Report: Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Inbound With Revolutionary Small-Block V8 Engine
22
Sponsored Links
Chevrolet pulled a fast one on all of us by revealing the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. This is the same car spotted multiple times during prototype testing and was poised to be the sixth-generation Camaro Z/28. That wasn’t the case, as the Camaro team has different plans.
The Camaro ZL1 1LE ups the ante for track capability by borrowing heavily into what made the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28 so great. But, if you’re holding out for an all-new Z/28, the Camaro team may be saving the best for what’s yet to come.
Car and Driver has reported major changes are inbound for the sixth-generation Camaro Z/28 as the ZL1 1LE keeps the Camaro in a track prowess holding pattern. According to intel, General Motors is working on a naturally aspirated, 5.5-liter small block V8 that will push 700 hp. And that engine is supposedly being readied for the next Z/28 with an LT6 designation.
The new engine family is said to break away from the norm and use an aluminum block and head, dual overhead camshafts, four-valve combustion chambers, direct, but possibly in combination with port, fuel injection, titanium connecting rods, and a flat crankshaft. Sound good? You bet it does.
However, that’s not all. The report goes on to state a twin-turbo variant of this LT6 will also come to fruition and be dubbed the LT7. It’s likely this engine family is being developed in conjunction with the all-but-confirmed 6.2-liter LT5 DOHC V8, slated for the 2018 C7 Corvette ZR1. The LT6 and LT7 may also serve as the basis for the Chevrolet’s worst-kept secret: a mid-engine Corvette.
Sponsored Links
“…and a flat crankshaft. Sound Good?”
The removal of the pressure pulse from the dual plane crankshafts changes the sound and removes the “loping” sound at idle and has a different ‘buzzing’ quality at speed. Until I hear this new engine, I prefer the sound of the V-8s with standard crankshafts. The power output better be significantly increased to be worth the effort, or this radical change will be for naught.
Agreed, flat plane cranks are great for racing engines but in a V8 they will never have the great sound that a regular crank does.
If you want an example of what these designs can do power wise the For 5.2l in the GT350 and GT350R puts out over 500 hp and can easily spin in excess of 8000 rpm. These flat plane crankshaft engines have been done for years in Europe.
Why does everyone freak about about peak horsepower numbers? Flat-plane crank engines will always make higher peak horsepower numbers than cross-plane engines of the same displacement. That’s a fact. Why, then, doesn’t everyone use flat-plane cranks you may ask? Area under the curve. Flat-plane cranks have HUGE torque disadvantages over traditional cross-plane cranks which means they’re only effective in excess of 4,500 or so RPM. Cross-plane engines make so much more low-end torque than flat-plane engines. That’s why most street engines use them and why, in my opinion, they’re better. I don’t care about making 700 horsepower at 8,000 RPM when I can make 500 at 4,000 RPM with more torque to the rear tires.
Offering this level of very affordable performance is rapidly becoming a problem for all other high performance import models.
No doubt that Cadillac will get to use a version of at least one of these new motors.
Just 10 days ago I bought a ’17 Chevy SS and I’m in love with the naturally-aspirated 415hp LS3 it’s sporting. Now we’re talking about naturally-aspirated 700hp?!! What will this monster breath out with two spools on it?!
Hail, Small Block Chevy!
I just love how GM isn’t shying away from V8 engines and just keeps making them better and better.
2017 Camaro SS 415 HP LS3?
Not Camaro. A Chevy SS Sedan.
Congrats nice car will be a collector some day.
Will not BELIEVE ANYTHING LESS THAN A 8L + OR 16 CYL FROM FACTORY THATLL MAKE ANYWHERE NEAR 600 RATHER THAN 700…..NOT W/O SC OT TURBO’D…. ESPECIALLY ONLY BEING 5.5L…….REALLY. EX.1 S3 435-440/430ISH OE….BUT IN CRATE & STROKED FORM SEEN OFFERED WAS RT IN 575/550 ….. YET LS7 IN CRATE.. STILL NOT MORE AN 600/580
With a flat plane crank and lots of RPM, 700 hp is totally doable in a 5.5 Liter V8. How reliable will it be, that depends on the quality of the internals.
There is applicable information and analysis at this link: https://www.linkedin.com/…/20141102224444-281657727-the-death-of-the moderate to large displacement naturally aspirated engine, By Andrew Cluck
congrats,
me too. hows the break in going? softly put 500 miles on it so far, I am ready to really drive it now. any advise?
thx
mike howard
I’ve put on about 800 miles on it. I think it’s enough for break in period, although I did go hard on it couple times when it was still below 500 miles. Not all the way, but about 75-80% of throttle to about 5000 rpms and once I went over 80mph for about 30 seconds.
