Radical Mid-Engine C8 Corvette Teased By GM, Office Unveil Set For July 18th
Chevrolet paraded the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette along the streets of New York City this week, and the long-slung two-seater was still wearing camouflage. However, you can still clearly make out the vehicle's proportions and the huge air intake behind the doors that feeds the mid-mounted V8 engine. This particular prototype was being driven by Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter with General Motors CEO Mary Bara taking up the co-pilot seat.
At this point, we're probably not going to hear much more official information from General Motors with regards to specifications for the C8 Corvette -- that will have to wait until its official July 18th 2019 debut. However, we've heard plenty of rumors about what will be going into this Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren slayer.
For starters, it's expected that the base models of the C8 will feature an upgraded version of the 6.2-liter V8 engine currently used in the C7 Corvette Stingray. If the rumors are accurate, the engine will produce somewhere around 500 horsepower, which would be a new high mark for a base Corvette engine.
Where things will get interesting, however, is with the optional powertrains. Word on the street is that there will be smaller a 4.2-liter turbocharged DOHC V8 that will pump out around 650 horsepower. And at the top of the range will a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter DOHC V8 that could generate in excess of 800 horsepower. Corvettes haven't used DOHC engines since the short-lived ZR1 version of the C4 Corvette. There's even talk that there could be a hybrid version of the C8 Corvette with even more power. It's also been reported that at least some trims will get a dual-clutch automatic transmission to replace the current automatic.
At this point, we don't much else about the 2020 C8 Corvette, but stay tuned to this landing page for more information as it becomes available.
