It didn’t take but 4.5 seconds after Cadillac unveiled the CT6 V-Sport before word spread about that Chevy will use that 4.2-liter, Biturbo, V-8 in the upcoming mid-engined Zora ZR1 Chevy Corvette. After all, why not? It has 550 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, right? Well, those rumors were put to bed quickly after President of Cadillac, John de Nysschen, went on record saying “Just Quit the Speculation it’s headed for the Corvette. It’s Not.” And, he even made a good point when he said that the Corvette has a different kind of character. So what’s the real reason why Chevy won’t use Cadillac’s new V-8?

If Chevy’s Going to Do it, It’ll Be Done Right

It’s Not Just about the engine’s character. Nope, that’s not the only reason that Cadillac is being greedy, and to tell you the truth, Chevy probably doesn’t want Cadillac’s engine to begin with. The ZR1 Zora is rumored to deliver some 700 horsepower and almost 700 pound-feet of torque. The torque from that 4.2-liter might come close to fitting the bill, but the horsepower figure is quite low. Furthermore, it’s taken 50 years to get to a point where a mid-engined Vette may actually go into production. And, that’s exactly why Chevy is developing its own engine, as shown by the CAD images that were leaked a while back.

Leaked CAD images of the LT5 that’s said to power the Zora ZR1


If you look at the CAD images and the official pictures of that 4.2-liter V-8 that Cadillac has designed, you can see the clear-cut differences. And, this is exactly why Chevy won’t even touch Cadillac’s engine. Chevy has been designing the LT5 for some time now, and it’s highly unlikely that that 4.2-liter V-8 could be massaged to deliver the kind of specs that we’re expecting from the ZR1, anyway.

So, beg, plead, and cry all you want, that 4.2-liter was designed by and built specifically for GM’s luxury arm, Cadillac. It might sound good, but it won’t have the eat-your-face power that Chevy absolutely needs for the next Corvette. Besides, would you really want a Cadillac engine in your Corvette? For some reason, that just doesn’t sound right.

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.