Tonight is finally the night that the public will see a real-deal mid-engine Corvette. Chevrolet has teased the idea of a mid-engine Corvette for decades but it’s never been more than an idea on paper. Now, it’s finally for real and tonight is the night the public will see it.
Continue Reading Below
When it finally makes its long-awaited debut at 9:30 EST (6:30 PST), the mid-engine Corvette will begin its attempt to throw a huge monkey wrench into the plans of European brands. There’s little known about the specs of this upcoming American supercar but it’s not going to be slow, that’s for sure. We know it will have a V8; what sort, what size and how powerful are all yet to be seen. But we do know it will back a good ole fashioned American V8.
In fact, there could even be two different V8s offered. It’s been rumored that the base model C8-generation ‘Vette will get an old-school 6.2 liter pushrod V8, just like the current front-engine car. If true, it’s said to make around 500 hp. However, there’s a rumor that a second, much more powerful V8 will be offered in the top-of-the-line ‘Vette. That second V8 is said to be a very high-tech, twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8. To be honest, we doubt this is true and find it more likely that it will just pack a very powerful version of the old-school 6.2 liter V8. But never say never.
We’re unsure if it will be available with a manual gearbox, also. We know a dual-clutch gearbox will be offered, especially after Chevy revealed the new steering wheel, which sports paddle shifters. However, there’s been no word on a three-pedal ‘box. Corvette fans are already up in arms about their favorite American icon switching to mid-engine like the rest of those “Euro-Trash” sports cars. If it ditches the manual gearbox, they might have a collective, cheeseburger-assisted heart attack.
This new mid-engine ‘Vette will be very interesting when it makes its debut. The current C7 car is already a sort of budget performance car icon. Even the most expensive Corvette ZR1 actually about $20,000 cheaper than a BMW i8 and packs over 350 more ponies and is significantly faster. The only other car that BMW will have to take on the new Corvette, in terms of performance, is the BMW M8 Coupe but that’s heavier, more luxurious and all-wheel drive. So it will be very interesting to see how European brands compete.
Most BMW fans won’t be too inclined to visit a Chevy dealer for a performance car but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. We’re very intrigued by this new mid-engine Corvette and are going to keep a close eye on it tonight.
Europe is not interested because of the high environmental taxes we Europeans have to pay for basically all the pollution caused by the USA, India and China. No seriously in Belgium it would already cost 20.000 euro just to get a license plate for the car, not even mentioning the other taxes we have to pay to drive the car.
That seems to be an assessment by the government along with the high fuel taxes the European sheeple so gladly accept.
Corvette should have sold the exterior of the C8 for several million dollars exclusively to Bmw. Mericans know how to design desirable mid-engine…
Yeah an Ugly car (the new one) with a cheap interior and exterior will be deadly
the C7 was a nice car
Vote, Porsche Taycan or Vette?
So, family, electric sports sedan vs mid-engine V8 sports car… Huh?
It’s easy being green (sorry, Kermit). Thinking is hard. Elsewhere today I read Model S is SO much faster than Stingray! Like I care, put a V8 behind my head, not a 5,000 lb. sedan under me arse.
Build quality seperates Corvette from all others.
It is only the DCT being offered initially.
Badge snobs would never consider this (even though 911 was benchmark & fraction of the cost of a Ferrari). I like it, good on GM for letting their designers & engineers do something new but still recognizably Corvette – who needs a GT40? Or 911.
I would take take the GT40 anyday. Corvette is not even in the same class.
I’d take the 911 any day. Both the C8 Corvette and 911 are different classes. Mid engine and Rear engine.
If 911 is so great, why have EVERY other manufacturer abandoned rear-engined?
But the 911 still sells and is making money for Porsche, yes, I know Cayenne and Macan do bring in a significant chunk of share in terms of profits for Porsche, but the 911 is a grand tourer that has a great deal of emotions and flair in terms of performance. Just because one car is rear engined and others mid engined, doesn’t make it a dead segment. The 911 has the rear engine/RWD setup that makes it unique from the competition. Besides, the Cayman is mid engined and has an excellent chassis as do other Porsches. Sure, Tatra may have had rear engines first, but that entire VW-Tatra fiasco happened ages ago, under Hitler’s rule. I’m saying both cars have different groups of buyers/customers. As for your Badge snobs portion of your argument, people stay loyal to x brand they buy from. Yeah, the Mid Engined Corvette was planned by Zora-Arkus, and while we know this C8 will sell in numbers to the Vette customers, people will still go for the Euros, because of the quality, heritage, and just the overall experience. People will spend their money, where they want to spend it.
Badge whore. Would totally agree with you if we were discussing 928, the last time Porsche did an original clean sheet design, think it was called the German Corvette. Aside from layout & drivetrain, they shared designer Tony Lapine. Next time Porsche attempted a V8 it was based on VW SUV. Why I haven’t followed Porsche in 4 decades.
Yeah, the small-block V8 is amazing, no doubt. Porsche on the other hand, also makes engineering masterpieces. Flat 6 is to Porsche as Small block N/A V8 is to Chevrolet. Porsche has not only attempted a V8 in the Cayenne, but they had an amazing sounding V8 in the 918, though it was Hybrid, but still was brilliant in it’s own way. I don’t know who you’re referring to as a badge whore. I follow Porsche, because they make perfection from the factory. That Flat 6 is as every bit of interesting and amazing as the V8. Personally, I’ll even go as far to say, that the Flat 6 is engineered brilliantly just as much, if not more. It is choosing to be more unique than the competition. Porsche’s design is also beautiful, when it comes to keeping things classy. My point still stands: I’ve always loved the 911, and always will. It’s unique. Not everyone has to go rear-engine to make the rear engine layout great.
Pics are out and it’s really really beautiful. Please do a post with them if you can. FROM UNDER $60.000
Sorry. First world problem. Really. And: No. These car are a social product, not a technical product. Image is everything and Chevy doesnt habe the right one.
Btw: Similar idiotism as BMW with the F40. A Corvette has always been a RWD V8 in front (i know … inline 6 at the beginning) American icon. That is its model identity. Now they are destroying it for exactly what? 10 seconds faster on the Nordschleife??
If it doesn’t break in the middle like the prototypes, it will be easier to drive at the limit.
This car is actually the perfect rebuttal to European sports cars (even if 911 was the benchmark). Is anyone else doing 6+ litres of normally aspirated lump of mid-engine American V8?! The fact that of all manufacturers GM is doing this (after decades of teasing) & @ a competitive $, makes me very happy about the future (theirs & mine). Old school American muscle in a new format.
It’s starting price is now confirmed by Chevy to be under $60k, new C8 Corvette. And right-hand drive builds are also confirmed. 0-60mph in less than 3 secs. Weighs only 1530kg. Manufacturing begins before year end. Cant say this augurs well for European sports cars.
Apparently GM is claiming the carbon fiber rear bumper is an industry first…..
No, No, No, No!
I always tell people that the domestic farm equipment from Detroit is 20 years behind, and GM is one of the automotive industries most pervasive liers when it comes to claiming ‘Industry First” feats of engineering…
Try googling “51127894853″.
That’s right, a carbon fiber bumper produced 20 years ago by the Bavarians.
Then it was an “Industry First”.
Today, it is 20 year old technology.
Another false claim, fake news fail from GM.
Meh.