Only those living under a rock would be unaware that the Corvette C8 is a runaway success. Not only is it the best-selling model in its segment (by a wide margin), but it has also tipped buyer demographics to a younger and wealthier audience. Since it went on sale in February 2020, Chevrolet has expanded the C8 range, starting with the base C8 Stingray and the high-revving C8 Z06, then going to the electrified C8 E-Ray and 1,064-horsepower C8 ZR1 track slayer.
But there’s one issue that’s plagued all C8 Corvettes since its incarnation, and it has almost nothing to do with performance. Rather, the problem lies with usability.
Corvette C8 ZR1 High-Downforce Rear Wing
To recap, the Corvette C8 adopted a mid-engine layout and thus, incorporated a two-trunk solution – one at the rear, behind the engine bay, and the other at the front, colloquially known as the frunk – in order to deliver some semblance of cargo carrying capacity. But selecting any of the large spoilers makes using the rear trunk difficult and somewhat problematic.
Corvette C8 Stingray High Wing Spoiler (5V5)
As C8 owners already know, the considerably larger size and mounting location of these optional wings makes accessing the C8’s rear trunk more difficult as the size of the wing increases. That’s because the rear wings are mounted to the rear lip, as opposed to the rear trunk / engine cover (which lifts up and out of the way when opened). So even if you’re particularly tall or strong (or both), you’d still have to reach up and over the wing to access the rear trunk in the presence of a large wing, which blocks access to the trunk from the rear. Though you could load cargo from the side (at an angle), that’s not always an option, particularly in tight parking spaces. And that’s not to mention that all of this is taking place while you’re trying to avoid scratching the body and the wing itself with whatever cargo you’re trying to load in the first place.
Rear Fascia Protector Accessory (LPO VTB)
The good news is that the wings in question are entirely optional, even on the highest performing Corvette C8 models. If this is bothersome or problematic, here are the wings and/or packages to avoid:
- Corvette Stingray with optional High Wing Spoiler (5V5)
- Corvette Z06 with Z07 Performance Package, which adds the High Wing
- Corvette E-Ray with Spoiler Extension
- Corvette ZR1 with ZTK Performance package, which adds the High-Downforce Wing
It’s worth noting that Chevy is ahead of this issue, offering what somewhat of a solution. For $125, an embroidered rear fascia protector (LPO VTB) is available as a genuine Corvette accessory.
So, if you plan on using the rear trunk in your C8 with some frequency, and don’t need max downforce at high speeds, perhaps it’s worth skipping the big wing altogether.
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Comments
Of course most people are gonna get it anyway because it looks sick
Get the wing
This isn’t a grocery getter.
It’s not a soccer mom van.
It’s a true enthusiast car.
Hats off the GM for getting back in the game.
Fk the German and other European junk.
Way to go American muscle.
Most of these don’t see the track. They quite literally are grocery getters and golf club carriers. Good luck getting your clubs into the trunk with the big spoilers.
Getting clubs into the trunk isn’t a problem at all with the high wing.
You get to eat lunch on the wing 10/10
Doesn’t the high wing obstruct rear view ?
I almost ordered this on my 24 Z51 then was told it does cause some obstruction.
Anyone else sick of the pop up ads? Thinking about just deleting GMA. Less frustration in my life.
How much are you paying for the free GMA content?
Someone already told you it did, why are you asking again haha
Since the damn wings are on constraint 80% of the time you have a better chance of winning the Powerball than getting a high spoiler from GM. only GM could offer a Q9I wheel and only buy six of them over 3 years. GM used to require suppliers to deliver just on time not just whenever you feel like making a couple
I always thought wings looked like a hokey add-on. Something the trailer park crowd would order if they won the Lottery.
But that’s just me .
I suppose that add on wings have their place in our auto design society but over the years we’ve seen them added to just about everything from a short bed half ton pickup truck (sheesh!) to various sports cars and even slammed compact “rice burners” and everything inbetween! Truthfully that old saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is more than appropriate here, but have you ever looked at just the basic design shape of the C8 Corvette Stingray without any add on spoilers or wings? I’ve seen a few C8’s with some really cool outside vendor’s wheels added, of course not the Z-51 option added so there was no rear spoiler or wings on the car, and I can tell you in the “right color” (which would be your choice) and with some cool after market wheels, the basic C8’s shape is pretty sweet in itself. Sure, it does not have the “boy racer” look to it, but as a great road going GT car, it can and does take on a different vibe that really shows off the basic body lines of this latest Corvette. I don’t need add on high wing spoilers, I’m not on any race track where they’d be an advantage and like many exotic European Super Cars, sometimes just the basic designers shape of the vehicle can say a lot about the vehicle. But…vehicle looks to many are like a good fresh cup of coffee, and as we all know “everyone takes their cup of coffee just a little bit different”, so there aren’t any “correct way’s” I guess when it comes to a choice of whether to add or not add a huge rear wing to your particular C8 Corvette, just say’n. Viva La Difference, eh Mon Ami?
Get used to it if you want the option package for performance. Get fit! Like Me with no gut and Fit. Ex U.S. Air Force
Chevy now needs to do a c 8 desert racer
Personally for myself I would order base sting ray no wing and build myself a very unique C8 Vette through the after market, I would like to think I am a very unique individual and like to own a one off so my c8 stands out from the crowd,no sense in spending big dollars so your c8 looks like everybody else’s,makes no sense,paint a portrait to draw in the crowd very exciting
If the engineers were smart, they would have designed a mounting system that could accommodate both versions. Then, on track day you can use the high down force version, and the rest of the time use the lower one so you don’t look like a boy racer tool.
It’s ridiculous. 95% of these will never see the north side of 150mph which my kia will handle with ease without a spoiler
Which Kia model can go over 130 mph?
Only when its’ being stolen!
I didn’t know a soda can could go that fast.
I have spoken to c8 owners without the z51, longer gear, no spoiler. One said he got 40+ highway. As a first time racer he ran 11.5. another owner got high 10’s with stock run flats and “a few tricks”. I’d go no spoiler and no z51 just on that.
This is a car you buy for looks. Few are daily drivers.
You are not hauling ice cream in this trunk,
Look if you don’t want it skip it but if you want get it. Few need it but most will go for it.
It is like the Lamborghini in the 70’s it looks odd without at least on the Z06. Most Z06 never get driven in anger, neither are most supercars unless Paris chips a nail.
The Corvette is to have only for enjoyment of driving, you need another car for a daily driver.so you will need some bucks.
Or, get the AMT Motorsport Wing of Power which makes REAL downforce, still allows use of the trunk, and is also mounted to the frame so the force is going where it belongs, rather than flexing your fiberglass trunk. Gonna have to saw you golf clubs in half though of you still want them to fit in the trunk.
I have the high wing on my 2022 C8 Stingray in which I occasionally track and I don’t golf. I haven’t had any issues. Looks awesome and performs well. A grocery getter is not my purpose for the car. I spec’ed it for a different kind of haulin’. đŸ˜‰