Five Convenience Features The Mid-Engine Corvette C8 Must Have
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We’re now exactly seven days away fro the debut of the new mid-engine Corvette C8, and we’re not alone in saying that we couldn’t be more excited. Finally, Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dream of a midship Vette will become reality, bringing with it a long list of performance enhancements. But beyond all the engineering and technical nitty-gritty, the mid-engine Corvette C8 is still a car, and that means it’s gotta pack all the modern technology and convenience features expected of such a vehicle, especially if said features were neglected in the current Corvette C7. So with that in mind, here are our top five convenience features the mid-engine Corvette C8 must have.
1. Wireless Phone Charging, Dedicated Phone Storage
Plugging in to charge a smartphone is so 2014. We think the new mid-engine Corvette C8 should offer the latest and greatest phone-related goodies, and that includes a wireless charging feature. Naturally, wireless charging will require a dedicated place to store the phone, because as one GM design exec recently told GM Authority, “cupholders are for cups.” Hear, hear!
To that end, if the Corvette C8 features wireless phone charging, then it should also have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, thereby delivering a complete wireless solution.
2. Exterior Lock Button For Remote Keyless Entry System
As we covered recently, the Corvette C7 is riddled with a somewhat annoying issue when it comes to locking its doors. Specifically, a driver exiting the vehicle must physically take the key fob out of his or her pocket and press the lock button. Granted, it’s not a huge deal, but it still defeats the point of a hands-free keyless access system. Though we found a workaround and explained it in our video, we would still prefer a simple lock button placed somewhere near the door handle on the mid-engine Corvette C8.
3. Active Safety Features
Don’t worry, we’re not talking about a self-driving sports car. Instead, we’re talking about standard active-safety gear, the kind of things seen on just about every other modern passenger vehicle today and something that is not available on the current C7.
Things like Blind Zone Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Front Collision Warning… the basics, as it were. Luckily, we at least know the mid-engine Corvette C8 will for sure get GM’s awesome Rear Camera Mirror, as revealed by a recent batch of spy shots that show a camera lens on the roof. As well it should, considering there’s gonna be a thumpin’-big V8 blocking the rear line of sight.
4. Better Cargo Management
The mid-engine Corvette C8 will have superlative handling at the limits of adhesion – that much is a sure thing, as we noticed during the most recent video of the car going hard at the ‘Ring. However, with the engine and cabin both occupying the middle of the car, cargo room may be somewhat limited.
And though the Corvette C7 offers plenty of cargo space, it severely lacks when it comes to managing that cargo (that cargo net are simply not enough). So, we’re hoping for a better netting system that secures items to the floor of the mid-engine Corvette C8 cargo area. Of course, that may be a moot point given the available cargo will most likely stay an exclusive feature of the front trunk, otherwise known as the “frunk.”
5. Hardtop Convertible Option
The final item on our wishlist is some viable alternative to the soft-top convertible, but something a little more convenient than having to get out of the car, open the hatch, and take off the removable roof panel by hand – as is currently the case on the C7.
A hardtop convertible option would fit the bill nicely, although not without its own disadvantages. First, such systems are typically heavier and more costly than the typical soft-top, and especially the manually-removable panel. Second, with a hardtop convertible, there would have to be a spot to store the folded roof, which may be difficult considering the Corvette C8’s mid-engine layout. But that’s why those folks get paid the big bucks, right?
What would you like to see from the upcoming mid-engine Corvette C8? Let us know by posting in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette C8 news, Corvette C8 news, Chevrolet Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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First, let’s lose the annoying and dated thumbnail pics we have to scroll through to get here. Second, it would be great to have a real navigation system as standard equipment. Right now you have to buy the Performance Data Recorder to get that feature. REALLY? It’s standard equipment on every new $10K La Petit Shit Box in Europe. Whomever makes these decisions is an absolute imbecile.
First, what annoying and dated thumbnail pics are you referring to?
Second, you do realize that most navigation needs are being met by brought-in smartphone-based systems such as CarPlay, right? Last stats from February, I believe, showed the trend in people using brought-in smartphone-based systems interacting through the center screen in place of onboard systems as being over 50 percent, and increasing at a rate of 20 percent yoy.
…at least everybody is off the “Cup Holder” craze.
Lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, advanced cruise control with start stop tech, automatic engine shut off, cylinder deactivation for better mpg, the list goes on.
The C7 already has cylinder deactivation.
Not sure how the target customer base would react to auto engine stop-start in a Corvette… I suspect it will be ok, so long as there is a button to disable it. But given GM loves introducing the system without such a switch and then adding it a model year or two into the model’s lifecycle – as seen in the Cruze, Acadia, XT5, and new Blazer – I’m afraid it will be a slippery slope.
Agreed on all the other points! 🙂
Keep piling up the gadgets and you’ll end up with a 4000 lb GT.
1. if the C8 doesn’t come out with a true convertible, I’ll keep my C7.
2. A ‘T-top’ for us is a total waste. Storing the top negates any little luggage space available and
no open top experience when travelling. (my wife already fills up the C7 trunk).
3. I hope the C8 comes with a much improved GPS system– the GM one is slow and complicated to
enter addresses and won’t take you out of a shopping center, My TomTom is vastly
superior. Hear that GM?
more aerodynamic and lighter than the current Corvette. Auto suspension raising and lowering to clear driveways and speed bumps. High quality and high styled interior. Good visibility from the drivers seat. Quality build and paint from day one. Variety of interior color choices. High performance to ultra performance. The ultra performance can come later but not too late.
Having a Corvette is not supposed to make your life easier or more comfortable. Its supposed to make your drive time more enjoyable. (Faster)
All of this stuff is great as long as it doesn’t get in the way of laying down great performance numbers.
I have a 2014 C7, and I’ve had the car set to auto lock from day one. What is this about a work around. Is it a work around to read the owners manual and program the car?
The author is misinformed.
No, Jerry. Nobody who works at GM Authority is misinformed. But the overwhelming majority of car owners do not read the owners manual, corvette owners included. Hence, the locking situation is a common source of complaints. Go spend some time in a Chevy dealership. You’ll learn a thing or two about how things are in the real world, where people do not read owner manuals, e en though they should.