The mid-engine Corvette is starting to become less of a secret, and more of a worst-kept secret. The Detroit News has spilled the beans on the latest information from sources close to the Corvette program, and they’re saying it’s certainly a real thing.
Not only is it real, but it’s fast approaching. The unnamed sources stated a 2019 introduction date, with the mid-engine Corvette showing face publicly at a 2018 unveiling.
Most importantly, they commented on the future of the Corvette portfolio, and it may be bad news for purists: Chevrolet reportedly will only offer a mid-engine Corvette, with no front-engine variant in the future following the introduction of the C8 Corvette.
Interestingly, though, the sources stated the current C7 Corvette Z06 and Grand Sport (and possibly a C7 Corvette ZR1) would stick around through 2021 before signing off as the last front-engine, rear-wheel drive Corvette.
Switching to a mid-engine configuration not only allows for greater performance, but it may also help shed the Corvette’s elderly image. Tom Wallace, who was Corvette’s chief engineer from 2006 until 2008, said the median age jumped three years older during his time. “[It] scared the hell out of us,” he noted.
Further evidence for a mid-engine Corvette comes from former GM executive, Bob Lutz. GM’s former car guy stated the program was approved in 2007 but shelved in 2009 as the economy tanked. Lutz also stated the $800 million of investments into the Bowling Green assembly is a near-identical figure requested for the program nine years ago.
Spy shots of something decidedly mid-engined are also a good indicator something beastly cometh our way soon. For now, we patiently sit and wait.
Comments
If there is no C8 front-engine rear-wheel drive Corvette, it makes you wonder whether Chevrolet will consider the usage of composite body panels for the Camaro as it could drop the weight of the car by 200-300 lbs and increase overall performance without needing more horsepower.
You will get one of three things.
#1 a continuation of the C7 as a lower priced model that continues with the Sting Ray name along with the Mid Engine car.
#2 They will have a Mid Engine in a cheaper form and will span $70K-200K.
#3 the new platform will be able to be used as both mid and front engine.
These are thing GM has looked at over the last 9 years and what they chose we will find out.
Either way the Emperor is coming.
The Composite Camaro will not happen till a while after we get a full body Composite Corvette that is under $65K. In other words do not hold your breath.
It would take molded Carbon Fiber production to lower the cost of the labor of the product. As of now that is still being worked out and just is not in line for a Camaro price yet.
We will see more weight loss with a mix of materials like High Strength Steel, Aluminum, Magnesium, Plastics and even a little Carbon. So yes they will continue to cut weight.
Size also will come into play as that is where most weight loss will be gained.
I’m gonna miss the front engine, but I hoped to be wowed by the Emperor.
I wonder if it will be a V-8 because the present corvette engine is truck based and if the future Silverado has to go TC V-6 to meet the MPG and emissions standards that leaves corvette no choice but to go TC V-6
The V8 will remain. The larger trucks have less CAFE issues and will retain the V8 no matter what happens in the half ton.
3/4 and one ton will remain V8 options.
Look for a updated version of the coming ZR1 engine to make it to the new Mid Engine car.
What would be interesting is whether the folks taking the spy shots of the mid-engine Corvette test mule has seen any foreign made mid-engine cars which would give a clue as to what’s the target car Chevy will be aiming for; will the C8 Corvette simply be a mid-engine C7 or will Chevy engineers have higher aspirations with the development of a hybrid meaning there will be a variant that will be targeting Porsche’s 918 and Ferrari’s LeFerrari. (Imagine being the guys responsible for tearing down a Ferrari 488 GTB)
My understanding is that these corvette c8 zora PHEV performace will be going after these, Porsche 918 and I think these Ferrari le Ferrari. Scott3 will these displacement be smaller in C8 zora corvette? , because I think it will, and will these displacement be smaller in ZR1 C7? Gm will race these C8 Corvette went it comes out.
ford is only going to build their new GT for 2 years as there is only so big a market for a $450,000 hand built car. I wonder what the corvette price range will be ??? price is what sold corvettes to the working man like me who has owned 11 new ones. there are fire sales now on the loaded $100,000+ ZO-6 because they are not selling and the dealers have a large stock.
Well there is a hybrid system expected but I would not go as far as the 918 and la Ferrari yet.
