Cadillac's Twin-Turbo Blackwing V-8 Could Fit in the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette, But Chevy Doesn't Want It Yet

The new Chevrolet Corvette C8 is just around the corner, and the topic is hotter than the tropical weather. We spent the last couple of days looking at leaked photos of the car's design, but the rumor mill is also packed with information as to what it may have under the hood. With only a week left until the Corvette C8 breaks cover, word has it that Chevy developed a new V-8 engine for it. But some claim that, despite previous statements from GM, Cadillac's "Blackwing" V-8 could make it into the C8 in the future. Let's find out more about that.

Cadillac's LTA V-8 might not remain exclusive to the brand

In 2018. Cadillac revealed the CT6-V, a higher performance version of its full-size sedan. Unlike its siblings, it arrived with a twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V-8 engine. The mill cranks out 550 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, unprecedented figures for a Cadillac this big. The bigger deal about this engine is that it's exclusive to the brand, with no other GM vehicle featuring the 4.2-liter LTA V-8.

When the CT6-V came out, we began asking ourselves whether Chevy won't use it in the upcoming Corvette C8. It made sense for a modern C8 to adopt turbocharging in standard trim and its 550-horsepower rating is more than enough for a base Corvette. But it didn't take long for former Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen to make it clear that Chevy will not get this engine for the Corvette. This statement was reinforced last month by GM president Mark Reuss, who said that "we can do anything with enough time and money, but we're not sure we want to do (that) because it's Cadillac exclusive."

While it may seem like the LTA V-8 is a big no-no for Chevy, MC&T found out that the Corvette is actually slated to feature a higher output version of this mill, but likely with a different code. And the logic is pretty simple here: developing a single engine from a new architecture doesn't make sense financially, especially if the target vehicle is a low-volume sedan like the CT6. A car that might not even be around for long. So it makes a lot of sense for GM to build new engines on the same platform. Engines that could be bigger and develop more power.

Another interesting fact to consider here is that the "Blackwing" mill is assembled by hand in Bowling Green, Kentucky. That's exactly where the Corvette engines are being built. Coincidence? Not very likely. Automakers usually plan these things in advance and it's pretty obvious that GM has plans for a Corvette unit based on the "Blackwing" architecture. The tooling is already there and it can be built on the same assembly line.

It's difficult to predict as to when this turbocharged engine will be ready to power the Corvette C8, but it could happen in 2020. I can't rule out the possibility that Chevy already built it and we'll see it in the C8 next week, when the sports car makes its debut. But if this is the case, GM managed to keep a big secret from us and the paparazzi up until now.

The only certainty I have right now is that the twin-turbo V-8 will slot between the base Corvette with around 500 horsepower and a future hybrid model with almost 1,000 horses. As a result, this twin-turbo mill will deliver somewhere between 650 and 700 horsepower.

But what about the base Corvette C8?

The Corvette C8 will feature a not-so-new LT2 V-8

The consensus is that the base Corvette will continue to feature a naturally aspirated V-8 engine, just like the C7. Not only that, but it will probably displace the same 6.2 liters. That's because this "new" engine is in fact the old LT1 modified for mid-engined applications. According to rumors, GM has named it the LT2. Heavily based on the unit found in the Corvette C7 and the Chevrolet Camaro SS, the LT2 will feature upgraded internals for extra oomph and enhanced fuel economy and some changes to fit the midship layout of the eighth-generation Corvette.

With the LT1 rated at 460 horsepower in the outgoing Corvette C7, the LT2 will probably deliver close to 500 horsepower. Although the increase isn't massive, it will make a big difference when paired with the more dynamic mid-engined layout and the fact that the C8 will be lighter than its predecessor.

The Corvette C8 is coming out next week

We will learn more about the new-generation Chevrolet Corvette when it debuts on July 18, 2019. We're attending the official revealing event so we'll keep posted on every bit of information we have. Stay tuned for the full rundown and more news about future drivetrains and features.