Change is scary to some people, and that statement seems to particularly apply to the Chevrolet Corvette, as Corvette fans tend be very particular about even the most minute of details. For instance, when the C7 generation Corvette debuted in 2014, a loud minority was famously up in arms that the taillights were no longer circular, a design trait enjoyed by prior Corvette generations. And now, a similar situation might be brewing for the all-new C8 Corvette, which just recently debuted.
There’s a lot of things for Corvette traditionalists to complain about with regard to the C8, including the obvious move to a mid-engine layout and the lack of a manual transmission. People are even whining about the row of buttons on the center console and the exterior styling as allegedly being reminiscent to that of a Ferrari. But outside of all that, one particular trait seems to have people in a tizzy: the tailpipes.
A styling tradition that has stuck around since the advent of the C5 Corvette in 1997 is the quad-tipped center-exit exhaust. The C8, meanwhile, has reverted back to a pair of dual exit pipes, with two tips on each side of the rear end.
Taken in context, the change in exhaust treatment is probably one of the more subtle design changes of the new 2020 Corvette, but it’s one worth looking at, as a recent Instagram post from render artist The Sketch Monkey shows.
With the tailpipes spread across the width of the car, as it is now, the C8 looks wide, low, and mean. By comparison, the new center-exit configuration seems to leave the rear of the car looking a tad smaller and more condensed.
Besides the obvious design change, it’s possible that the reason the 2020 Corvette uses corner-exit exhaust is the result of functional necessity. In other words, perhaps there were constraints associated with space, cooling or aerodynamics on the mid-engine configuration that prevented a center-exit exhaust from being feasible. Or perhaps it was purely a styling decision.
Which exhaust configuration of the 2020 Corvette C8 do you prefer – the one with the tips on the corners of the rear end, or the center-exit one? Take the poll just below and share your opinion in the comments.
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Comments
To make it work in the center would add more bends and reduce power.
Example was the old 4th gen Camaro SS and Trans Am WS6. They offered a single exit exhaust. Why because it was worth 10 HP. The cross flow duel outlet actually hurt flow but it did sound better.
This is a case where if it is not broke don’t fix it.
Had one, no single exhaust in my memory banks!
You did not have the optional performance system then. Few did.
Have you looked at the Engine config? There are pictures now available lol. Would not add more bends, in fact, it would REDUCE the number of bends to have a center quad exhaust. so INCREASE power.
Would be sweet if GM could figure out how to do it but I think they said it couldn’t be done due to the new DCT placement.
True, the DCT is tall and the exhaust would have to be contorted a LOT to exit in the middle. But the outboard exhausts also LOOK much better and avoid a hot spot at the center rear. If you want to change something about the rear, get rid of those taillights and lower the “black line” to show more of the color of the car.
No, thanks…
There is no right way or wrong way. Do whatever looks best on that particular model… In this case, I think it looks best exactly how they did it. Even if they could run them out the center, with this body design it looks better on the sides.
Not all Corvette’s had round taillights, not all Corvette’s had pop up headlights or even single headlights, not all Corvette’s had center exhaust, not all Corvette’s had V8’s even. Chevrolet has a rich history to pull from or add to concerning the Corvette. It’s a great thing!
Well, if you plumb the exhaust out at the middle, you make the rear trunk shallower and I’d presume lose your built-in storage for the roof panel…never mind the contorted pipe routing and muffler packaging.
You would also loose your underbody diffuser or “tunnel” reducing down force.
A rose by any name is still a rose.. does it really matter where the exhaust are; it was a big stink when Chevrolet moved the exhaust to the center a few years ago as Chevy engineers gave a reason when they introduced the C8 Corvette a few months back.
The C 8 is horrible. The Chevrolet engineers just redid the Pontiac Fiero. At least the Fiero was an update from the Corvair.
Cars need to growl , or they are asexual. Battery operated cars are soulless robots.
Jeez. The C1 didn’t have center exhaust. The most iconic Corvette of all, the C2 didn’t have center exhaust. People need to find something important to complain about, like why it doest have round tail lights and hidden headlights. /s
My god gentlemen it exhaust Fix the intake cold air and supercharged maybe a manual transmission? Tail pipe location is that the topic lol
Should be in the center, all assholes are in the center!
THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULDA BEEN!. THEY RUINED THE WHOLE CAR FOR A SOCCER MOM’S TRUNK? THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT GOLF BAGS? ARE YOU SERIOUS?! THE ENTIRE BACK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEDICATED FOR THE ENGINE AND ENHANCING ITS VIEW THROUGH THE REAR GLASS, THEN PULL OUT THE QUAD TIPS RIGHT FROM THE CENTER. Forget about the trunk. They could have made space for the removable top maybe behind the seats? Anything to make this looks like a Corvette and not like the prostitutional offspring between a Camaro and a Honda Civic Type R. IF it’s too late to fix the 8, DO not F this up again for the C9. DITCH THE TRUNK. Center Quad Tips. Corvette Rear end with Corvette LOGO. True performance exhaust not that clunk of a tub they put under the “golf” trunk. CCCC’MON! This could have been a SLAM DUNK!
Center exit would be nice but they need to be round I’m having a hard time thinking of what other sports car has square tips?
69 Shelby GT500….
not a sports car Just Muscle….
Also if GM wants to go after porsche & ferrari then go all in save some weight and metal go out on either side of the plate like all of the “supercars ” do