[htron50]

I CAN see them putting the ZR1 638 hp in Z28 now and move up the ZR1 to the 700 hp LS5 5.5 L DIV8. That keeps them distinct and gives Camaro nice niche! The LS5 has been in use for some time in Vettes already in GT2 racing...(testing!!!!) so is ready for production vettes.... That would leave current 638 HP version to Camaro! Chances anyone?



Here's the scoop:

With a reported output of 440-450hp, horsepower will be increased by 10-20 over the current, standard C6’s 6.2-liter LS3. The most notable changes to the already impressive engine family includes a new combustion system, a redesigned block, new cylinder heads and finally, the long overdue direct injection system. It's expected that the 2013 C7 Corvette to be among one of the first, if not the first vehicle from “The General” to receive this advanced new powerplant. Furthermore, the replacements for the current Z06 and ZR-1 are to have increased horsepower as well, where it is rumored that the next ZR-1 could quite possibly have 700-plus-horsepower as a result of this new technology.

So how did this new engine of smaller and unusual capacity come to be? Like previously stated, it was all in part to the speed freak engineers of Corvette Racing. Initially created for the GT2 C6.R race car, the engineers started with a 7.0 liter block and de-stroked it to 5.5 liters, as opposed to the de-stroked 6.0 liters found in the GT1 C6.Rs of last season. The dubbed “LS5.R” engine develops 485hp and an “undisclosed” amount of torque. What was the reason for the smaller displacement change? The answer is simple: The Corvette team decided to switch classes from GT1 to GT2, which has a displacement cap of 5.5 liters. One of the benefits of the GT2 class is that the vehicles are more based off the production vehicle, meaning there are more restrictions, thus, the racing is more competitive. Look no further than this season’s GT2 C6.R, which borrows its body heavily off of the current production ZR-1.