It has been documented the Lower price Mclaren and 488 have been seen at building 54 where the Emperor has been quartered during day light hours as their testing has only been at night.
Chevy is not targeting the Mega buck fantasy cars like the Veyron or LaFerrari at this point. They are targeting the high priced volume if you can call it that sports cars that sell for under a half million dollars.
Now if the time comes the mega fantasy cars may be a target for Cadillac at some point.
As for engines GM has a history of not introducing new engines with new models. It has been stated it would still retain a small block and I would expect the new ZR1 engine would be a good starting point. They can prove the engine in the old car and then put it in a better balanced platform with less weight. As time goes on more power can be added with the engine or hybrid systems.
GM is not going to show all the cards at intro.
Right now I suspect they will be happy to out preform the GT at Ford at half the price in all parameters of Go, Stop and Turn. Add in better road manners too.
Keep in mind the systems in the 918 and the others are very expensive even for GM. While they may have a version of their own I expect it to be a little less than what the Million Dollar cars are supplying right now.
The only way displacement goes down is if they go Turbo. There is no substitute for Cubic inches be it in engine displacement or turbo charging boost. The rules in IMSA kind of lean to the Turbo at this point so that is something to keep in mind.
I would no over think this and look for a car that could kill a $400K car at half the price but no 918 killers here yet. Not saying it may not get there but not to start.
The car they will do will be compatible for Pratt and Miller racing in IMSA and that is a priority. But yet it will be a proper road car first and then a race car. Not like Ford that made a race car and now is sorting it out to make it into a street car. Note there are no street cars yet even though they are racing it.
At gm’s testing grounds they had a Ferrari 488, McLaren models, Porsche 918 model, testing against these c8 zora corvette.
with IMSA adjusting the rules to keep thing even there is no sense in building a production car to out run the ford GT as the IMSA will pull back the performance to even things up. the corvettes now in IMSA have less than 500HP. the big advantage of the mid engine is traction on the race track when it is raining. the road race caddys have this problem running against the mid engine cars but can hold their own in the dry. don’t rule out a TC V-6 as that is what the caddys are racing with success.
Because corvette is a production car first and then they build the race from these production car, not a prototype car and then just maybe a production car later. Yes I know about Cadillac racing, and I like these Cadillac racing team, I’ve watch them from these beginning and I know there TTv6 engine and these success’s. I’m just wondering if these corvette c8 will race a V8 SC engine, or have a TTV6 engine ? It’s been said that these c8 corvette will have two V8’s, PHEV system and TTV6 engine.
I did not see they had a 918. Even if true I would not expect a full blown 918.
As for Caddy it is the best racing program no one and I mean no one knows about.
Take anyone on the street and ask them who races Cadillac or Chevy and I bet you would find few people even know Johnny O Connell races a Cadillac let alone won a Championship in them.
There is little benefit of Cadillac building a mid engine car till they get their rest of their models in line. If anything take the cars they are running and elevate them to a higher class where they can really show what the sedans and coupes can do. BMW earned their image this way.
They also need to make the changed JDN has for the division as right now the cars they have and I mean all of them are not of his work.. That is where they have so much work to do.
They do have a great car line but nothing is where the present management wants it and they have to make their changes.
As for the Hybrid and Turbo V6 I would temper this a bit. It will come in time but to start out the car will be the traditional V8. We will see one model at first and it will expand over the coming years not unlike we are seeing with the C7 today.
You think the out cry was petty from some with the talk of mid engine you have not seen anything till they really do a V6. So before they play that card they need to prove the Mid Engine is what it really is to these people before you giver them something else to complain about.
Yes in IMSA they will play with the BoP but that is where the teams still need to build the best car they can and then not play all the cards. Yes Sand Bag as all racers including Corvette have done it in the past.
You want to see the Chevy team that is doing it right the Ken Black Summit Pro Stock team. They have the best cars this year but they are only running as hard as they need to. They have won all races but at the Mile High Nationals. Now while they are winning they only go as fast as needed to win. The others get closer they just turn up the power. That is how you race.
As it is now The Corvette has been winning in the past couple years on endurance more than anything at the 24hr races. As for the short tracks they still hold a even grip but the rest of the track they no longer hold an advantage like the used to.
