With rumors of a forthcoming mid-engine Corvette continuing to swirl, some folks are poking around to see what Chevy might mount when it comes to motivation. Cadillac’s recently debuted twin-turbo V-8 might fit the bill, but according to Cadillac president John de Nysschen, that’s simply not gonna happen.
Continue reading for the full story.
The Full Story
The world of performance cars is going through a major shakeup at the moment, with established nameplates forced to evolve in the face of successful upstarts.
The Chevrolet Corvette isn’t immune to these widespread changes, and rumor has it the American classic could move its power-maker from the nose to just behind the cabin with a full-fledged mid-engine ‘Vette sometime in the near future.
As Corvette fans will tell you, it’s been a long time coming, with the Bow Tie developing a variety of mid-engine ‘Vette prototypes over the past 50 years. Now, though, it looks like it might actually happen. For real.
Which begs the question - what’ll provide the power?
Well, the recently released Cadillac CT6 V-Sport might have just the ticket with its brand-new twin-turbo 4.2-liter V-8. However, according to Cadillac president John de Nysschen, the engine isn’t going anywhere near the star-spangled sports car.
This latest development comes courtesy of Autoblog, which spoke with de Nysschen recently at the 2018 New York International Auto Show.
Speaking with regards to rumors that the two General Motor brands would share Caddy’s recently released twin-boosted ‘eight, de Nysschen commented, “Just quit the speculation it’s headed for Corvette. It’s not.” He later added, “I think Corvette wants a different kind of character,” referencing the difference between the Corvette’s in-your-face attitude and Cadillac’s more comfort-oriented approach. “It’s a matter of being a thoroughbred luxury car. It’s really only a luxury brand that could recoup this cost.”
As a reference, the engine in question is a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V-8 making upwards of 550 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, and currently comes equipped in the recently released Cadillac CT6 V-Sport. Standout features include a hot-vee turbo configuration, which places the boost-makers closer to the manifold to decrease overall spool time and sharpen throttle response. In the Caddy, power is sent to the pavement via a 10-speed automatic transmission, which connects with either a RWD or AWD drivetrain.
Of course, it’s a reasonable question to ask, considering the rumors that have been swirling as of late. In addition to mid-engine rumors for the ‘Vette, others are speculating a forthcoming V-6 version. With possibilities like those on the table, a twin-turbo V-8 ‘Vette from the factory doesn’t seem all that outlandish.
Whether or not the turbo ‘eight will get a revamp (possibly with a different displacement) and then get called into service in a forthcoming Corvette model remains to be seen.
References
Read our full review on the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Zora.
Read more details about the 2019 Cadillac CT6 V-Sport.
Read more Cadillac news.
Read more Chevrolet news.