Chevrolet dropped a bombshell this week with the debut of the Corvette C8.R, rolling the new racer on stage during the reveal event for the new 2020 Corvette Convertible. We got an earful of the machine revving, as captured in our video showcasing the debut, which begs the question – what’s under the hood? Chevrolet is keeping its cards close to the chest on that front (yes, we asked), but that doesn’t mean we can’t piece together a few clues.
One thing, in particular, became clear as soon as the Corvette C8.R rolled on stage – this thing is different. The engine note no longer has the same bass-filled thunder as the 5.5L Chevy Small Block V8 found in the C6.R and C7.R. Indeed, this sounds nothing like the 6.2L LT2 V8 in the C8 Stingray. Instead, the new engine in the C8.R has a very refined, high-pitched soundtrack with an almost exotic quality to it, something that is vaguely reminiscent of a Ferrari V8.
Further clues lie in the FIA GTE class homologation requirements that shaped the Corvette C8.R. The rules state that the “engine must be derived from a series production engine produced at more than 300 units and fitted to a series vehicle from the same manufacturer,” which basically means that the C8.R engine will almost definitely be used – in one form or another – in the Corvette C8 streetcar. The most obvious pick for those duties would be the C8 Z06.
We already know that the C8 Z06 will have a naturally aspirated engine configuration, unlike the supercharged C7 Z06. In that regard, an all-atmosphere aspiration typically results in sharper throttle response compared to vehicles with forced induction. When listening to the Corvette C8.R, we hear the racer rev extremely quickly, thereby playing into our theory.
Put it all together, and it’s very likely that the Corvette C8.R is powered by a new, naturally aspirated 5.5L DOHC V8 engine with a flat-plane crank. Meanwhile, a street-legal variant of this very engine will most likely see street use in the C8 Z06. Meanwhile, the rumored twin-turbo variant of this 5.5L DOHC, otherwise known as the LT7, will go into the C8 ZR1. Both engines will be derived from the Cadillac 4.2L V8 DOHC LTA, aka the Cadillac Blackwing, though neither will be the Blackwing itself, as that engine is a Cadillac-only creation.
As for the C8.R, it is shaping up to be a true force to be reckoned with, and will likely dominate when the 2020 season gets underway. We can’t wait.
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Comments
Has anyone figured out how is going to build them ? China or Mexico ? Think about it.
Drop the BS as Fat Men from Kentucky as Jeremy Clarkson called them will build these cars.
The C8.R will be built in Michigan.
The C8R isn’t build by GM but rather by Pratt & Miller Engineering.
Too bad Ford is abandoning LeMans. It would have been a great duel.
This isn’t a wheezy little V6…
Michocan, Mx. ?
@Scott ZL1 Here you come again. Dude why do you come on this page if you got junk to say, nobody invited you here ok. I believe that the people who value gm as a company that they support should be here.
Hopefully Mexico won’t manufacture the same Bent & Cracked Wheels like they Dumped on our C7 Corvette customers.
Does anyone remember that Corvette with a LS7 with a flatplane crank that was buzzing are the internet. Just a thought
Great paint job on the C8.R. Much nicer than the total canary yellow.
Corvette C8.R like the C7.R and C6.R will be based on engines used in the production car meaning if the C8.R gets a DOHC-4V v8 then Cadillac President will need to remember that he doesn’t have the final say of which other GM company may get access to the Blackwing V8 because Cadillac president Steve Carlisle firmly stated “Over my dead body” on March 19, 2019.
You had better wait to see just what you get.
While this engine may have the foundation of the Blackwing it could be engineered much differently.
First off forget the hot v in the mid engine. That means new heads and intake.
Also dry sump so the block will be modified and different. Odds are it will have a stronger block, crank and rods.
You need to look at this like the Ecotech 2.5 vs the LNF eco 2.0. While the foundation was similar they were all different and parts did not interchange.
So while it is loosely based on the Cadillac it could be far from the Cadillac in build.
This is not the normal corporate engine deal here. At this price point real changes can and will be made.
The larger displacement versions of the DOHC V-8 will be using a totally different block than the one used for the 4.2L Blackbird. And of course the racing version will be modified from the consumer versions.
@omegatalon, I think you got that backwards in this case. GM doesn’t have to take an engine they have and mod it for the C8R. They’ll build a new engine and set it in at least 300 cars. The production car’s engine will be based on the race car’s engine here.
This article assumes that only the only twin turbo DOHC engine that we already know about, will be the one used in the Vette. It could be a higher HP version, if they use a new larger DOHC version to be used in the various large luxury SUV’s made, such as the 2021 GMC Denali and identical size Caddy’s. This website posted info last year that a large new design 6.2 liter of the DOHC twin turbo engine could be used as a torque monster for these 5500 pound SUV’s. The same size 6.2 liter DOHC twin turbo version with a very different camshaft and fuel injector, to allow higher HP and lower torque, for the Vette, could be used, instead of the same Denali high torque DOHC version. It is not necessary to use the Denali type 2021 DOHC version that needs huge torque, to move almost 3 tons. Remember that one of the 2020 Lincoln large SUV models, offers close to 650 pounds feet of torque. GM needs to compete with that Lincoln model and the Europe based BMW and Mercedes models that also offer huge torque versions of their high end SUV’s.
AMG ………
I for one is sad to see the pushrod engine being replaced.
I agree. The push rod V8 will always be American royalty. But just as with the C8 moving the engine, the engineering makes sense for a flat plane crank, OHC, and 4 valve heads. We’ll get TQ and top end HP.
I came in late on this one. What makes an engine “street legal or not?” Tks, for any info.
The Bombshell Chevrolet should drop is agreeing to warranty the C7’s Bent & Cracked Mexican Wheels
The racecar has a super light flywheel to rev like that; it doesn’t need to be smooth. Don’t expect the production version to rev like that with the dual mass flywheel.
fwiw, I’ve heard LS7 rev like that … with stock flywheel.
All I want to know is when will the RHD Corvettes be built and ready for shipment Down Under.
@JS
Right after I get my 2,
To answer your question, never..
Lol