A mid-engined Corvette continues to be one of the most titillating subjects on the internet. Many are expecting one to debut, and as time goes by, anticipation grows. However, the rumormill loves to churn, and churn it has.
Corvette Forum has published a report regarding an anonymous Chevrolet dealership and an upcoming mid-engined Corvette. According to the source that spoke to Corvette Forum, GM is currently testing a mid-engined Corvette powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 (?!) engine. Moreover, the dealership source claimed that Chevrolet mentioned the performance car to some dealers at a recent meeting. It’s reportedly pushing 700 horsepower, and still rides on an adapted C7 Corvette platform. Oh, and it will cost $150,000. It sounds similar to the recipe of the new Ford GT, cylinder count and all, yet at a far lower price point.
Some of this doesn’t seem so far-fetched. But other parts of it do, especially the idea of this kind of car riding on a C7 Corvette platform. Surely, a mid-engine configuration would require substantial reworking, and letting it ride on current Corvette underpinnings seems downright strange.
The V6, however, doesn’t sound that out there, though. While we hope a V8 finds its way under the hood, a V6 very well could. But, the small-block V8 is undeniably a GM core competency. It’d be a shame is this kind of halo vehicle tried to bend the rules. GM does V8s better than any other engine, in our opinion, like it or not.
We’ll likely know if this is a pile of rubbish, or if there’s some merit to any of this, in the next year or so.
Comments
700 hp is not a problem. They had tested the ZL1 to 725 HP and passed all the durability test on the dyno. This I know for a fact.
I have heard that the new engine has been tested to 1,000 HP but I could not confirm it. Getting the power to the ground was a major issue.
We should see a mid engine very soon.
The ls9 was warranty tested to 725 hp
Sorry the ZR1 it was a typo.
With this much horsepower, this car will have AWD I’m sure.
Not sure about that for the price listed.
I had been told by a GM guy that his buddy was on the project and they had targeted $170K for a Ford GT fighter. Considering the Ford is not AWD and GM is looking to keep the price down they are not yet ready to pull that trigger. This may be why they are staying in the 700 HP range with an engine much more capable.
AWD is nice but adds more weight and more cost. Also they will want this car for the IMSA racing series.
Yes, it will! There will be three variants of the C8….
Considering transfer-of-technologies from racing-to-production, it is very easy to see IMSA Daytona Prototypes for chassis structure, Indy Car engine for the turbo V6 and running gear. With GM/Chevy Upper Mgmt all-in and supportive of high-performance and racing activities, unlike the AMA Ban years, a Zora Mid-Engine Corvette is inevitable.
Mark Reuss was previously recorded as saying their mid-engine would have a V8. I’m not convinced.
There will be a V6, a PHEV, and two V8’s……
Probably the same dealership that claimed they were already taking orders for the 2017 Buick GNX that doesn’t exist.
Chevrolet C7 Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter said there were no plans for a mid-engine Corvette on Autoline After Hours and commented that the price of such a car might not be affordable for the typical Corvette customer which leads one to think Juecher was saying the mid-engine test mules seen around GM’s Milford test track might be a Cadillac (and why the CT8 was expendable).
Yet JDN said there would be no budget for a C8 based Mid engine Cadillac till 2025 at the earliest before it could be considered.
Tadge has denied many things as he just can not talk about them. The Corvette program is protected better than any of the Stealth programs anymore and the best way to not talk about it is to deny anything exist.
Non you also need to recall Tadge has stated that the present RWD platform is about as far as they can take the Corvette in this configuration too.
Add to this Lutz has stated the Mid Engine Vette was started back in and around 07 as the next Corvette but GM had to change to an updated C7 to save time and money to get a new Corvette out sooner. The work has been reported to have never stopped on the C8
Word now as stated here it was based on the C7. GM has stated they were investigating how to make a Vette into a platform that could support front and mid engine cars. They may have just found a way to do that as it is not an impossible thing having a trans axle already in back.
My thought is There could be a TT V6 in the mix here as even in limited form this would help in the IMSA series as they are seeing more turbo engines.
My thought is how about a limited edition mid engine to go with the V8 version but the V6 is a cheaper street version of the DOHC Indy engine? Now that would draw interest in the car and also provide a solid engine for IMSA too. It is a wild idea but one that could be done in today environment and with the folks at GM now running the show.
Lets face it look at the line up of cars we have today and even the Camaro and think about how these cars would never have happened 10 years ago.
As it is now you only have to consider the Camaro is now coming up on Corvette laps at the ring so they will need to dig in and find more for the Corvette.
Extreme numbers take extreme measures.
Watch for things from a place at Warren Proving grounds called Area 54 as this is where the work is going on and people have been even using satellite photos to check what they are doing. The cars there have been Ferrari and even the new Mclaren. The Badboys Vettes are gunning for even bigger game and it will not have a Cadillac badge.
One thing I do know is it was not long ago I was at a home of a person that was involved in the Corvette program and I saw things that should not have been seen. Today that kind of stuff does not happen anymore. GM is even to the point they will put someone in jail for leaks if caught.
Now because of that there is a lot of silence or denial at GM and a lot of crap in the media that is way off base. The one thing for sure and is documented there is a Mid Engine Corvette out there. As for more info you just have to look around and put the pieces together to make sense of this. Also there is an Easter Egg dropped from time to time.
Read what I said. Vette only. Not a big price increase. Zora would be happy.