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Chevy’s Corvette ZR1 Inspiration Was...BMW?

Chevy’s Corvette ZR1 Inspiration Was...BMW?

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett January 10th, 2008

Article ImageEnlarge Photo


General Motors’ Powertrain Group set out some tough goals when it laid out the fundamentals of the new Corvette ZR1’s engine. But rather than look at Vipers and GTs, engineers turned their attention toward Germany when designing the new LS9 engine.

The German competition is driving the higher horsepower and torque numbers coming to the Corvette, Chevrolet engineers told TheCarConnection.com at a recent backgrounder on the new supercar, slated for a debut at the Detroit auto show next week. The LS9 was specifically made to match up favorably with the V-10 engine found in the BMW M range, Chevy says.

The LS9 will produce 620 horsepower, or 100 horsepower per liter, and 595 pound-feet of torque, but that torque number should exceed 600 by the time GM's engineers finish tweaking the motor in mid-2008. The engine produces 90 percent of its peak torque from 2600 rpm to 6000 rpm.

The basic engine block is the standard one used for GM's other 6.2-liter V-8 engines. The LS9 tweaks the basics with forged aluminum pistons, polymer coatings, and titanium connecting rods. The inlet valves are also made from titanium, and iridium-tipped spark plugs and a specially designed dual pressure emission system are tailored to the engine. While some of the parts are carried over from the LS7, the camshaft, water pump and gaskets are all specifically designed for the higher output of the LS9. 

The LS9 engine also will use a large positive-displacement supercharger developed specifically for the car by Eaton. The four-lobe supercharger is matched with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature and maximizes the engine’s performance. The LS9 is only the first of several new supercharged small-block engines that will be introduced in GM vehicles in the future, including in large sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, Chevrolet engineers add.

GM didn't release any official fuel-economy numbers for the new engine, but engineers indicated that it should easily get in the high-20-mpg range in highway driving.--by Joseph Szczesny Enlarge Photo General Motors’ Powertrain Group set out some tough goals when it laid out the fundamentals of the new Corvette ZR1’s engine. But rather than look at Vipers and GTs, engineers turned their attention toward Germany when designing the new LS9 engine. The German competition is driving the higher horsepower and torque numbers coming to the Corvette, Chevrolet engineers told TheCarConnection.com at a recent backgrounder on the new supercar, slated for a debut at the Detroit auto show next week. The LS9 was specifically made to match up favorably with the V-10 engine found in the BMW M range, Chevy says. The LS9 will produce 620 horsepower, or 100 horsepower per liter, and 595 pound-feet of torque, but that torque number should exceed 600 by the time GM's engineers finish tweaking the motor in mid-2008. The engine produces 90 percent of its peak torque from 2600 rpm to 6000 rpm. The basic engine block is the standard one used for GM's other 6.2-liter V-8 engines. The LS9 tweaks the basics with forged aluminum pistons, polymer coatings, and titanium connecting rods. The inlet valves are also made from titanium, and iridium-tipped spark plugs and a specially designed dual pressure emission system are tailored to the engine. While some of the parts are carried over from the LS7, the camshaft, water pump and gaskets are all specifically designed for the higher output of the LS9.  The LS9 engine also will use a large positive-displacement supercharger developed specifically for the car by Eaton. The four-lobe supercharger is matched with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature and maximizes the engine’s performance. The LS9 is only the first of several new supercharged small-block engines that will be introduced in GM vehicles in the future, including in large sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, Chevrolet engineers add. GM didn't release any official fuel-economy numbers for the new engine, but engineers indicated that it should easily get in the high-20-mpg range in highway driving.--by Joseph Szczesny

Tags: Detroit Auto Show, Shoppers

Posted in: 2008, Chevrolet, Coupes, Sports Cars



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Responses (6 total)

  1. By Russell #2, Posted: 1/11/2008

    All head technology came from Lotus way back when the LT1 engine went into the original ZR1 Corvette. BMW have always poached engineering designs from Lotus, Cosworth and Tom Walkinshaw (TWR)

