A prototype of the upcoming rally-inspired Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato supercar was recently spotted by our spy photographers, once again raising the question of if Chevy should respond with its own off-road-focused take on the C8 Corvette.
We first posited the idea of a rally-inspired C8 Corvette when Porsche was caught testing its upcoming 911 Safari, which is essentially a more rugged take on the classic flat-six sports coupe with raised suspension, knobby tires and other go-anywhere add-ons. As these photos prove, Porsche isn’t the only exotic car manufacturer working on a more off-road-capable performance car, with its Italian rivals over at Lamborghini now developing the Huracán Sterrato.
This jacked-up Lamborghini was first teased back in 2019 with a concept of the same name. The response to the concept seems to have been pretty good, as Lamborghini looks set to offer a production-ready version in the near future. The Huracán Sterrato is expected to use the same powertrain as the standard model, which comprises a naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 engine, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive system, but will incorporate raised suspension with softer off-road springs, knobby tires, off-road wheels and other enhancements designed to transform it into a road legal, mid-engine rally machine.
The Lamborghini Huracán and Porsche 911 are two of the C8 Corvette Stingray’s rivals, so with these developments, we have to wonder if a comparable Corvette model would be something worth considering for GM. This would be a very distinctive new variant that could attract some new customers to the nameplate, although it could also be seen as sacrilege by some members of the Corvette community.
Let us know what you think of this idea by voting below, and feel free to share your thoughts on the Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato prototype in the comments below, too.
Comments
If it means the corvette competes with exotics on another level, it could be well worth it. Sacrilege is just something new that in this case, at least I my opinion, isn’t really that bad
Front wheel electric driven as the awd
The real question is can they assemble a team and compete well and how much the cost. This will determine if there is enough return on this to make it worth while.
I suspect that this would not be easy. It would cost more than the IMSA program and the return would not be worth the cost.
Now if a private team wanted to do so that is fine.
You would only be doing it for Euro sales as no one here would ever hear about this. Also the Lemans cars do well to promote the car. I say just sell more customer C8.R’s.
I can imagine that an off-road version of the C8 could work. Lamborghini and Porsche have really big, heavy SAVs, and yet customers want jacked-up sports cars from these brands.
The development and testing is actually quick and easy to carry out and Corvette C8 Offroad customers also want this new variant. The body wheel arch components can be produced with a 3D printer. So Corvette C8 SBWE Team get started if not already done and bring a Corvette EV-SAV soon!
Memo:
There are and have been sedans in off-road design and now sports cars. Time moves on!
Interesting concept. Americas Sports Car having an off-road option. Probably not a market GM should go into. The return on the capital cost targeting a very limited audience as well as tying up the Corvette engineering and design team just to “keep up with the jones’s”, not a good thing. Let’s keep the Corvette the way it was intended with respect to design and use. Having a new ZO6 and other variants that offer street legal race designs is where Corvette belongs, not off road.
I think a rally centered vehicle could work for a racing team, but suspect demand in the public market would be minimal.
Yes, cause putting a hole through the bottom of one of the most expensive vehicles out there is exactly what your looking to do. Even this Lambo doesn’t really have what I would call great ground clearance. Leave off roading to BOF vehicles with longer wheel travel.
The wannabe corvette will never compete with the likes of Ferrari or Lamborghini. The Z06 I had was plagued with problems absolute garbage.
You are mistaken Peter, all of the paper publications and the digital as well have said that the Vette is the equal to any of the exotics, don’t believe me? Go to YouTube and check out the lap times of the C8 vs the Exotics at the Nurburgring I think you just might rethink you’re position…
Poor unhappy little Petey.
I think this would be cool. People have always built offroad vettes, I think it would be great to offer them from factory. GM just needs to hype it up.
SUV all the things! But seriously, this would be a fun concept/Hot Wheels style vehicle. It needs much more ground clearance and wheel travel that this Lambo though, which looks like a tarmac or gravel rally car only (do a real dirt road car!). Base it on the E-Ray when they finally decide to reveal it! Heck, race it for durability testing of the new e-AWD system.
Corvette sells because it’s beautiful looking and cool vehicle. I don’t think one corvette ever sold because it won races, ever.
As a C8 owner, though possible I suppose, it seems like trying to turn an apple into an orange. More power to those who choose to try, but I’m not putting a lift kit, long travel shocks and knobbies on mine. Then there is the AWD issue. It was too hard to get in the first place and I don’t have a youtube channel. LOL.
Why try to reinvent the wheel? There are already plenty of rally cars of lower H.P. who can kick the Sh*t out of a heavy supercar. Let sleeping dogs lie and stay in the backyard you belong in. The Vette is all American sports car for the street, not deep snow covered roads an loose gravel!!!