Make the Chevrolet Corvette's coming C7 generation's base engine a diesel, giving mpg while justifying a customary Corvette-high MSRP.

Banks 630T version of 3.0L diesel from VM Motori (GM owns half of VM Motori.) has C6 torque &amp; C4-thru-1991 hp.  Curb weight has fallen since C4 and is expected to go lower with C7.  This progression allows the expected smaller engines.  A V6 would give better weight distribution than 4.5L LMK V8 Duramax, tucking farther back in the engine bay.

The 630T's torque "close to 500 lb ft" likely would make it competitive with engines thru the end of C4—MY1996, maybe e'en C6's LS2—thru MY2007.  While the 630T is 48 lbs heavier than an LS2, the LS3 is lighter still, so the C7's expected weight reduction hopefully puts it--with the 630T, on par with current C6 LS3 base engine.

Of corvette engines from 1980 on, only Callaway's 1988-&amp;-later twin-turbo-ed, &amp; the  supercharged, Blue Devil, engines are clearly beyond the 630T's torque limit at this time. (The initial, 1987, Callaways had torque comparable the Banks.)