BoS RUMINT: ZR1 will be NA LT6 + E-Ray electric motor

[HolyRoller]

This popped up on YT last night and I haven't seen it discussed at MECF yet, so here goes. After hypothesizing that the Z06 has all the rear-wheel power it can handle, so why twin-turbo it because the traction isn't there, Brink of Speed says "with 99.9% certainty" that the ZR1 will keep the naturally aspirated LT6 and add a front electric motor a la E-Ray, totaling 830 hp.

Starting at about 5:15 in the video, BoS relates a conversation between "a huge name up at the top in GM" and a customer who wished out loud that the ZR1 would be an E-Ray with the Z06 engine and no turbos. In response, the source told the customer "they were going to be very happy when the ZR1 came out." From "the way it was said," BoS is confident that this is proof positive of NA LT6 + electric motor. Further, he deduces that the subsequent Zora will have twin-turbo LT7 + electric motor = 1,000 hp.

I couldn't tell from the audio where this conversation is supposed to have happened, or whether BoS himself overheard it or was told secondhand. I'll only say that it can't be disproven at this point. Also that if the customer was told they would be "very happy when the ZR1 came out" it could just be an expression of confidence that the customer would learn to be content with twin turbos and no electric motor.

Personally, I really hope it's true, and if it is, I'm switching my E-Ray deposit to ZR1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhXuLENSWTg

[MidEngine]

Every member of the corvette team not only wants to keep their job and has signed a written NDA to not share anything about future product and knows that GM has fired some GM fellow staff for divulging future product engineering information. I like BoS’s videos if for nothing else they often quote MECF and Mike seems like a really nice person but looking back at his predictive history he was massively wrong on the Z06’s initial price statement when he said he knew that is was going to be $87,000, was wrong when he said that there were so many major problems with the Z06 and that it was not coming out until February of 2023, wrong that his confidant supplier consultant was positive that the Z06 would start down the assembly line on August 23rd of last year, and several more of his crystal ball estimations.

I would take this prediction with a huge grain of salt, or as John has often stated, a dump truck load of salt. I give this prediction a chance of happening the way he says it is going to as very small.

[11ZSenator]

Personally, I really hope it's true, and if it is, I'm switching my E-Ray deposit to ZR1.

me too....I have E-Ray and ZR1 deposits and will just drop the E-Ray

[SheepDog]

Yeah Right. ". . . Going to be very happy ... is ambiguous, meaningless in any tone of voice. Speaker unknown? Huge name unidentified? Volunteer response to words spoken out loud? Response to words directed to no one? When? Where?

Urban folklore

[Foosh]

This obviously should be taken with a grain of salt with zero verification, but it certainly does make all kind of sense. It synchs with the movement toward hybrids on the worldwide GT racing circuit.

Porsche's most powerful 911 models (Turbo and Turbo S) have been AWD only for more than a decade, and more than Z06 power on a RWD-only car, even rear- or mid-engine, doesn't make a lot of sense.

[meyerweb]

I'm with MidEngine being skeptical that a "huge name" at GM would even hint at future product. As Tadge has said on multiple occasions when asked about future plans, "I like my job, and want to keep it." Doesn't automatically mean BoS is wrong, but it definitely makes me question the source of the second hand statement.

The engine Roadmap released by Hagarty in 2020 has been on target so far when you account for date slips due to the strike, COVID, and supply chain issues. I give that more credibility than a YouTuber who's sole reason for posting is to generate clicks and ad revenue.

GM's plans, along with R&D and testing, have been ongoing for years. This isn't the sort of design decision that would change on the fly without major schedule impacts.

[Foosh]

I agree that the C8 model roadmap we saw around C8 intro has been more or less accurate, but I think things may have evolved since then with increasing pressure toward electrification and strengthening commitments by Mary Barra to GM going all electric by 2035 . I don't think they were right about both a ZR1 and a "ZORA."

It's obviously all speculation, but things could have changed.

[JB]

Speculation on YouTube and the various forums is always fun.

I like Mike at brink of speed and hope he is right.

if not no big deal.

Fwiw the stingrays quick enough for 99 percent of us.

the Eray and z06 even more so.

what the Zr1 ends up being I have no idea.

[JK_Lee]

This popped up on YT last night and I haven't seen it discussed at MECF yet, so here goes. After hypothesizing that the Z06 has all the rear-wheel power it can handle, so why twin-turbo it because the traction isn't there, Brink of Speed says "with 99.9% certainty" that the ZR1 will keep the naturally aspirated LT6 and add a front electric motor a la E-Ray, totaling 830 hp.

Starting at about 5:15 in the video, BoS relates a conversation between "a huge name up at the top in GM" and a customer who wished out loud that the ZR1 would be an E-Ray with the Z06 engine and no turbos. In response, the source told the customer "they were going to be very happy when the ZR1 came out." From "the way it was said," BoS is confident that this is proof positive of NA LT6 + electric motor. Further, he deduces that the subsequent Zora will have twin-turbo LT7 + electric motor = 1,000 hp.

I couldn't tell from the audio where this conversation is supposed to have happened, or whether BoS himself overheard it or was told secondhand. I'll only say that it can't be disproven at this point. Also that if the customer was told they would be "very happy when the ZR1 came out" it could just be an expression of confidence that the customer would learn to be content with twin turbos and no electric motor.

Personally, I really hope it's true, and if it is, I'm switching my E-Ray deposit to ZR1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhXuLENSWTg

Love live the King, ZR1!!! Dropped E-Ray deposit.

[Jetdriver]

I think it's certainly a possibility. When we look at Duntov's work on the CERV ll, they experimented with AWD using a powerglide torque converter and a two speed clutchless gear box. It never quite lived up to their hopes, and two other RWD race cars were also developing at the same time. Jim Hall took that design and ran with it to create the Chaparell. The successful history of that car as a serious Ford GT40 challenger is well documented. What better tribute to the engineer that fought for years for a mid engine Corvette, and even experimented with four wheel drive, could there be? Could the LT6 combined with an electric motor be the "Zora" that's been rumored? 1000 HP Corvette? I hope not, just a ridiculous amount of power, for any car IMHO.

[meyerweb]

One thing we know for sure is that GM has an LT7 engine in the works, because we've seen photos of the shipping cradle for it. The previously published roadmap lists the LT7 as a twin-turbo version of the LT6. So if the ZR-1 will use the LT6 engine, then what is the LT7 for? Seems a little early for it to be "in beta" if it's slated only for the Zora.

[HolyRoller]

^^ I agree that the photo suggests LT7 is on the way, sooner rather than later. But then why reserve the delicious LT6, last of its kind, solely for the Z06? I'm also afraid the LT7 + E-ray front motor will escalate the price beyond my means. I only have so many internal organs left.

[meyerweb]

Given how much the hybrid drivetrain adds to the cost of the Stingray, adding twin turbos to the LT6 may be cheaper than adding the hybrid drivetrain.