An Ode to the V8

The Ferrari 360 CS will go down in history as being the first V8 engined car I ever liked, soon the GT40 followed and the list of V8 engined vehicles I like kept on growing. I think the key thing that pushed my V8 love even further was an issue of Motor Trend wholly dedicated to the V8, it opened my eyes to the Corvette, the Saleen S7 and the Mossler MT900. There is some logic attached to my V8 addiction:

1. The V8 is flexible: I have seen a V8 stuffed into any and everything imaginable from racing cars to bar stools. V8s come in a wide range of sizes and characteristics from the tiny 3.6L high compression Ferrari 360 V8 up to the torquey 7.0L V8 found in the Saleen S7, and the sizes don't stop there, if you're pockets are deep enough, companies such as Radical offer custom built 2.8L V8s based on 2 motorcycle engines where as GM can sell you a 9.4L V8 and then you can go smaller or larger than that if needs be.
   
   
   


2. Racing: The V8 is the number one engine configuration used in racing and [unofficially] the most successful. F1, Indy Car, NASCAR, NHRA and DTM all hail the V8 as their engines of choice. V8s have also seen success in 24 Hours of Le Mans, JGTC and F1 [back in the days when engine layouts were open]. The fastest cars in the world, Koenigsegg and SSC both use V8s where as Bugatti [the fastest] uses a unique twin V8 layout.
   
   
   


3. Affordable: The greatest thing the Americans ever brought to the automobile world aside from mass produced vehicles, was produced V8s. This brought power to the modern man, a tradition American car companies still continue today. Want a lot of horsepower but little money? Instead of tuning the daylights out of your 4 cylinder, buy a V8
   
   
   


4. The sound: Fact: almost every time a magazine or a show tries to declare what is the best sounding engine, 90% of the time it will be a V8. The Ferrari 360, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and many others contribute to that listing. Some vids of V8 sounds [Ford GT40] [Ferrari 360 CS] [an F1 car] and a [NHRA Top Fuel Dragster]

So onwards to the meat of the matter, my favorite V8 engines:

10. Rover 3.5L V8 [found in the MGB GTV8]: mainly because it was one of the first aluminium V8s, it was significantly lighter than its 4 cylinder counterpart making the already featherweight MG even lighter

9. Chevrolet 572 [can only be purchased by itself from GM]: The biggest commercially available V8 ever. 720hp stock with a limit of probably 11ty billion.

8. Ferrari Dino Engine [found in the 360, 355, 308, 388 GTO and F40]: This extremely flexible engine is responsible for carrying road cars to 200mph.

7. BMW S63B48 [found in the X6M and X5M] BMWs quirky little V8 found in their quirkiest cars is actually quite innovative. By mounting the turbochargers inside the V of the engine, the engine is more compact.

6. Chevrolet LS [found in the Corvette C6]: The replacement for the #3 engine in GMs mainstream line up. The entire LS line-up is good but the LS3 shines with 420hp and 30mpg, the best of both worlds.

5. Ford Modular Engine 5.0L "Coyote" [Found in the Ford Mustang 5.0]: The greatest engine for sale now, best bang for buck. Taking muscle cars to the 21st century with DOHC and Aluminium construction.

4. Rolls-Royce/Bentley 6.75L V8 [found in the Bentley Brooklands]: The second oldest V8 in the world. Even the rich needed V8 grunt.

3. Chevrolet 350ci Small Block [found in everything]: The engine that made the V8 famous. Quite possible the #1 selling V8 in the world and longest running.

2. Whatever magical V8 is powering the Porsche 918 Spyder: a 3.4L 500hp V8 sounds improbable for production, but the real powerplant shouldn't be far off

1. Cosworth DFV [found in the Lotus 72, 49 and eventually most F1 cars]: this was an engine full of win. It defined all the principles of a V8 I loved: cheap, flexible, powerful, nice sounding and reliable.

Future???

