RUMOR: 2025 Corvette ZR1 to Have Active Fuel Management?

Though Chevy has yet to even confirm the existence of a C8 ZR1, that hasn’t kept the internet from exploding about the next-level-up Corvette that’s almost certainly on the horizon.

For instance, GM Authority says in an exclusive report that the 2025 ZR1 will feature Active Fuel Management, or AFM.

That’s significant because the ZR1 is believed to feature a turbocharged LT7 engine that is based off the LT6 flat-plane crank engine used in the 2023 Z06.

The LT6 engine doesn’t have AFM, while the LT2 engine used in the Stingray and E-Ray does.

In general, to increase fuel economy by as much as an estimated 12 percent, Active Fuel Management systems, also known as Cylinder Deactivation, shut down half of the engine’s cylinders during light driving conditions. The idea is that most of the time, the tremendous power of the V8 engines isn’t really needed, so why waste the fuel when the driver isn’t actually seeking driving performance or towing and hauling?

Jordan Lee, GM global chief engineer for small block engines, earlier had explained to GM Authority that the company chose to save fuel in its big V8 engines by turning off half of the cylinders when the power isn’t needed, rather than adding turbochargers or multi-valve cylinder heads to increase the power of smaller engines.

AFM uses simple hydraulic valves and sophisticated software to seamlessly switch the cylinders off and on and a solenoid system collapses the valve lifters to reduce the pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency.

“With recent increases in computing power, we can combine sophisticated digital design, powerful control strategies, and simple, robust mechanical systems to bring real benefits with no added cost to our customers,” said Lee. “Think of the difference between a cassette recorder and an iPod MP3 player – more moving parts are not always better.”

GM Authority says its spy photographers have captured shots of heavily camouflaged test vehicles, apparently ZR1s, that show a giant front splitter, an apparent large central ridge running vertically down the center of the front air intake, center-mounted exhaust tips, and the Z07’s sculpted wing. Active aero is also rumored to be on the way for the ZR1.

Source:
gmauthority.com

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