Manoli Katakis 
At some point you have to feel for the Corvette team. As hard as they try to keep a lid on things, there seems to be no stopping a leak in some form or another. Most recently, a spreadsheet posted on CorvetteForum shows an alleged rundown of every single engine and powertrain system that will make its way into the C8 Corvette. The list is covers everything from the base LT2 V8 engine that’s debuting in the 2020 Stingray, all the way up to a hybridized LT7 DOHC twin-turbo V8 that will make its way into the C8 ZR1 supercar.
Based on our own intel, most the list checks out. Additionally, the leak fortifies our exclusive report that the C8 Corvette Z06 will receive a naturally aspirated DOHC V8 engine, codenamed LT6. Its displacement reads as 5.5 liters – the same displacement as the V8 engines in the current Corvette C7.R race car.
However, there are some suspicious numbers. Horsepower output for the LT6 reads as 600 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, while torque comes in at 620 lb-ft. We agree that 5,000 rpm is dubiously low, and could point to the alleged spreadsheet being somewhat of a phony, though not entirely. Moreover, we’re still not sure if the engine will actually have a flat-plane crankshaft like the high-revving Ford Mustang GT350 or the more exotic Ferrari 488 Pista. Regardless, we expect a high redline, much higher than 5,000 rpm.
Along with the LT6, there are a few surprises. For one, the forum post suggest that General Motors is going to connect a battery pack to the 6.2L LT2 small block V8 engine, creating a hybrid. We believe this version of the C8 Corvette to be the proposed E-Ray – a name that has also been trademarked by GM for automobile use.
There will also be two variants of the LT7 – one as a hybrid with 850 horsepower and an incredible 922 lb-ft of torque, and a non-hybrid with the same horsepower but with 750 lb-ft of torque. These extreme numbers are not typos. Additionally, while the ZR1 is expected to be without electrification, the hybrid could more than likely be the range-topping C8 Zora, though we expected an even higher output, not that 850 horsepower isn’t already a staggering amount. This could also be another sign that the spreadsheet is mere guesswork.
Another mystery remains: the positioning of the C8 Grand Sport in the lineup. Be sure to check back here at MuscleCarsandTrucks.com for the latest news on the next-generation Corvette, and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing.