The V8 is a dying breed with most being replaced by twin turbo V6s, eventually we may reach a point where crate retailers will be the only place where one can purchase a V8, that's unless the Porsche 918 fixes everything

Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 Pace Car 2010

From Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 pace car at the Speedway's Hall of Fame Museum.
The 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 pace car is a 21st century sports car that looks to the future with a nod to both the car's and the race's heritage. The first year for Camaro to pace the Indianapolis 500 was in 1967, the year the Camaro made its debut. Camaro has since paced the race in 1969, 1982, 1993 and 2009.

2010 pace car features an Inferno Orange Metallic paint scheme with White Diamond rally stripes that travel from the front to the rear over the top of the body, as well as extending to the instrument panel. The design is a modern interpretation of the original rally stripe that debuted on the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

"The car's tribute to '500' history and its sports car feel will be a big hit with our fans, and it will look great leading the Indianapolis 500 field on Race Day."

The 2010 pace car is equipped with a stock 400 hp 6.2L V-8, an RS appearance package and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. The pace car also features unique design cues that further enhance the Camaro's head-turning design.

Features unique to the pace car:
* 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo painted on doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests
* 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders
* All-new front grille insert that Chevrolet plans to offer as a future Camaro accessory
* Amber lens tail lamps
* Complete safety strobe light system with custom interior light bar in the rear window (no rooftop light bar)
* All-new GM Accessory floor mats with red and orange accent stitching

Starting at approximately $23,000, and offering an EPA-estimated 29 highway mpg on the V6-powered car, the all-new Chevrolet Camaro is a budget-friendly sports car that doesn't sacrifice on performance. Despite the recent economic challenges, the Camaro has overtaken its closest competitor to lead the regular sports car segment in sales for the last six months.

Chevrolet Camaro SS 2010

The Design features
With a design that is very close to the original concept, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro acknowledges its heritage from the first-generation Camaro, produced from 1967 through 1969. The two-door sports coupe features classic proportions over a 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase. The overall length of the Chevrolet Camaro is 190.4 inches (4,836 mm); width and height are 75.5 inches (1,918 mm) and 54.2 inches (1,376 mm), respectively.
The long hood and short deck are pushed to the far corners of the muscular fender forms and a fast, 67-degree rake windshield contributes to aerodynamic performance that includes a 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd) on V-6 models and a slightly sleeker 0.35 Cd on the V-8-powered SS model.

The Interior details
Inside the four-passenger cabin, a well-executed balance of heritage, modern design and attention to detail conveys simplicity and refinement with contemporary details in the cluster, switches, dials and lighting.

The Safety

The Chevrolet Camaro offers a comprehensive system of safety features - starting with a robust body structure and integral safety cage around the passenger compartment. High-strength steel and ultra high-strength steels are used in key areas throughout the structure.

The Powertrains
When it comes to performance, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro delivers in unexpected ways. An advanced 3.6L direct-injected V-6 with variable valve timing is standard on LS and LT models. It offers power and efficiency, with 304 horsepower (227 kW) and EPA-rated 29 mpg in highway driving.
The performance-oriented Chevrolet Camaro SS offers a pair of 6.2L V-8s, including one with Active Fuel Management that helps improve fuel economy by shutting down four cylinders during certain light-load driving conditions. That model delivers 25 mpg in EPA-rated highway fuel economy.

3.6L direct injection V-6
Chevrolet Camaro's 3.6L direct injection (DI) V-6 delivers more power through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions - including a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. Direct injection optimizes fuel delivery to the combustion chamber by introducing fuel closer to the combustion chamber. The fuel injectors are located beneath the intake ports and fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. The result is better efficiency in the combustion process leading to increased fuel efficiency at part and full throttle.

The 3.6L DI engine produces 304 horsepower (227 kW) at 5,900 rpm and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm) at 5,200 rpm. Its 60-degree cylinder block and cylinder heads are cast aluminum to help reduce mass. A forged steel crankshaft provides optimal strength in the bottom end. The cylinder heads include four valves per cylinder, with a dual overhead camshaft design incorporating infinitely variable cam phasing.
A full dual exhaust system, with dual catalytic converters, helps reduce back pressure for optimum power. It also helps the engine reach operating temperature quicker to help burn off cold-start emissions. And despite a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 3.6L DI engine is designed to run on regular gas.

