The Corvette's new LT1 V8 engine is, no surprise here, set to make the car very competitive within its class. Preliminary numbers suggest no less than 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque for the 6.2-liter engine, as well as an estimated 0-60 mile per hour time of less than 4.0 seconds when installed in the base C7. To put those numbers in perspective a bit: The LT1 not only has a far higher specific output than the 6.2-liter LS3 that it replaces – up at least 20 hp and 26 lb-ft – but its torque is seemingly competitive with that of the 7.0-liter LS7 that lives in the heart of the current Corvette Z06.

With all that power and accelerative performance, Chevy engineers are still keeping fuel economy in mind – with the help of cylinder deactivation, the new Corvette powerplant is expected to deliver more than 26 miles per gallon on the highway, though figures for city driving are still unknown. The new small block also benefits from the latest advanced engine tech like direct injection, continuously variable valve technology and a relatively high 11.5:1 compression ratio, all while coming in a claimed 40-pounds lighter and four inches shorter than the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 by BMW. Chevy also notes that while premium fuel is recommended, it is not required with the LT1. We're also told that a dry sump oil system is optional (a traditional wet sump unit is standard).