GM skipped E85 for new LS9 V-8 to preserve low speed drivability

One of the big stories today over on our sister site Autoblog is the new Corvette ZR1. The ZR1 is propelled by a new LS9 version of the classic small block V-8 that's been heavily beefed up and supercharged to yield at least 620hp. On several previous occasions here at ABG we've covered high-performance tuners who are using ethanol as a fuel in high power boosted engines to take advantage of the high octane ratings at a lower cost and cleaner emissions than racing gasolines. During the preview of the LS9 we asked Chief Engineer Sam Winegarden about the use of ethanol and why GM chose to pass on it for this application. The answer came down to the difficulty of maintaining good low speed drivability while being able to provide the high fuel flow rates required at maximum power. Check out GreenFuelsForecast for a more detailed explanation of why the LS9 only runs on premium gasoline.

[Source: GreenFuelsForecast]