that should have died in the 70s, I don't know anyone that actually thinks its a cool powerplant, just marketing, push rods and hemi designs should die, glad to see it take 35MPG CAFE regulations to get there.
HEMI is an outdated combustion chamber design that should have died in the 70s, I don't know anyone that actually thinks its a cool powerplant, just marketing, push rods and hemi designs should die, glad to see it take 35MPG CAFE regulations to get there.
good, I'd buy a corvette if they just updated the technology in it to something like the 350Z. Just give me a dual over head cam modern engine, get rid of the leaf spring, chop off 100+ hp and give me good fuel economy and I'd be all over it. 300hp Vette that is smaller, more fuel efficient, and competes with the Z would sell much better to younger buyers.