You can be assured Pratt and Miller who also races the Cadillac’s are chomping to get their new car.
To be honest the key here is with a Mid Engine the BoP almost drives you to it. If you only have 500 HP you have to get it all to the ground. With a mid engine set up you not only get more useful power to the ground but you also have a lower car with better aero and smaller frontal area.
With Bop you have to learn to be more efficient with what you have.
a good friend is head of the caddy race engine program and if corvette goes mid engine they do not have to worry about the engine height or width like in the front engine car. that is why I believe the TT V-6 will be in a mid engine corvette as they already have it developed for the caddy race team.
No there is nothing wrong with the engine and adoption would be easy accept for the hear and durability on 24 hr races since GM has not used it there yet.
Or you continue to use the V8 as GM has been using in a Corvette since 1955 and rely on the durability and let things settle out as you sort the mid engine platform and let those in the pubic apposed to the Mid Engine embrace it as a winner.
The thing with racing is if you blow the whole thing up you have your hands full. If you put a know engine with a reliable winning reputation then you sort out the platform for racing.
Also the engine I think has to be available in the street car too in at least some form. Again I would hold off after the shift to Mid Engine is fone.
Also you must factor in that one of the reasons the Corvette is so popular at IMSA and LeMans is because of the sound. The people at LeMans gather just to hear the cars on track. It is a part of their heritage way back to even the Johnson and Greenwood cars as well as Cunningham C1 effort.
The engine is not the problem right now the platform is the problem in racing. To gain more advantage they need to move to the next level.
I ponder if Chevy may even use a version of their Indy engine in a high end production car as they could leverage the effort not only in IMSA but also in Indy Car. It is wild hair thought but not impossible to consider.
One other thing you need to consider is how much redesign would the V6 take in the ATS to work.
Just how tall is the Turbo V6 over the V8?
While the height is not an issue on the hood it is a issue on center of gravity and keeping the mass low. The DOHC heads do prove to be taller and heavier so the Small Block would have an advantage with less weight higher up.
Little areas like this are important in the BoP as they can restrict the engines but you can make up time and performance in the corners. Slower is the straights do not hurt as much if your cornering speeds increase.
ford has no problem putting a TT DOHC engine in their GT and it handles pretty well. mercury marine used to use BBC in their race boats but now make their own DOHC engines because pushrod engines in endurance racing have valve train problems as the lash changes.
Ford has no advanced two vale head engine to use either.
Boats do not matter as they are not going through a curve on asphalt with a weight transition..
I think you missed my point. the top end of the V6 is heavier and the lower you put the weight the better. This is why the Porsche race cars in the past were so good with flat engines and why Ferrari for so many years used a Boxer engine.
I just feel the V8 Chevy with the lower mass on a dry sump may be at an advantage over the V6 DOHC engine.
Push Rods and the DOHC cams both can do 24 hours with no issues. My point is Cadillac has never used the Turbo V6 in anything but the SCCA shorter sprint races. There would be some needed changes and testing to make that engine competitive along with much more cooling work. At some point it may be a viable options.
My point was the V8 is already sorted in the present car and it would leave Pratt and Miller just working to solve any teething issues on the chassis and no need to worry about their bullet proof engine combo they already have.
It would be one less thing to worry about.
Once the platform is sorted then you could investigate the V6 and focus all your work on the engine.
I remember the Corvette GTP program where they tried a Turbo V6 and a new Lola Chassis. They were chasing chassis and engine issues and never finished many races till they put in the GTO based V8. This let them work on the chassis and be more competitive much easier.
I think you should be able to see my point. I am not Anti V6 I am just willing to wait till the platform is competitive and then start the engine play.
It is great to hear the program is moving along.
Well these corvette c8 zora will be coming out in 2018 as a 2019 model, and these c7 will run until 2021, so that people can it used to these c8 zora mid-engine car, these will be many different models of these C8 corvette, this is all in these Detroit news.
I can’t what too these C8 corvette come’s out, this going to be fun. For 2017 I would say that these C7 ZR1 is going to race, in these GTE class, with a new small block V8 engine (LT5), these same engine that’s going into these C8 zora mid-engine corvette.
I think we will see these ZR1 C7 raceing next year with SC LT5 v8 engine, corvette is going to need a FI engine next year.