All systems seem good so far. Absolutely love the car. No regrets even after (I might break your heart here if you don’t know already) I found out today that Chevy is giving 20% off msrp on all ’17s ’til March 13th 🙁
thx greg, keep me posted.
mike howard
Dear Lord….I think my heart just stopped. That sounds INCREDIBLE!
Cadillac engines will be it’s own: There will be two Cadillac V8 engines TT DOHC 4.2 liter v8, smaller 3.8/3.7 liter DOHC TT v8, and a small TT DOHC V8 engine with these PHEV electric system.
I highly doubt they’re gonna waste time with a 3.7L V8 when they already have a 3.6L V6 with 464 HP.
This engine will replace the push rod engine over time just because of the ever tighter emissions. The extra valves provide the added tuning with variable valve timing to really improve the emission.
The side effect is that it also give you an engine that can have a wider flatter torque curve with the VVT and higher RPM.
This engine I expect will also be found in milder form in the full size trucks at some point.
Making 700 HP is no issue for a NA engine much like this. I work in the performance aftermarket and we do it all the time as also do our smarter customers.
Reliability will not be an issue with an engine that has passed though the GM warranty testing. Oils are better, blocks are stiffer, cranks are stronger, rods are titanium, pistons stronger and mains are bolted in with more bolts than you can believe from more than one direction.
The flat crank is not an issue and is needed for the higher RPM. You will see a red line close to or at 8,000 RPM in stock form and it will not even be close to what it could do.
Supercharging and turbos will just add more air to the high flow engine and it will also help with the low end torque.
As for Cadillac I too expect a different engine. While they may share some basic parts I expect a total Cadillac version or model. It may be like the platforms where a Camaro and CTS may share basic bones but most of each car is still true to their division and only their division. Cadillac needs to lose the stigma of selling high end cars with pick up truck parts in them no matter how good they are. We GM fans have no issue but those who need to be converted to Cadillac owners need to be convinced they are getting more for their money. It is called image building. This is why Cadillac is now using only engineers and designers that work for them and not ones that work on a Chevy on Monday and Cadillac on Friday.
As for sound just listen to the new Mustang V8 at full song and it sounds just fine.
This is not much of a surprise since we were shown the patent drawings. Also the GM people has been hinting for a while.
Keep in mind an un names Corvette team member leaked a while back they were testing over 1000 HP but were having trouble putting it to the ground. I expect 800 HP in the ZR1 that is coming but with the C8 we could see a major jump in power.
Making 1,000 HP is no issue as how many tuners are doing it with the push rod V8 already. With the engineering staff at GM this should prove not to be an issue. It also leads me to think with the Mid Engine the high end Corvettes may see an AWD option.
Now keep in mind the C8 will start off with a high end model and then move down market to replace the Stingray. In time we will see a C8 around $70K to replace the Stingray with a NA DOHC V8.
The mid engine is prime for AWD vs the Front engine that really does not have the room for it. If you don’t believe that then look how Callaway packaged the Turbos and inter coolers on the C5. Since then space has only gotten tighter.
You will see some great things here.
A naturally aspirated 5.5 liter engine generating 700 horsepower equates to 127.3 horsepower per liter is incredible given how Chevy’s LT4 supercharged 6.2L OHV-2v V8 makes only 650 hp @ 104.84 hp per liter as the same supercharger of the LT4 hooked to this 5.5L V8 would generate 1,011 hp; talk about a new world order in sports cars.. as Porsche and Ferrari owners will only see the back end of a Camaro Z/28.
All I can say is wow!!
Will Chevy ever see fit to offer some of this insane engine technology to the sedan and crossover crowd? You know, for those of us who are neither youngsters or retired?
Honestly, i guess this is kind of cool. Technically speaking i’m more of a fan of pushrod engines but with things being the way they are now i guess i could see the OHC engines coming into play. Honestly i do think it would be cool to see a 600hp FPC DOHC v8 in the new Camaro Z/28 along with a couple of naturally aspirated DOHC cross crank V8 engines such as a 5.0 (305ci) and a 5.7L (350ci) DOHC setup and maybe even the new 2.7L and a twin turbo 3.6L. Let’s just say for starters the 2.7L pushed out 350hp/390tq, the twin turbo 3.6L V6 pushed out 420hp/440tq, the 5.0L V8 pushed out 500hp/480tq and the 5.7L pushed out 550hp/510tq which would have the FPC 5.5L pushing 600hp and probably 510-530tq and a new ZL1 with the supercharged 6.2L LT5 725hp