Sitting under the hood of the next-generation 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, is a next-generation V-8 engine, both more powerful and more efficient than ever.
It's said that the biggest gains in fuel efficiency can come from the least-efficient vehicles.
As such, the new Corvette should be a huge improvement on the old, itself capable of surprising MPG numbers if driven gently.
A new, race-proven 6.2-liter LT1 V-8 is the first in a new family of small-block engines which will soon be found in numerous GM products.
In the Corvette, the headline numbers are an estimated 450 horsepower, and 0-60 mph times of under four seconds--but the better-than-ever performance shouldn't come at the expense of fuel economy either.
In fact, Chevrolet is confident it will exceed the current 26 mpg highway estimate for the 2013 Corvette. It'll also be more fuel-efficient than any other similarly-powered car on the market.
As well as a decrease in capacity from the old 7.0-liter LS7, GM used computational fluid dynamics to optimize the fuel injection and combustion characteristics, and the fitting of a new variable valve timing system.
The new engine also uses direct injection, a higher compression ratio and has lower combustion temperatures. Cold-start hydrocarbon emissions have decreased by a quarter.
2014 GM LT1 6.2-liter V-8
The new V-8 can also shut down half its cylinders under light load to reduce consumption.
GM has even gone as far as specifying a new low-friction, 5W30 semi-synthetic motor oil, to reduce friction and increase economy and performance.
Naturally, the new Corvette isn't typical GreenCarReports material--but if popular sports cars like the Corvette are getting ever more efficient, that has to be good news for those of us who want to cut down on fossil fuel use.
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