The Chevy small block V8 has been around in one form or another longer than many current GM engineers have been alive, but continuous updates continue to keep the venerable powerplant relevant. GM is currently developing the world's first overhead valve Direct Injection engine, giving the 6.2L test engine big gains in horsepower and torque while bumping fuel economy from 3% to 6%.The 6.2L currently pumps out up to 403HP without DI in the Escallade, but Dave Sczomak, development engineer-GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering, says the technology will bump power to "well over 450HP."
Perhaps even more exciting is the possibility that the anxiously awaited Camaro may receive a variant of the engine. The mere thought of the ultra-sexy Camaro packing over 450HP without added boost could make us want to have a smoke. While we're hoping the Camaro gets the DI engine, the halo status of the Corvette makes the two-seater a shoo-in for the improved engine. That would give the base 'Vette nearly 500HP, and it boggles the mind to imagine the output of a Z06/SS/Blue Devil.
Editor's Note: There's no reason to believe GM wouldn't drop the DI V8 in both Corvette and Camaro. Back in December, a source we spoke to who was familiar with Camaro powertrain discussions told us that there was a faction pushing for seriously big power in the Camaro. When we asked exactly how big, the individual smiled and held up five fingers. We'll learn how that pans out in due course. Then in January at NAIAS, Ed Peper specifically told us that there were no concerns with having Camaro step on Corvette, power-wise, as the two cars have such different market positioning -- sports car vs. muscle car. Plus, the ZR1 ensures that there will be a Corvette with power that greatly exceeds that of Camaro anyway. No matter how things play out, there's good reason to expect some real excitement.
[Source: Motive Magazine via GM Inside News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ron @ Sep 5th 2007 10:39AM
GM will you PLEASE build this thing already.
GM @ Sep 5th 2007 11:11AM
No.
Ron @ Sep 5th 2007 11:13AM
C'mon, I'm your biggest fan.
DDL @ Sep 5th 2007 10:45AM
AutoExtremist is suggesting the C8 Corvette will be a mid-engined car and pushed a bit more up market. If true, then it makes sense to add the big motor to the Camaro to fill the lower end of the C7's current range.
Don @ Sep 5th 2007 3:56PM
The C8 will not be a mid-engined car.
EM @ Sep 5th 2007 10:52AM
I'll have a kidney on eBay in an hour if this is true.
Also up for grabs:
Gall Bladder
Toe or Two
First Born
Egon @ Sep 5th 2007 10:53AM
GM's right. The Camaro and Corvette appeal to different market positions.
Camaro: Mullet
Corvette: Grey/no hair.
GM @ Sep 5th 2007 11:12AM
Don't forget
Corvette: Small penis
Jeremy @ Sep 5th 2007 12:27PM
So 5" exhaust tip that is incredibly loud with no power behind it doesn't scream "compensating for my tiny penis and my inability to get a real job and buy a real sports car so I put a huge wing and exhaust pipe on my civic so the chicks will dig me."
Don't like the Camaro or GM THEN STOP POSTING ON BLOGS ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS!!! Show you don't care by not saying anything at all. Let us read in peace.
Egon @ Sep 5th 2007 12:35PM
My, my. Touched a nerve there, did we?
Jason @ Sep 5th 2007 12:37PM
Who said anything about Civics?
Calm down man, they make a pill... don't worry about it. It happens to lots of guys.
Jeremy @ Sep 5th 2007 2:47PM
Don't even own a corvette. Some kid in a Civic pissed me off the other day running his mouth and my 1990 JEEP CHEROKEE wasted him in a "race."
Just gets annoying when people try and read a good peice of news that they care about and then you have morons that get on their and post pointless posts for no other reason then .... well I guess the just do it because they can.
Anyway... I'm with the guy that is willing to give up his organs for one of these!! I'm hopefully going to start working at a big dealership here in a month or so if all goes through so I can't wait to get one in!
Tyk @ Sep 5th 2007 10:59AM
Heres the problem GM.. if you hype a car for 3+ years before its available.. people LOSE interest by the time its come out... its not so hot anymore, the design isnt so wowee no more, etc.
Jonathan Webb @ Sep 5th 2007 11:22AM
Amen Tyk. Apple, Inc. (love 'em or hate 'em) is the ultimate hype machine. Notice how they come out with something that looks cool, sell it immediately, then redesign it in 18 months and start the buzz all over again? GM reminds me of one of those great summer movies that they advertise, you want to see, and then you realize you can't because they're not going to let you see it until it comes out in 4 months. Truthfully, the next time those movies cross my mind is when I stumble across them in the video store a year later. People's attention spans are short. And this new Camaro that no one can buy is already getting a little long in the tooth.
KC @ Sep 5th 2007 10:06PM
I don't know, the new Camaro has a fresher, more modern retro look then that other retro-rific muscle car coming in a couple model years from Dodge.
At least the new Camaro has it's own look while at the same time has styling cues that pay homage to the past.
The Challenger looks to retro to me, I think it will have a much harder time in the market then this car.
Ford will be refreshing the mustang by the time both of these cars hit the market and from the sound of it the refresh will not be a retro look at all.
It's entirely possible that both the Challenger and the Camaro will be showing up to the party just as everyone starts to leave
Dave in MI @ Sep 5th 2007 11:05AM
The Camaro is like a trip to Italy you are going take someday. At some point you get tired of talking about it and realize it is too far away to be relevent.
Wake me when we see the little production wheels with the big production mirrors with some actual epa estimates.
FLR @ Sep 5th 2007 11:15AM
You guys do realize that the Camaro will be available in about a year from now...right?
naggs @ Sep 5th 2007 6:54PM
well a little more than a year...
Zippy Maboonogian @ Sep 5th 2007 11:17AM
...any bets on how long it takes Ivey to comment about how this is "just another low-tech pushrod blahblahblah..."
Mark @ Sep 5th 2007 11:18AM
Ok but the 6.2L LS3 is already slated to make 436hp in the new Corvette without DI. So the 6.2L (LQ9? - can't recall the code) Escalade truck motor can get 450hp+ with DI applied, then an LS3 should be able to get around 480-490hp when DI is applied. That's damn near LS7 power. And its also very close to the power Mercedes makes with their 6.2L (albeit sans DI), and that is a 4 valve motor that is found only in $60k+ cars. Pretty impressive I'd say.