The mid-engine Corvette C8.R is ditching the naturally aspirated V8 engine, as audio taken trackside reveals that the race car will indeed use a turbocharged engine – a first for any Corvette race car.
The audio comes from Sportscar365 as the car was reportedly completing installation laps before runs later in the morning.
After listening to the audio, it’s clear that the naturally-aspirated V8 of the C7.R is gone, but the C8.R still sounds rather burly. Around the 15-second mark, we’re treated to rip-snorting downshift that sounds really fantastic, too.
Rumors have pegged turbocharged power for the mid-engine C8 Corvette for some time, though the base engine will allegedly be an uprated version of the current 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine with 600 horsepower. As for the turbocharged mill, it’s rumored to be a 5.5-liter twin-turbo engine good for 800 hp. In the road car, a naturally aspirated version of the engine will allegedly be optional.
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Comments
Holy mother of God, that sounds glorious!
Actually it sounds like I’m hoping the 5.5L flat plane V8TT will sound. I hope GM can build enough of these!
That sounds like either a four cylinder, or a V8 with flat plane crank. Neat as hell!
IN 1985 Corvette racer GREG PICKINS DROPPED A 3.4L TTV6 in a C4 VETTE,BUT AN AUDI QUATTRO I 5 2.0TURBO put that package into retirement ! GM has put a lot of LOTUE ELIEGE IN THIS C8 R,SO IT WILL be rigid,solid chassis !