- GM will build new small-block V8s in Canada too.
- The sixth-gen V8 may come in 5.5 and 6.7-liter forms.
- C8 Corvette Grand Sport will debut with the larger V8.
Just a few short years ago, it seemed like the days of the V8 were numbered. Between tightening emissions standards and a global shift toward smaller, turbocharged engines, the classic eight-cylinder appeared to be fading out.
However, GM is bucking the trend of downsizing that’s dominated much of the automotive industry over the past decade, developing an all-new generation of V8 to be used by the Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac brands.
Where Will It Be Built?
The Detroit giant has already confirmed that its new small-block V8 will be manufactured at plants in Flint, Michigan, and Buffalo, New York, but as it turns out, won’t be confined to U.S. soil. GM has announced that its Oshawa, Ontario, plant has returned to two shifts and will also produce the sixth-generation V8 family.
Read: A GM Leak May Have Just Outed The New Corvette Grand Sport’s Big Secret
GM says it has invested more than CA$2.6 billion into Canadian operations over the past five years. That figure includes $280 million earmarked to support the build of next-generation full-size pickups, which will also benefit from the new V8 lineup.
The company’s new engine, potentially named the LS6, could be offered in 5.5-liter and 6.7-liter configurations. The flagship 6.7-liter version, and perhaps the 5.5-liter as well, will feature an aluminum block with direct and port fuel injection.
Corvette Gets It
These V8s won’t be limited to trucks and SUVs. GM plans to add them to the Corvette range too, including the the long-awaited mid-range Grand Sport.
This model was photographed without any camouflage during an official photoshoot earlier this month, wearing the same Admiral Blue paint scheme as the C7 Corvette Grand Sport, as well as bright red stripes on its rear quarter panels.
Exactly how much power the new Grand Sport will offer remains uncertain, but current rumors suggest the 6.7-liter engine could produce around 550 hp. That would place it comfortably between the entry-level Stingray and the more potent E-Ray and Z06 variants.