C8 Corvette Carbon Fiber Cross Brace Considered For Production
10
Sponsored Links
General Motors may be set to introduce a carbon fiber rear cross brace for the C8 Corvette Stingray through the Chevrolet Accessories catalog.
GM Authority spotted this impressive carbon fiber rear cross brace affixed to a Corvette Stingray at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The X-shaped brace appears to be made of gloss-coated carbon fiber and features a chrome Jake skull emblem in the middle. It also appears to utilize the same bolts as the factory metal bracing in the vehicle’s engine bay.
We had never seen this rather factory-looking part installed on a C8 Corvette before we spotted it at the SEMA Show, so we decided to reach out to General Motors for some clarification. A Chevy spokesperson told us the piece is a concept performance part that is currently being evaluated for production in the future. If green-lit for production, this would be an official Chevrolet Accessories product sold through the automaker’s own parts catalog.
C8 Corvette engine bay with factory metal bracing
Carbon fiber is extremely stiff whilst also being much lighter than comparatively robust metals. This brace may therefore offer additional chassis rigidity over the factory metal bracing whilst shedding some pounds. It also looks great, giving the mid-engine sports car’s engine bay a more upscale and motorsports-inspired appearance when the engine cover is lifted. As some Chevy fans may already know, GM currently offers Edge Red and Sterling Silver engine covers for the vehicle to give the engine bay a bit more flair.
The vehicle we spotted this product on was fitted with a variety of other production and concept accessory parts, including the Stingray R Graphics Package, which includes Corvette Racing Themed Graphics with Jake and Stingray R logos, Visible Carbon Fiber grille inserts, the Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects and carbon fiber side mirrors. This was the same vehicle that featured the red metal engine cover strut brace mounts, which are also currently under consideration for production.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Sponsored Links
Question remains… is it functional or just cosmetic. In either case it’s probably $1,000.
Touche On-The-Road. Do we need more over priced parts that are just different/pretty. Or parts that can add something functional.
I might be the only person that added zero cosmetic parts to my car. Just a pure 2021 2LT, Z51, mag ride, front lift.
And nothing else. all function.
Sorry to bust your exclusivity bubble but….. you aren’t alone in the zero cosmetics list.
But the carbon cross piece is pretty…. and those who say they only bought it for function, must be track guys extraordinaire! Right!
Nice bad ass looking carbon fiber cross brace. A+
Kudos for everybody keeping Corvette alive in these troubling times. Camaro RIP.
Would love to see a diesel hybrid.
They can’t keep up with carbon fiber parts now, how are they gonna make it?
This cross brace is similar to Speedway Composites. Their cross brace attaches to the shock strut tower, which is a much stronger area for attachment and is the source of the torsions / twisting forces on the chassis.
Here is a video on the C8 Chassis Brace. In the comments he talks about how is car flexed and trim was popping off, now with the brace it doesnt come off. This confrims what GM was admitting with this original post, that the body flexes less with a brace. This is design is better due to straight lines and direct attachment to strut.