2009 Corvette ZR1 LS9 engine up on the Net
The super-sleuths over at
Jalopnik have stumbling upon the an image of the upcoming '09 Corvette ZR1 LS9 engine. This powerplant is 6.2L—and is supercharged!
So, the cat's outta the bag, and the Chevy guys are probably none too happy, as they were planning on unveiling it at the upcoming Detroit show this January.
Full story here.
Here's
Inside Line's take:
Tech Alert: ZR1 6.2-Liter Engine Specs Revealed
Interesting that Chevy didn't stick with the LS7 as the 7.0L still has a lot of potential and more than likely weighs less as its normally aspirated. This car will certainly be a handful.
Hondaacura4-
The LS7 was extremely expensive and time consuming to build. It will continue to power the Corvette Z06 for the next few years, then will be replaced by another 6.2L S/C engine, likely called LS8. Those are the rumors at least. With the Gen V small block on the horizon but no details confirmed yet, GM's high performance powertrain future is a bit murky.
More Bowtie power! Some of the rumors I heard about the LS7 tech side was that the engine was prone to melt down with a supercharger or turbo application. It was easier and cheaper to work with the regular 6.2 block. They are debating big time in moving toward OHC engines for the future. Will see.
So the Blue Devil code name made it to the engine cover color, too.
I find the location of the throttle valve intriguing. Is there a ram air hood in the Corvette's future?
Stov, I agree but at the same time I would think that the top of the line Corvette would have an expensive engine, something as a "flagship". Im not doubting the potential of the S/C 6.2 but I would have really liked them to really flex the muscles of the LS7.
what happened to the rumors of the engine being exposed through the hood?
because this looks like its a possibility
Yeah, this engine is so beautiful it would be a shame not to show it off.
HA4, why go expensive when you can build a less expensive engine with the same or better power? The Corvette has always been about affordable supercar performance. With the LS7, they really couldn't do too much more to it. From what I hear, it didn't hold up to boost too well.
Look out Nissan GTR!
Stov, why would you need boost with 7 liters? What are the reasons for not being able to do much more to it? Im sure Chevy could have easily drawn out another 100-120hp from this engine without even blinking.
Once again, cost. The LS7 was expensive to begin with, and why spend more money to make an already expensive and large engine more powerful when you can spend less money making a smaller, cheaper engine reach the same power target? Besides they want 500+ hp engines for a few applications, so it makes sense if you're going to go for volume to go this route. Its cheap, efficient (relatively speaking) easier to produce, and still obscenely powerful.
@stov001
the only downside to this that i can think of is that supercharger wine
but mercedes proved how good a supercharged v8 is in the slr mclaren
though they did prove any cheapness
Stov I get the whole cost issue ( as I have to deal with the costs of raw materials myself) but the the Corvette is a low compromised/flagship vehicle. It would seem as if GM would want their engineers to really stretch their legs and build something outside the box. This new s/c 6.2L V8 should be more than sufficient in terms of performance but it seems....."so easy".