Ever since the 2020 Corvette C8 debuted back in July, we’ve been pouring over all the details we can get our hands on, from the atmospheric 6.2L LT2 V8 engine, to the new mid-engine design, to the fresh electronic systems. Now, a new report is circling the web that suggests the C8 has set a lap time of 7:28.30 around the famous Nürburgring racetrack. However, we’re not buying it.
First and foremost, General Motors very infrequently announces its lap times from the ‘Ring. While the automaker does conduct performance testing there every so often, the idea that GM would be striving to set an official time with the 2020 Corvette C8 seems off the mark.
What’s more, the supposed 2020 Corvette Nürburgring lap time is very light on details. What were the track conditions? Is the time a compilation of best sector runs, or a single run start to finish? Standing start or flying start? Was the test vehicle 100 percent factory, or modified in some way, such as for safety, or perhaps even for performance? What tires were used? How much did the car weigh?
The questions go on and on, but unfortunately, none are actually answered by the report. What’s more, without those details answered, the claimed time of 7:28.30 doesn’t really tell us anything at all. There are so many variables at play here, it’s hard to gauge what it actually means.
Here’s another reason we’re scratching our heads here. Back in 2017, GM announced that the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE set an official time of 7:16:04 around the Nordschleife, one of the few times GM actually posted an official Nürburgring lap time. That would make the claimed 2020 Corvette C8 time more than 12 seconds slower.
One possibility is that GM did indeed set a time with C8, but was unhappy with the results, perhaps due to unfavorable conditions or something similar. Back in October, we reported on rumors that GM had some kind of time in hand, so perhaps that isn’t too far from the truth. Still, something doesn’t add up here, and if the 7:28.30 time is actually real, we need details before drawing any conclusions.
Nevertheless, we’d love it if GM dropped an official Nürburgring lap time for the 2020 Corvette C8. Given the new platform and prodigious power on tap, it’s sure to be impressive, and considering the bragging rights involved, especially among mid-engine supercar owners, it makes sense to put a number out there. We’re just not convinced this 7:28.30 is the number.
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Comments
Agreed. Tho the ring is a huge horsepower track . 495 hp is just going to kill the C8 laptime. 7:22 was the time for the C6-Z06. The C6 was much lighter than the C8 (370lbs) and 505 hp. I just can’t believe that the C8 was six slower than the C6 Z06, not with all the mid engine advancements in the last decade . Tuning to the chassis and motor ….. It’s reveal date is still my guess. 7:18 19
But what the hell do i know?! Lol
The ZL1 has 155hp more on super sticky tires. This C8 Z51 lap time is perfectly believable and realistic.
The C6 Z06 (Z07 package) time is a nearly 500lb lighter car also with softer tires.
Santa baby! I hoping for a base C8 hybrid!
Santa baby! Carbon ceramic brakes please!
Santa cutie! Torque vectoring on each wheel!
Santa baby! More balance to the front, eliminating any understeer! Santa baby! Please price this between 75k to under 80k
Santa baby, ive been (not totally terrible) pretty good. Merry Christmas everyone!
A ZL1 1le has stickier tires, a lot more power, more aero and a suspension that has no give as it was designed for a race track.
Puting the engine in the back doesn’t immediately mean the Corvette is faster than every front engine car.
The times should be close to the out going Z06.
With the next model it will dip into the 6 min mark.
GM will keep quiet till they break the 7 min mark.
Moving the engine has improved the car but it is still down on what power it needs to break 7.
The new c8 z51 is barely quicker than the outgoing grandsport. Asking it to be almost as quick as the c7 z06 is kind of asking for a lot. Just because the engine has moved rearward. Doesn’t automatically mean that its going to be quicker than the previous models. The only real benefit it gained moving the engine rearward was the acceleration from a stop. Other than that everything has essentially remained the same regarding performance metrics. The interior is much improved and so is the tech that it houses. Performance is essentially the same with the exception of the acceleration from a stop.
Whatever the time, it has to be slower than the C7 Corvette Z06 or C7 Corvette ZR1 because despite the C9’s ability to get off the line quicker, all the extra weight comes back to bite it especially as the C7 Corvette Z06 and C7 Corvette ZR1 have more horsepower to work with.
Most likely they were just getting a baseline to produce a higher performance model, which is why the numbers are not posted and there is no in car lap video.
Usually they provide a reputable professional race car driver to obtain a “record” lap time.
Clearly this was just engineers gathering data.
I’ll still walk all over most Corvettes on any race day…
2018 ZL1 slightly tweaked and tuned just over 700 hp.
1320 ft. Or road track I’ll get the ???
I’ll be the one spraying the champagne !!!
Good luck Corvette… you’ll need it…
Merry Christmas
“ I’ll still walk all over most Corvettes on any race day…”
It’s typically guys who say this that have no clue what they’re talking about.
As for the Nurburgring time reported – it’s wrong. There were various runs and some were faster than this one by several seconds. The time reported was a base run set in the summer, but not the fastest time. If GM didn’t report it, take it with a big grain of salt.
At least you quoted me correctly,
“Most Corvettes” GM had no problem posting ZL1 times,
Chances are I’ve been racing more years than you are old…
Merry Christmas, mikey.
“Chances are I’ve been racing more years than you are old…”
Maybe. But who cares if you suck at it?
Mikey, have you always been this disrespectful or just something new for you.
You are tactless and no truth to your statements.
Get on a blog like a troll make you feel proud of yourself mikey ?
You must be a used car salesperson.
Have a Happy New year. Mikey.
???
The ring is 20km long and very hard to string together every corner perfectly. A few seconds difference is meaningless.
It seems they’ve tuned it to be very stable, which isn’t the fastest way around the track. Most buyers won’t care or notice, and it’s safer.
I think GM was conservative putting only 500 hp In a next generation vette. This is a statement car and while there are other models, this is the car that makes first immpresions and should have gobs of power.
6 seconds slower that the C6 Z06 LS7 is impressive. Put the flat plane crank with twin turbos and the C8 Z06 might break 7 seconds.
I see that ALFA Romeo Giulia Q just set a new record of 7min 32 seconds bettering its old record recently. This was an answer to Porsche beating the Giulia’s old record. It is amazing that a 4 door sedan can go this fast and if the new Vette time is accurate it is only 3 seconds faster. The cars today are crazy fast with technology helping a lot. By the way the old ALFA time was with a manual trans….the new one with an automatic. That ALFA has 504 hp so in same ball park as the base Vette.
Of course this means nothing in the real world we drive in….but fun bragging rights I guess.
It’s funny how technology works as I seen a video where a tesla model 3 performance barely beat a alfa giulia in a race , of course a straight line race but at the nurburgring the Tesla was over a minute slower than the giulia? It’s funny how one car is engineered for straight line performance and the other extreme driving conditions.