V6 Corvette In Your Future?
Lighter Corvette Coming?
Say good-bye to a V8 powered Corvette?
MPG Figures
You’ve expected as much given the coming much more rigorous fuel requirements taking place effective 2016, right? Beginning with that model year, automaker car fleets must average a lofty 35.5 miles per gallon.
GM has at least 10 mpg to make up before it can hit that number and the Corvette as it currently stands is at 16 mpg city, 26 mpg highway when equipped with its 6.2-liter V8 paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. That’s much better than some Corvette models which get 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, but far off the mark where GM needs to move toward.
Saab Helps
GM may be much further along with its next generation Chevrolet Corvette than some believe that it is. According to Mibz.com, GM worked with Saab (its one-time Swedish love child) to develop a mid-engine placement for the Corvette, but those plans were shelved as the company’s financial straits worsened. Now, with a glimmer of light showing, GM can move forward with its plans.
Some of what is being reported is pure speculation, but it is reasonable to assume that a V6 engine would be placed in a lighter body, but GM won’t rely on that alone to make sure the Corvette remains fast. Twin turbochargers seem likely, providing the V6 with tons of horsepower while enabling the Corvette to get decent gas mileage. Don’t be surprised if GM makes their own arrangement with ZF to acquire their eight speed transmission or a version of it, just as Chrysler has promised to do.
C8 Later
When will be see the eighth generation Corvette? Perhaps as soon as early 2013 as a 2014 model. Corvette is the halo model for Chevrolet and, along with Camaro, provides the imagery and leadership the brand wants and needs to differentiate itself from Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, Toyota and other brands.
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