Fresh Mid-Engine Corvette Spy Shots Reveal New Details [w/ video]
UPDATE 9/06/2018: We now have video-with sound-of the C8 running around the 'Ring.
UPDATE 9/04/2018: While much of the U.S. was roasting flesh and sampling malted beverages in tribute to the American worker, Chevrolet employees were hard at work on the Nürburgring exercising the soon to be revealed 2020 C8 mid-engined Corvette. Thanks to our tireless European spy shooters, who rarely take a day off for any occasion, we now have some of the most revealing photos yet.
Call us Captain Ahab, because the upcoming mid-engined Corvette is our great white whale. Each passing day sees us get closer to laying eyeballs on the finished beast, and these images mark some of our best views yet of what to expect from the C8-generation Vette.
Although the car remains cloaked in camouflage, a number of new details about the latest iteration of the American sports car can now be confirmed. Notably, the fast rear glass that marks today's Corvette isn't carried over to this eighth-generation test car. Despite the McLaren 570S–like rear end of the car photographed above, sources tell us that the production car will likely be equipped with a fastback-style glass rear-window panel that's designed to show off the next Vette's mid-mounted engine. What appears to be a camera mounted at the rear of the roof ought to help mitigate the C8's limited rear visibility.
As in today's Corvette, it seems the new model will sport a removable roof panel, as evidenced by what appears to be a cutline just aft of the windshield header; it's possible this will be stowable in the nose of the car. Inside, the driver will be greeted by a
"squircle"-shaped steering wheel with a flattened top and a flattened bottom. Paddle shifters will be mounted either to the wheel itself or to the steering column, as we believe the mid-engined monster will come exclusively with a Tremec-developed eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The eighth-gen Corvette is expected to enter production powered by the pushrod 6.2-liter V-8 engine from the current car. Later on, we expect a twin-cam 5.5-liter V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and close to 600 horsepower to find its way into the engine bay.
While the wait continues for an unfettered look at the all-new C8 Corvette, tidbits like these keep our appetite whetted for a car that's shaping up to be one of the most significant in General Motors history.
Update: We previously reported that the fast rear glass that marks today's Corvette won't be carried over to the eighth-generation model in the form of an engine cover, but sources tell us that this distinguishing feature likely will be carried over. Our text above now reflects this.
UPDATE 9/04/2018:
This latest round of photos corroborates our earlier findings: the presence of the previously debated fastback engine-cover rear panel, plenty of air-management accoutrements for both aerodynamics and cooling, and a quartet of exhaust pipes positioned two to a side. One new detail is the appearance of cutlines along the top of the windshield and fastback which indicates the presence of a targa-style roof. With its basic shape now revealed save for a single layer of black and white splatter-pattern camo, it's clear the C8 Corvette is nearing the end of the development stage.
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