Big Changes For Corvette!!!
I was sitting here this morning reading RD over my morning coffee when I came across the photo that serves as this articles opening graphic. David DeGreef (@DucMan888) had posted it in a thread titled C8.R Spied at Road America. When I first saw the picture, my old eyes banged hard against my tri-focals. Over the past couple years there has been a lot of speculation about the next generation 'Vette, whether or not the new car would be mid-engined ... and if Chevrolet would release a car that is both road-going AND a racer, similar to the current Ford GT. The answers to these questions appear to have been answered. The new car will be mid-engined using a V8 and twin-turbocharged according to various media outlets including Road&Track (HERE). QUOTE: "New Chevrolet Corvette C8.R photos supplied to RoadandTrack.com reveal the brand’s next-generation road car and GT Le Mans racer as an interesting approach to mid-engine design."
A couple of other media outlets have articles and renderings speculating about this car.
Motor1.com (read article HERE) offered the following illustration:
While Car & Driver put this car on it's cover:
Apart from the scalloped coves on the sides which began in 1956 and went away in 1963, I really don't see any strong visual references to past Corvettes, but your mileage may vary. Also, I don't see anything written in stone from Chevy, so I would expect some changes ... and possibly, some curveballs.
A mid-engined layout will definitely improve a cars handling, as Porsche admitted when it changed the engine position in it's GTLM racer this past year in order to become competitive in it's class. Corvette has always been about big rumbling V8's mounted in the front driving the rear wheels. Perhaps the Bow-tie guys figured that they had pushed that layout just about as far as they could.
The same could be said about the turbos. While there have been turbo Vettes before, they were always tuner specials, like the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette (1987 to 1991 ... as I recall) among others. GM itself never put a turbocharger in a Vette.
Some media folks are talking about a possible change to a V-6 engine. Ford did so with its GT and stunned a lot of V8 fans. There hasn't been a six cylinder in a 'Vette since 1953 and I'm not sure how hard-core Vette buyers are gonna handle that.
I am really surprised that the aero treatment of this Vette's body shape is not as ... aggressive, I guess is the right word, as the work done on the Ford GT. I'm certain that GM wind tunneled the crap out of the car, but not very much of the work is readily seen. Methinks there is more to be seen under the surface!
I'm guessing that the laws of physics (as well as environmental and fuel mileage concerns) are demanding changes. You can only push CAFE regulations just so far.
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What do you think of the changes coming to the Corvette? There's a lot here to consider, mid-engined, twin-turbos ... and a possible V-6 engine. Let us know what you think about it in the comments section below!
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