This V8 engine produces the most power naturally aspirated engines. It is also the best at controlling airflow.
Here’s some science content for your Super Bowl friends. The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has the strongest naturally aspirated V8 motor ever found in a production vehicle. The LT6 V8’s flat-plane crankshaft design and high horsepower peak is sure to attract attention. However, the clever intake manifold makes it usable throughout the rev range.
The new Z06’s 5.5-liter DOHC engine produces 670 horsepower (500 kilowatts) at 8400 rpm. This is 200 revs short of the 8,600-rpm limit. This is a remarkable power peak for an engine without forced induction , however, in real-world applications such high figures may not translate into a pleasant life on the streets. SAE international explains why the LT6 produces a powerful 460 pound-feet (624 Newton meters) of torque at 6,300 rpm. However, it also produces a flat curve for low rpm muscle.
We won’t dive into techno-speak. The intake uses the Helmholtz resonance to increase pressure in the manifold. The intake is controlled by three valves that can open at different rpm points. This allows for more power and optimizes airflow at different ranges. The valves are closed at 2,000 rpm while the other two remain open at 5,800. Technically, the engine reaches its peak torque at 6,300 RPM but offers most of that twist at lower revs. The LT6 V8 is capable of reaching multiple torque peaks.
Although optimizing engine airflow to produce low-end power in high-rpm engines has been a common concept for a while, Chevrolet engineers have taken this to the extreme with their LT6 V8. This science will be on display for the first time in 2023 Corvette Z06 when we take to the road. Keep watching.