[King T]

Trust me fam when you sink $890M into developing and racing a new engine it's going to be around for a while:
C7 Corvettes to be Built with New 5.5L 440hp V8

Motor Trend has recently heard from GM sources that the C7 Corvette will feature the next-generation 440 horsepower, 5.5 liter small block V8 engine.

This V8 engine will come equipped with aluminum blocks and heads, direct injection, E85 capability and a new combustion system. Prototypes of this engine are already being tested in Detroit.

To ensure this becomes a reality, GM has already invested $890 million to develop the power plant. The small block V8 will maintain much of its traditional overhead-valve layout, but will reduce manufacturing costs due to its more compact dimensions.

So what can we expect from this new engine? Well, the reduction to 5.5 liters will allow the C7 to run a larger restrictor while still producing the same amount of torque. Fuel economy will significantly improve through the use of some lighter weight materials as well.