The mid-engine Chevy Corvette C8 is a fantastic sports car right out of the box, but add in a few optional extras, and it gets even better. No surprise then that nearly 90 percent of 2021 Corvette customers equipped their new ride with the factory high-performance exhaust system.
According to a recent presentation given at National Corvette Museum in Kentucky, a whopping 87 percent of 2021 Corvette buyers opted to include the optional performance exhaust system. A total of 26,212 examples of the 2021 Corvette Stingray were produced, as GM Authority covered previously.
Tagged with RPO code NPP, the factory performance exhaust system adds an aggressive exhaust note to the mid-engine Chevy, as well as a little more power and torque for the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine.
Rated at a 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque in standard spec, the performance exhaust system frees up an extra five horsepower and five pound-feet of torque, bringing the grand total to 495 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 5,150 rpm.
The performance exhaust system for the 2021 Corvette is offered as a standalone extra for all three trim levels, and is priced at $1,195. The exhaust is also included with the Z51 Performance Package, a $5,995 upgrade that adds in:
- Z51 performance Brembo brakes
- Z51 performance suspension
- Performance rear axle ratio
- Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD)
- Z51-specific front splitter and rear spoiler
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 245/25R19 front and 305/30R20 rear run-flat tires
- Heavy-duty cooling system
Notably, the 87 percent take-rate for the performance exhaust system on the 2021 Corvette is actually a small decline from the initial 2020 model year, during which 89 percent of buyers bought the upgraded pipes.
Now, production of the latest 2022 Corvette Stingray has begun at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
Does anyone have the total numbers of C8’s produced with the Shadow Gray paint in the 2020 and 2021 production years? What trim levels it was on etc?
Here’s the strange thing. Almost as many chose the Z51 track package which includes the performance exhaust. Then what did many of them do? Removed it and bought an aftermarket exhaust that’s even louder. Like throwing away money, and most of the aftermarket systems do not include any heat shielding as the factory exhaust does. One nice thing about loud exhaust, it tells the police where you are and what you’re doing.
That’s called a neighbor annoyer. Luckily my neighbors think it’s kind of cool because they’re older and can’t have a C8.
I have the NPP exhaust on my 2019 Camaro. It has settings through the screen program to default to four different exhaust tones or place it in Auto mode and the tone changes with the drive mode. What no matter what setting, the start up tone just has too much bark and at 6:00 am you know your neighbors hear it. One trick is push the start button for five seconds without the brake peddle pressed to place the vehicle in the ON mode, this allows the butterflies to close in stealth mode. It works but the start up is quieter but still too loud. In about ten seconds it lowers down.
It’s a fun feature, does have a good tone, no headache while cruising just I wish it had more control over it. The only problem is with a cold exhaust, at times, the butterflies vibrate when closing the exhaust ports. It last about three seconds. A TSB for the 2016 model year didn’t fix it but it’s not bothersome. It won’t do it if the exhaust is warm or hot.
The article is right about many change out the exhaust for more constant noise. A Facebook group for Camaro’s the young guys are always looking for straight pipe exhaust and a few cat removals, not cat back exhaust. It’s no different with Mustang owners.
No matter which exhaust mode you’re in, it is never as quiet as a standard exhaust. The main cool feature if NPP exhaust is if you accelerate hard, the exhaust opens with a deep throat sound.
My neighbor across the street has a Silverado High Country truck with the 6.2L engine option. It has the same distinctive a bark as my C8. Neither of us can start our engine without the neighborhood taking note.
Get the “Mild to Wild” electronic adaptor. Comes with a remote control fob. With it installed, you can set the tone / butterflies at any time on any Chevy dual/multi mode exhaust system. Try Hutch at the Grand Sports Registry ([email protected]). Tell Hutch that Black Rose Paul sent you. I have it on my ‘18 Grand Sport. It works.
..maybe they just want to annoy the neighbours once in a while…”hey look at me…now get yer lazy a$$ out of the old fart bag .you lazy bugger….
My neighbors deserve it, I have always dreamt about having a NASCAR Cup Car that I can fire up to piss off my neighbors and their cheap ass home made exhaust systems.
I am shocked that it is not at over 90%
It seems to me that the performance exhaust, when set to loud, is loudest at start, a real growl. I do not perceive it when
driving, the Charger/Challenger and Mustang pass me and they are LOUD. But someone said they heard me outside when I was arriving, so maybe it is loud. With everything behind the cabin in the C8, maybe we just do not hear it.
My add-on came with the Z51 package. I wanted the heavy-duty cooling as I live in the desert and it is often over 100F.
If I could have heavy duty cooling with no Z51 I would have done that.
Big deal, my Camaro has that and saved a lot of money.
Big deal about your Camaro, my VW has that.
GEORGE, leo and john, please be nice and only comment on the article, not other comments in a derogatory way. Thank you.
was commenting on that, the other clown has more than likely only dreamed about buying something with power. Nothing wrong with VW, is the owner that needs an adjustment, arm chair authority.
Ferrari on the cheap. What’s not to like? A V-12 spinning at 10,000 rpm?