Remember the C8 Corvette test mules the carparazzi caught tackling the Nurburgring? As it happens, someone managed to film a few pre-production prototypes of the American sports car near the German racing circuit as well.
Quinten v. Stiphout Photography is responsible for the footage of the digital instrument cluster and the raspy sound of the small-block V8 engine under acceleration, filming the prototypes at the gas station next to the Döttinger Höhe hotel.
As you can tell from the screenshot, the TFT screen is fully customizable depending on the driving mode, showing a 6,000-rpm redline and a lot more engine-related information. As far as we can tell, look forward to readings of the oil temperature, coolant temperature, tire pressure and temperature, and an icon that reads “V8” to remind the owner about the LT2 behind him.
In all likelihood, the V8 icon is supposed to change into V4 once the cylinder deactivation technology kicks in. In the case of the Silverado 1500, Dynamic Fuel Management enables 17 different patterns for the L87 engine developed to optimize efficiency. In other words, the V8 in the half-ton workhorse can even run on a single cylinder when there’s no need for more suck-squeeze-bang-blow.
It remains to be seen if the LT2 in the C8 Corvette will receive Dynamic Fuel Management or Active Fuel Management, but nevertheless, there’s no other explanation to offer for the V8 icon in the digital instrument cluster. Speaking of the LT2, the engine is expected to develop closer to 500 horsepower as opposed to 460 for the LT1 in the C7 Corvette with the Z51 Performance Package.
Similar to the seventh generation, the eighth is also available with the Z51 Performance Package that adds dry-sump lubrication, performance gear ratios for the dual-clutch transmission, better brake calipers and rotors, dual-mode sports exhaust, differential and transmission cooling, as well as aerodynamic upgrades designed to reduce lift at high speeds.
Turning our attention back to the interior of these test mules, take a good look at the Sparco bucket seats. The Evo II GRP Light 8855 series is the company’s “most versatile competition seat and is available in four sizes to ensure proper fitment.” It remains to be seen if the ‘Vette will get them as an optional extra, but nevertheless, these babies are surely lightweight.
Shod in 245/35 ZR 19-inch Michelin high-performance tires up front, the C8 Corvette also happens to feature a pair of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. They’re on the steering wheel instead of the steering column, located at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, and chances are that Chevrolet utilized painted plastic instead of metal in their construction.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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