[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by V6CamaroRS

Good! We're agreed then. :-)

So if the LT4 is reserved for a supercharged ZL1 car and that it's unlikey that the Z/28 will be left out of this generation, then we have to logically answer the question of what a Gen6 Z/28 will look like.

Possibility #1

Let's speculate that a new engine is not in the cards. In that case we really only have one GenV engine in the n/a category: The LT1.

So in this case the Z/28 would perhaps be a track focused SS with higher performance parts, lower weight, perhaps even a *gasp* back seat delete?!?

Problems:

- Chevy already positioned a product in the last generation. The 1LE "track package"
- Unlikely to outperform Gen5 Z/28
- Less effective than a ZL1 with its LT4 engine


Possibility #2

Let's speculate that a new engine is not in the cards. Let's also speculate that Chevy is willing to keep the LS7 engine. In that case the new Z/28 would look just like the old one, but in a shiny new Gen6 body. It will considerably outperform its predecessor and challenge the new ZL1. Win-win, right?

Problems:

- Keeping GenIV engines around is not keeping with GM's fewer parts strategy
- Not as strong of a GT350 competitor
- ZL1 may still be too damn good in comparison

Possibility #3

Let's speculate that the LT5 registration is legitimate. Since the registration in 2013 we've seen the LT1 and LT4 engines mentioned in the same registration. GM is also an engine developer and seller. They sell way more engines through their performance parts division than they put into production cars. It only makes sense to leverage all that R&D to keep producing top-tier products that will make GM a lot of money.

If we go easy on the speculation of the engine, we could use the LS7 as a guide. Increase displacement to 7 liters, swap in titanium parts for higher revving, tweak compression ratios a smidge, and you've got an LT1 based engine that makes 550HP.

That's still more powerful than the LS7, still very torquey down low, and likely to compete exceptionally well against the GT350.

Problems:

- GM needs to develop a new GenV engine
- With a strategy of parts sharing, what else needs the LT5?

----

I've made no secret that I think #3 is most likely. Though I personally think they'll try to hit 600HP with the LT5.

Which scenario do you think is most likely?

I think #3 makes the most sense. The 1LE looks to be on the way based on recent spy shots. #2 doesn't make sense because the LS series is dead.

I think taking the LT1, adding CNC ported heads with higher compression, a better intake and exhaust, a hotter cam and revving it over 7k rpm could hit 520+ hp with probably 480+ tq. If they need to share it with a car, they could bring back the Corvette Grand Sport. They could share brakes as well.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by V6CamaroRS

You could be right. Ford has definitely demonstrated in the Voodoo that a high-revving engine with a low displacement can be a strong competitor. I just wonder if such an engine is anywhere in GM's DNA. The LS line and LT line show a particular philosophy on engine design. They may want a high-revver, but is GM really ready to bet the necessary R&D dollars on it?

The only way I'd see that happening is if the engine designers have truly tapped out the current design trajectory. e.g. Intel couldn't continue to ramp up MHz any longer on their microprocessors so they switched to adding more cores. When more cores wasn't enough, they went to 3D circuit design. This transition was exceptionally painful for the company and almost lost them the market to AMD when the Pentium IV just couldn't cut it.

While I see GM staying ahead of the curve a bit better than Intel, I don't think we've seen enough of a slowdown in their current trajectory to make them redirect funds. They literally have to be frustrated at the lack of ROI to see them take an R&D path that is borderline disruptive to their current business. What I've seen so far is that their current engine design philosophy is paying massive dividends. Not just in the GenV V8s, but even in the V6 arena.

Who in their right mind would have ever thought we'd see a 335HP, naturally aspirated, V6 engine?!? Especially one with no compromises, drawbacks, or reliability problems?

Who thought we'd see the day when the first taste Chevy gives anyone of a new Camaro is not the V8, but the V6? Who would have thought that such a car would be the perfect everyman's sports car?

I guess time will tell. Any way you cut it, the engine for the Z/28 is going to be special.

Unless GM goes DOHC for the Z/28 engine, small displacement won't work. With the OHV set up, the single intake valve needs to be big to make power. To run a big intake valve, you need a big cylinder bore. I guess you can run a short stroke to bring up the rev limit but the valve train won't keep up. So to keep the valve train happy and to make the power they need, you add cubic inches.

The Voodoo makes peak power at 7,500 rpm, 400 rpm over the redline of the LS7. The LS7 makes peak power at 6,300 rpm. The rpm limit to LS and LT engines will always be the valve train.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

Unless GM goes DOHC for the Z/28 engine, small displacement won't work. With the OHV set up, the single intake valve needs to be big to make power. To run a big intake valve, you need a big cylinder bore. I guess you can run a short stroke to bring up the rev limit but the valve train won't keep up. So to keep the valve train happy and to make the power they need, you add cubic inches.

The Voodoo makes peak power at 7,500 rpm, 400 rpm over the redline of the LS7. The LS7 makes peak power at 6,300 rpm. The rpm limit to LS and LT engines will always be the valve train.

Agreed, look for a 8000 rpm red line, it may be the LT5 but will see, I here mercury marine has a head shop looking for work, remember that. LOL the old LT5

[V6CamaroRS]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

3. I think mid engine is the next logical step for Corvette. A lot of people seem to agree, based on the mid engine prototypes GM has built. It will be interesting to see if they do it and what it's capable of.

FYI, someone just pointed this out to me:

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/11/...ined-corvette/

Nothing definitive, but definitely a lot more fuel for the fire!

[mcsoul]

LT1 ILE, LT4 Z/28, no zl1 (or LT4 zl1 no Z28). No bigger, badder N/A motor in the cards.

There's no market share, they'll let the gt350 have it. Z/28 sold like shit.

[SpeedIsLife]

Originally Posted by mcsoul

LT1 ILE, LT4 Z/28, no zl1 (or LT4 zl1 no Z28). No bigger, badder N/A motor in the cards.

There's no market share, they'll let the gt350 have it. Z/28 sold like shit.

Well the very high price of entry was the cause of that...

A Z/28 without the DSSV dampers and CCB'S would likely have been about $15000 less

A little lower performance? Yes...but a much easier price to pay. Maybe it could have been optioned with CCB'S and the dampers...Ala GT350/GT350R

[mcsoul]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

Well the very high price of entry was the cause of that...

A Z/28 without the DSSV dampers and CCB'S would likely have been about $15000 less

A little lower performance? Yes...but a much easier price to pay. Maybe it could have been optioned with CCB'S and the dampers...Ala GT350/GT350R

Those Z/28 CCB brakes (backed up by the grippy tires) are more of reason for the Z/28 track time shavings than the LS7.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by V6CamaroRS

FYI, someone just pointed this out to me:

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/11/...ined-corvette/

Nothing definitive, but definitely a lot more fuel for the fire!

Yeah, I saw that. Could be something but I don't see Caddy going with a mid engine super car just yet. They can barely sell the ATS and CTS as it is.