It has been said previously by Red himself that the SS denomination when refering to the Vette is only an internal code phrase given to the top dog Vette by the GM powertrain guys. A top dog Vette to come out in a few years is either going to stay z06, or be something else entirely. Doesn't seem likely any Vette in the forseeable future is going to carry an SS badge.

I think I remember hearing that the c5 z06's internal code name during it's development was SS as well.

 

I think "SS" should mean Super Sport AKA I'll own you in every aspect of the word for every class of vehicle the SS badge appears at the best price. I thin thats what SS should mean.

 

Heh. I don't know if it will change from attainable performance anytime soon.

 

Although a blower adds more complexity... more moving parts (belt, sc itself, pressure valves etc).. and then needs tubing and more weight for an intercooler..

Becaue of that, I rather have it a properlly engineered NA car..

Unless, GM decided to make the next C6-R's SC'd.

 

Well you can still get a properly engineered car, but the parts are gonna have to take more stress for an NA car. They are also going to have to be alot more expensive.

 

Forced induction also comes at a price of more stress and revamped parts too. These parts such as beefier oil cooled pistons, supercharger, tubing, intercooler, etc etc will raise cost too.. Not to mention take up more room and add even more weight.

IOW, for the Vette, I'll "believe" in SCing when the C6-R does it too.

 

While I don't really care as I'll probably never buy a Z06...

It really depends how much power they want to get out of it. If they want 650hp out of a 6.2L then you'd have to rev the thing well past 7,000 RPM which is going to require exotic valvetrain components which will make a Supercharger look cheap - not to mention no Low End Torque...

In this case a Supercharger would be the better descision, Slap on a decent bottom end, valvetrain doesn't need to be anything special, crank up the boost and you'll have more low end torque, at a lower price and I would venture much more streetable...

Now up the Cubic Inches and it's not so cut and dry...

 

Why would it matter what the C6-R does in relation to a factory blown street Corvette? How similiar do you actually think the C6-R motor and the LS7 actually are?? They both displace 7 liters, but most of the similiarities end there, regardless of what Chevrolet's brochure might say.

I would not be shocked to see a supercharger on a higher powered Vette. There have certainly been enough leaked documents on the net to help substantiate this to a degree. NA or SC, one way or another, the next Vette motor is going to need to be making big power if the rumors of the Viper are based in any fact.

 

If they were going to chase that goal NA, I would see GM considering to continue using 7 liters of displacement. Getting a 2v pushrod motor to spin past 7000 RPM and have good street matters, clean emissions, and longevity with little maitenence I believe would be outside the capabilities of GM's pushrod engines, in their current form. Hell, I would bet 650hp out of a NA 7liter is going to be extremely difficult when having to worry about making a good street engine.

 

Well, the way I look at it is, is GM has gleemed very good knowledge about how a 7L pushrod small block can be made, from the C5/6-R program. I do buy into the fact that using what they learned from the C5/6-R program, they were able to build a LS7 with confidence that it'll survive both on the street and laps on the roadcourse.

Now what would raise my eyebrows, is if a supercharged version of Vette did come out, and very shortly the C6-R team swiched over to a SC combo for racing... Although they probably would be hit by displacement with forced induction rules.

I guess its just my personal perception of things. I just see a SC adding more weight and complexity.. not worth the extra hp. especially when shops shown that the LS7 still has headroom to grow HP wise.

 

What are these Viper rumors you speak of?

 

Following in the Vette's footsteps, an aluminum frame instead of the steel, and a bump in displacement from 8.3 to 8.4 liters. Motor is also talked about being every extensively worked over, with Hemi derived styled heads, although from what I gather there will be no Hemi badges on anything on the car. I have heard rumors of anywhere from 600 to 700 (yes, 700) hp naturally aspirated out of this engine. Only time will tell, but Chrsyler wants their Viper back on top.

*edit- here are some links

http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.js...ssageID=516838

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/...t-v8-unlikely/

 

I hear ya Josh. I love both Camaros and Corvettes and at least GM is dead set on keeping the Vette at or near the top of the auto performance world. Hopefully the Camaro will also get that kind of love when it returns.