  2. By Russell #3, Posted: 1/11/2008

    Lotus did the 4AGE engine for Toyota. (CorollaGT and the MR2 in 84) Stakes were sold to GM who took the same head technology for the 1990 Lotus Elan. GM owned stakes in Isuzu, bought from Toyota and put the same head technology in many cars, including Mitsubishi, Daewoo and Hyundai. What an incest we have in the automotive world. Lotus even did the head work on the Esprit V8 which is an Audi 3.5 V8. Better than a Ferrari. Porsche even were licensed to use the "twin balancing shafts" that were in the 2.0 Mitsubishi Starion and the Lancer 2000 Turbo for the Porsche 944. KEEP IT IN THE FAMILIES. I have over 30 years of this industry. Now I am glad I am out of as the Porsche Boxster is built in the SAAB factory. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHERE ALL THE TECH COMES FROM. Love it.

  3. By S. Drew #4, Posted: 1/11/2008

    I know this gent. He has worked for them all. One thing I was amaized with was the fact Rolls-Royce and Bentley used the L400 GM transmission from 1957 to 1989 and then put the L480E GM unit until 1998 in RR and Bentley. Same Trans that is in your Chevy truck and Suburban. Aston Martin used the Chrysler Transmission in the Virage. What a joke that was. So yes Russ is right. Incest is Best

  4. By Mack King #5, Posted: 1/12/2008

    Hmmmm.... Since Chevrolet and Corvette engineering is getting 620+HP out of the LS9 small block (which has to be stretching the limits of reliability), maybe it's time to play with the aluminum big block and see if they can get a reliable 750+ HP out of that for the next big power innovation! (Yea, I know it's too big and too heavy but it's fun thinking about it, and Zora would love it!)

  5. By Doctor Olds #6, Posted: 1/14/2008

    "Beauty is as beauty does."
    and
    "There are only so many ways to skin a cat."

    Some of the major "innovations" in engine design such as overhead cams and 4 Valve cylinder heads we see today were created almost a century ago. There has been lots and lots of interchange in design between auto makers through the years , often through "reverse" engineering, sometimes through collaboration (although the GM small blocks are all GM engineering).

    I recall my dad pointing out the GM Saginaw Steering Gear Division power steering pump on a Brit's Jaguar on a ferry ride across the channel in 1967. The Brit would have nothing of it, insisting that "Jag-you-are" would not use GM components. Imagine the Rolls, Bentley and BMW owners with their GM transmissions!

    I'm not sure why you would care who designed, or manufactured your car or its components, as long as it satisfies you with style, function and quality.

  6. By Gary Paul #7, Posted: 1/15/2008

    Lets hope GM keeps considerable Engineering "In-House" to learn and inspire and become an engineering (AND STYLE) driven powerhouse

    Some interesting comments. Does anyone recall GM developing overhead Cam engines in the 1950s and just never using them and all the wasted engineering on the 61-63 rope drive rear transaxle Pontiac Tempest and the solid redesign of the rear engine air cooled 65 Corvair that was already killed as it was offered for sale, etc. etc. By the end of the mid 60s GM was clearly in the hands of the Financially disciplined and educated top execs who vowed that GM would make money without increasing market share to appease the feds (who wanted to break them up if market share bumped North of 50% in US). That killed almost all innovative engineering. Think what innovation would have occurred if GM had broke itself up into 2 or 3 fully independent entities competing against all comers and with full authority to evolve into their own successful auto companies.... just a thought... Well long gone days but lets hope GM can become an engineering powerhouse today and keep enough engineering inside so they become damn knowledgeable with a renewed engineering excellence and limit too much outsourcing…Combine it with terrific style and a given set of quality principals and GM can make progress.. GM still has too many divisions in this day and age (they abandoned the idea of a car for every pocketbook essentially back in the late 1950s) but lets see what happens…

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