Chevrolet Gemini small-block engine

Last updated

Gemini small-block engine
2023 Chevrolet LT6 engine, NYIAS 2022.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors (Chevrolet)
Production2022–present
Layout
Configuration 90° V8
Displacement
  • 5,463 cc (333.4 cu in)
Cylinder bore
  • 104.25 mm (4.104 in)
Piston stroke
  • 80 mm (3.1 in)
Cylinder block material
Cylinder head material Aluminum
Valvetrain DOHC 4 valves
Compression ratio 12.5:1
RPM range
Max. engine speed 8,600 RPM (soft), 9,000 RPM (hard)
Combustion
Fuel system Direct fuel injection
Management GM E68 (32-bit)
Fuel type Gasoline
Oil system Dry sump
Cooling system Water-cooled

The Chevrolet Gemini small-block engine is a dual-overhead cam (DOHC) V8 engine designed by General Motors. While technically a small-block engine because of its bore spacing of 4.4 inches, [1] [2] General Motors engineers do not consider it to be a part of the traditional Chevrolet small block lineage because of the substantial reworking, specialized development, and unique technical features distinguishing its design. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The LT6 is a clean-sheet design, mechanically unrelated to both the LS-based engines and the Cadillac Blackwing V8. Its most notable traits include a flat-plane crankshaft and dual-overhead camshafts, which represents a departure from the traditional pushrod valves and crossplane crankshafts found in all previous generations of Chevrolet small-block engines. As of February 2024, the Gemini engine has only one variant, dubbed LT6. Hagerty , an American insurance company, reported in 2020 that a higher horsepower variant, the LT7, is expected to arrive in the 2024 model year. [6]

LT6

The LT6 is a 5.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V8 engine. It debuted in the eighth-generation Corvette Z06, and was unveiled on October 26, 2021. [1]

While the LT6 features a redline of 8,600 RPM, it generates a maximum of 670 hp (500 kW; 679 PS) at 8,400 rpm and 460 lb⋅ft (624 N⋅m) of torque at 6,300 RPM. These figures make it the most powerful naturally-aspirated production V8 engine of all time; the engine to previously hold this title, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series M159 6.2-liter V8, made 622 hp (464 kW; 631 PS) at 7,400 RPM. [7] [8] [1]

The LT6 is also the largest flat-plane V8 used in a production car by displacement, dethroning the Ford Voodoo. This is notable due to the additional vibrations inherent to this architecture compared to a crossplane V8, which tend to scale up with displacement. [9]

A modified version of the LT6 has powered the C8.R since 2019, and many features in the racing engine carry over to the road engine. [2] Other notable LT6 features include a cast aluminum block, dual coil valve springs supporting titanium intake & sodium filled exhaust valves, forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers, and a factory six-stage 10-quart dry sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging. [1]

Applications:

Year(s)ModelPowerTorqueDyno Chart
2023–present Chevrolet Corvette Z06 670 hp (500 kW) @ 8400 rpm460 lb⋅ft (624 N⋅m) @ 6300 rpm link

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 "2023 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 ELEVATES THE AMERICAN SUPERCAR". media.chevrolet.com. October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  3. Joe Kucinski (February 18, 2022). "LT6 Engine Deep Dive: Everything You Need to Know about the Corvette Z06 Flat-Plane-Crank V8". corvetteforum.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. Wren, Wesley (February 18, 2022). "5 Fast Facts About Chevrolet's LT6: The Corvette Z06's Heart". AutoWeek.
  5. Kelly, Iain (October 28, 2021). "The LT6 V8: Inside GM's most powerful small-block". Street Machine. WhichCar.
  6. Padeanu, Adrian (April 23, 2020). "Chevy Corvette C8 Future Reportedly Leaked, Zora Hybrid Has 1,000 HP". motor1. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  7. Markus, Frank (October 26, 2021). "How the C8 Corvette Z06's LT6 Became the World's Most Powerful Naturally Aspirated Production V-8". MotorTrend. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021.
  8. Colwell, K.C. (October 26, 2021). "2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 Brings 670 HP of Naturally Aspirated Fury". Car and Driver. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021.
  9. Sommers, Alex (September 7, 2021). "Chevy's eighth-gen Corvette Z06 is poised to topple these 3 production-car V-8 records".