Next-generation Corvette coming with a high-revving V8 small displacement engine

General Motors Co. has several major revisions planned for the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette. GM is hoping to appeal to buyers that are attracted to European sports cars such as Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini. The Chevy two-seater will get a high-revving, small-displacement powertrain instead of the big V8 engines that typically power the Corvette. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, GM gave its approval to use a European-style V8 that will have a displacement slightly bigger than three liters.

Instead of the conventional overhead-valve design, the engine will be an overhead-cam and will feature a dry sump oil system that�s appropriate for high-performance road courses instead of straight-line acceleration. It�s likely that the engine will get a narrow 80.5 mm bore and a long stroke, more comparable to a Ferrari or Lamborghini powertrain instead of the traditional Motor City metal approach. A senior GM executive said that the new engine will be turbocharged and this will help yield a broad torque curve and maximum performance in various driving conditions.

The engine will deliver more than 400hp, which means that there�s a specific output in the range of 125hp for each liter. With these figures, there�s no doubting that the next-gen Corvette could be competitive against models like Porsche 911 or Lamborghini Gallardo. A source said that this engine will probably be extremely high-revving and could go up to a near-Formula One-class 10,000 RPMs. General Motors� North American President Mark Reuss recently said that the C7 Corvette, which is expected to arrive in the market in less than two years, would be �completely different� from its usual range of American sports cars. The philosophy that the Corvette has stuck to since it was launched in 1953 is: �There�s no replacement for displacement.� [via - 4wheelsnews]