Waiting for the C8 mid-engined Corvette has been a masterclass in patience. Rumors of such a vehicle date back decades. General Motors and Chevrolet, for years, have denied such a vehicle in development. However, thanks to an abundance of spy photos in the last year, along with several patent and trademark filings by the Detroit automaker, we know the C8 mid-engined Corvette is coming. What we don’t know is when. Until we get official word from Chevy, we have to rely on spy photos and renderings to satiate our appetite. Thankfully, we have a quick, 360-degree rendering video that gives us our best look yet at the new Corvette.Â
While the engine moves from in front of the passenger compartment to behind it, the C8 Corvette’s styling is still distinctly Corvette. The rendering gives the mid-engined Corvette unique styling while maintaining brand cohesion. The rendering shows lighting elements that wouldn’t look out of place on a front-engined Corvette. Design lines and creases help sculpt the mid-engined chassis into an attractive sports car.Â
Yes, renderings like this are great to look at; however, at the end of the day, they are still just renderings—an imagining of a future automotive product. What we see here could be—and likely will be— different from what we get. Obviously, whatever Chevy unveils will be mid-engined. It’s the details that matter.Â
GM is keeping mid-engine Corvette deals under lock and key, but that doesn’t mean we’re clueless about what’s coming. We’re expecting the mid-engined Corvette to use a DOHC V8 engine—possibly related to the Cadillac Blackwing LTA mill—as opposed to a Small Block pushrod V8. The engine will likely pair with a dual-clutch gearbox though there could be a manual gearbox with a clutch-by-wire setup.
Sadly, we aren’t getting an official reveal anytime soon. Chevy has confirmed there will be no reveals from the team at the 2019 North American International Auto Show next month. The New York show would be a worthy contender for such a reveal, or Chevy could host a private event next year, gathering journalists around the world to focus solely on the mid-engined Corvette. The company did the same when it unveiled the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. We’ll have to wait and see.Â
Stay tuned to GMAuthority as we continue to break the latest mid-engine Corvette news and news on all other GM products as they happen.
Comments
too much camaro in the back and the front looks like a minor evolution of the c7.
for a car that has been rumored/speculated/anticipated for 50 years or so, this would be a let down if accurate.
Well from a styling stand point I think they struck a good balance.m
It has what it needs to be Mid Engine with out losing that unmistakable look of being a Corvette on sight.
When it arrives half will love it and half will hate it for six months. Then when they see them on the road 40% of the haters will mellow.
The design will evolve from here and become even more defind.
As for the past designs we have seen. None were production ready by any means. Also they did not have to meet regulations of today either.
One thing we all need to take in is this car will look much different and better in person. Photographs just do not catch styling well today. A good number of cars in CGI just do not represent all dimensional aspects of a model as well as they do in person.
I’m not seeing that big center front grille under the camo, not that it matters, since it will be so low and canted forward, only small animals will see much of it.
I don’t see those unfortunate inner pair of converging creases on the hood, either.
THat rear window covering the engine seems VERY smal.
Kick-ass awesome so far! Chevrolet, do not muck this baby up like you did on the 2019 camaro! Thankyou!
“The design will evolve from here” _ Not likely. There will only be one generation of the mid-engine Chevy sportscar, unless it evolves into a Super EV.
Time is running out for ICE performance vehicles.