The Brakes
Front brakes for LS and LT models include single-piston calipers with 321 mm x 30 mm rotors. For long life, performance and consistent feel, organic, non-asbestos compounds are used with FE2 brakes. At the rear are vented rear discs measuring 315 mm x 30 mm, with a single-piston aluminum caliper.
The SS front brake package includes Brembo 355 mm x 32 mm vented rotors with four-piston aluminum calipers. Semi-metallic brake linings are used at all four corners on FE3 models for superior fade resistance and pedal feel. The rear brakes are vented Brembos measuring 365 mm x 28 mm, with aluminum four-piston calipers.

Chevrolet Camaro Transformers, 2010

Fans of the new Chevrolet Camaro and the blockbuster Transformers movies can now combine their love of the car and the films with the Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition announced today at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Features such as an EPA-rated 29 highway mpg on the V6-powered Chevrolet Camaro, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB connectivity, XM Satellite Radio and OnStar combined with Transformers design cues add to the car's status as a 21st century sports car.

Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition:
* Autobot shield on the driver and passenger side panels
* Autobot shield on each of the four wheel's center cap
* Autobot shield embroidered on interior center console
* "Transformers" logo on driver and passenger doors' sill plates
* "Transformers" logo embedded into the hood rally stripes
* High-gloss black center rally stripe package
* Manufacturer's suggested retail price of package: $995

The V6-powered Chevrolet Camaro uses a 3.6L engine with variable valve timing to optimize performance and fuel economy. It is SAE-certified at 304 horsepower (227 kW) and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 3.6L engine; a Hydra-Matic 6L50 electronically controlled six-speed automatic, with TAPshift control.

The high-performance Chevrolet Camaro SS is equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Manual transmission-equipped models receive the LS3 engine, SAE-certified at 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. of torque (569 Nm). It is paired with a TR6060 six-speed transmission.

The L99 V-8 engine is used on automatic transmission-equipped SS models. It is based on the LS3, but also includes GM's fuel-saving Active Fuel Management feature. It is SAE-certified at 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 Nm). It is matched with a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed transmission that helps delivers an EPA-estimated 25 mpg on the highway.

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport combines the Corvette's LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a distinctive model that delivers a great balance of road and race track performance.
Both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine is rated at 430 horsepower (321 kW) and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm) with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport replaces the Corvette's previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs. standard LS3-powered models.

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are uniquely outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.

The Grand Sport history
The original Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was a promising idea that led to the production of five special prototypes in 1963. The project was later shelved, following GM's agreement to stay out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.

The 5 prototypes were based on the styling of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled under Duntov's watchful eye. But while they looked like production models, the prototypes were purpose-built race cars that shared little with their assembly-line cousins. Duntov also oversaw the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport engine program that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.

Chevrolet Corvette GT1

The Chevrolet introduced the limited production Corvette GT1 Championship Edition.
Championship Edition (Regular Production Option GT1) commemorates the success of Corvette Racing and the Corvette C6.R:
* Eight American Le Mans Series GT1 manufacturers and team championships
* Five-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class champions
* 74 victories in international sports car competition

GT1 Championship Edition package:
* Graphics inspired by C6.R livery feature Corvette Racing
* ZR1-style body color full-width spoiler and chrome wheels
* Custom leather-wrapped ebony interior with exclusive yellow accent stitching
* GT1 embroidery on leather seats, instrument panel, and center console armrest
* Special engine cover with carbon pattern and yellow Corvette lettering

* Windshield banner (owner installed)

Chevrolet Stingray Concept 2009

The Chevrolet Stingray Concept design is influenced by the original Stingray race car, introduced in 1959, but also draws on Corvette heritage cues from other generations. It brings them together in a futuristic shape that seems to be equal parts racecar and space ship.