Yet another video of the new C8 mid engine Corvette undergoing pre-production testing has surfaced online, giving us another up-close glimpse at the highly anticipated American supercar.
This video doesn’t reveal anything about the mid engine Corvette that we didn’t already know, but it’s an interesting video nonetheless, showing a large number of C8 Corvettes testing in a pack alongside C7 Corvettes and a 991 Porsche 911. The C7 Corvette and Porsche were likely brought along for benchmarking, allowing the engineers to compare their latest creation to the proven and successful front-engine Corvette platform and one of its main segment rivals.
It’s worth noting that the 911 pictured is actually of the previous generation. The sports car was heavily revised for the 2020 model year with the introduction of the 992 generation model, however due to the recent introduction of new 911, it would not have been possible for GM to obtain one for benchmark testing. When the mid engine Corvette goes on sale, though, it will be competing with a newer 911 than the vehicle in this video.
Via Driven Car Reviews on YouTube
General Motors is expected to debut the new mid engine Corvette during a special event sometime later this year. The supercar, which may adopt the ‘Zora’ name, will ride on an all-new mid-engine rear-wheel drive architecture from the GM and is expected to offer a forced-induction, dual-overhead cam V8 of some sort, along with an automatic or dual-clutch transmission.
Additionally, GM’s factory racing team, Corvette Racing, are expected to field a new GTE Corvette race car based on the mid-engine platform from 2020 onward. The GTE race car may debut alongside the road-going version, just like Chevy did with the Corvette C7.R and C7 Corvette Z06, although this is only hearsay at this point.
Stay tuned for full details on the mid engine Corvette once they become available. For now, be sure to check out the pre-production prototypes in the video above.
(source: Driven Car Reviews on YouTube)
Comments
the worlds worst kept secret .is it any wonder 9000 corvettes are sitting at dealerships ? show the car already …..ugh
Yes….. if boomers can still afford the bare-bones entry level model on their social security budget to never drive thinking they have a collectors item. Otherwise, the market isn’t there for a $100k+ Chevy.
What this car could really bench-marking is the NSX as that it’s direct market competitor. Those who are buying Porsches, Ferraris, and McLarens are not in the market for a Chevy with lipstick the same way they are not in the market for a $150k Honda.
Yes….. if boomers can still afford the bare-bones entry level model on their social security budget to never drive thinking they have a collectors item. Otherwise, the market isn’t there for a $100k+ Chevy.
What this car could really bench-marking is the NSX as that it’s direct market competitor. Those who are buying Porsches, Ferraris, and McLarens are not in the market for a Chevy with lipstick the same way they are not in the market for a $150k Honda.
“not in the market for a Chevy with lipstick the same way they are not in the market for a $150k Honda.”
But Honda CAN and DOES sell the NSX for $150K, and the current Corvette can be spec’d pass $100K already. The market for it exists already, and nobody who wants the NSX or C7 badly enough cares what the price tag says.
There most definitely is a market for $100K+ C8, and there are Gen X’ers. Y’s, and some Z’s who will pay for it.
There is absolutely a market for a $100k+ Corvette…. however, that is a very niche market. How many NSX’s and ZR1’s do you see driving around on a daily basis? The reason the Corvette sells so well is because it’s dirt cheap…. and you tend to get what you pay for. A Gen Y or Z’er who has the means to pick up a sportscar wants prestige – it’s the same reason Cadillac is anemic against das Germans even though they potentially put out a better product.
My point it that: no – this will NOT “be a runaway success” in the sense that C1-7 have been if they do it right and stop catering to the jean-shorts -clad, white New Balance sneaker -wearing, retirees. The aforementioned consumer completely ruins the brand for potential buyers who do not possess an AARP card. No one at Cars & Coffee cares about your bone stock $65k 2LT Stingray that they literally made 5000 of that identical car that year alone…… however those are the people that drive the Corvette brand, figurative and literally.
If Corvette does the right thing and moves the car up-market – no, it will not be the same sales success as it has been for the 65 years because their core audience won’t be able to afford it… but that’s not a bad thing. If they try and make the car to the point that they can sell it for entry-level pricing of the C7, it will probably be shit quality compared to those it’s trying to compete with -albeit an excellent driver- and thus, those who would be looking at a Porsche, Ferrari, or McLaren won’t even give it a second thought.
“however, that is a very niche market. How many NSX’s and ZR1’s do you see driving around on a daily basis?”
As many as the market wants. It keeps the NSX’s exclusivity high, and therefore it’s market price stays high, even in the used market.
“The reason the Corvette sells so well is because it’s dirt cheap…. and you tend to get what you pay for.”
And that kind of thinking has to come to an end immediately. The C8 needs to get it’s price, not race to the bottom by being dirt cheap like a Dodge Charger.
“If Corvette does the right thing and moves the car up-market – no, it will not be the same sales success as it has been for the 65 years because their core audience won’t be able to afford it”
The C8’s success won’t be measured in unit sales, but in it’s higher ATP.
If you’re coming into the C8 thinking it should be a value-priced loss-leader that’s supposed to appeal to retired factory workers, then you have the most to lose. If that’s your idea of the Corvettes core audience, then GM won’t have any problem pushing the C8 up-market to get its due price because the Corvette should not be seen as a retirement reward.
Actually, I want you to correct me.
Just who is the Corvettes “core audience”?
Borrowing the slogan from the United States Air Force.. Aim High; this is always a good thing and it’ll be interesting to see just how close Chevrolet engineers got to the Porsche 911 or whether they managed to steal a win by being superior to the Porsche.
Is that Charles driving one of the mules? When they park the cars the guy with the long Curly hair ? I hope it’s close to an unveil
If you own a C7 and have owned any previous generation Cirvette, then you know what a quantum leap the C7 is over any other Corvette. Be patient “Grasshoppers” Corvette will do it right and do it well, all in a matter of time. I will have my order form completed as soon as possible.
The C7 needs to exist alongside the new C8. Does Ferrari do this?? Yes! What needs to be improved upon is the interior appointments. The C7 Grand Sport is already considered a world class performer and perhaps a few more ponies will entice buyers as well as an upgraded interior. The Corvette needs to become it’s own brand with various levels of performance and luxury to truly compete on the world market. Keep the C7 in production and affordable while elevating the C8. Porsche and Ferrari does this with it’s various models so why can’t GM? Seems logical to me….