Over in Wixom, Lingenfelter Cars & Coffee is the place where Peter Calcaterra shot the C8 Corvette cruising in camouflage. Bringing the point home, the manufacturer’s license plate confirms this example of the breed is a pre-production prototype.
The mid-engine ‘Vette is featured towards the end of the video, and for a brief moment, it’s easy to hear the dual-clutch transmission shift quicker than the torque-converter automatic of the outgoing model. That’s right! The C8 comes with a DCT and there are no plans to introduce a manual option.
As for the sound of the engine, the quad-tipped exhaust system helps the LT2 sing the song of small-block V8 rumble. From 6.2 liters of displacement, the heir-apparent of the LT1 is expected to level up to 500 horsepower. The C7, by comparison, develops 460 horsepower with either the Performance Exhaust or Z51 Performance Package.
Speaking of the seventh generation, C7 orders will end on June 23rd as Chevrolet prepares to launch the C8 in California on July 18th. As ever, production will take place in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The home rule-class city in Warren County is also where General Motors builds the Blackwing V8 for Cadillac, an engine that’ll be adapted for the eighth generation of the Corvette.
Beyond the LT2 and twin-turbo V8, the C8 is supposed to get hybrid assistance. The most rumored opinion is an electrified front axle, which could ramp up the output to 1,000 horsepower. At that level of performance, the Corvette would leave the Ford GT for dead along with next-generation hypercars such as the Toyota GR Super Sport.
What’s most impressive about the C8 given the switch from front- to mid-engine is that the LT2 relies on pushrods instead of overhead camshafts. DOHC engines are wider than a pushrod engine, and ever since the original Corvette, America’s favorite sports car valued packaging.
Given the twin-turbo V8 and hybridized options, there’s no denying Chevrolet developed the engine bay of the C8 with wiggle room for a DOHC design as well.
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
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News