Mid-Engine Corvette Spy-Shots

[mmcartalk]

Well, it looks like the long-awaited mid-engine Corvette may finally be coming to fruition. Some spy-shots from Motor Trend caught one in testing.


http://www.motortrend.com/news/spied-mid-engine-chevrolet-corvette-caught-track-testing/

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Camo likely hides production-spec bodywork
It’s been a few months since we’ve heard anything about Chevrolet’s mid-engine Corvette, but these spy shots show the automaker is still hard at work developing the new car. A prototype was recently spotted conducting track testing in full camouflage.

The engineers driving the car must have noticed the shooter, as they came to a stop on the track and quickly covered the car – which was already well camouflaged. The camo is different from the test mules we spotted earlier this year, and it may be hiding production bodywork. As covered up as this prototype may be, there’s no hiding its mid-engine proportions. The short dash-to-axle leaves little room for an engine up front, but there appears to be just enough space between the cabin and rear axle to fit a longitudinal V-8.

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The model’s exact powertrain remains a mystery, but leaked documents suggest GM is preparing a dual-overhead-cam 6.2-liter V-8 for a Corvette model in 2018. A performance hybrid drivetrain remains another possibility. We know the mid-engine version isn’t the only Corvette in the works, as a front-engine C7 ZR1 is also expected. The mid-engine Corvette will be built alongside the C7 at GM’s Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. Production is said to begin by January 2019.

Here’s hoping we see the mid-engine ‘Vette start dropping cover soon.

Photo source: Chris Doane Automotive

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BY ALEX NISHIMOTO

 

[supra93]

Chevrolet Is Benchmarking the Mid-Engined Corvette Against the 911 Turbo S

The mid-engine Corvette is real. Yes, it's been rumored for literally decades and nothing has come of it, but this time, it's happening. We've seen a ute-based powertrain mule, we've seen them cold weather testing, and we've heard all sorts of info and rumors on what will be powering it.

We also now know what car the mid-engined Corvette is designed to compete directly with: the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

These mid-engined Corvette prototypes (there were three of them) were caught traveling through southwest Michigan with a Porsche 911 Turbo S in tow. And it's not just a guy in a Turbo S who wanted to follow some cool Corvettes around. This 911 has Michigan manufacturer plates on it, meaning that it is owned by a car manufacturer, not an individual. We're willing to bet a pretty penny that manufacturer is Chevrolet, especially considering Chevrolet has purchased 911s in the past for Corvette-related development work.

It makes sense. The Corvette is always, always, compared with the Porsche 911. Both are the premier, halo sports cars from their respective nations, have been in production for approximately the same amount of time, and have similar performance across the range. While the C7 Corvette would be closer to a Carrera S and the Z06 and Grand Sport would be more akin to a 911 GT3, the mid-engine model will go in a slightly different direction.

Benchmarking against a Turbo S implies that the Vette will be more than just a one trick pony. The Turbo S is a very nice all-around car; it's brutally quick on the track and effortlessly fast on the road. It's also $200,000, has 580-horsepower, and can hit 60 from a standstill in 2.5 seconds. Chevrolet seems to want its car to be just as capable as the Turbo S, and it will likely cost half as much.

So what else can we tell from these photos and videos?

These mid-engine Corvette prototypes spotted in Michigan are our best look yet at the upcoming American supercar. Even if the proportions have changed and the car is mid-engined, it is very obviously related to a Corvette. The nose comes to a sharp point, much like the C7, and the front end, though covered by camo, looks related to the current car. The rear end has quad, squared off exhausts, unlike the C7, these are pushed wide instead of centered. We can't tell what shape the rear lights are, but it's very unlikely that they're round.

The brakes appear to be steel rotors, though it seems likely that carbon ceramics would also be offered on an upper trim level.

While we don't know what's under the hood, we do believe that it could be a DOHC V8 codenamed LT5. It's an engine that could also appear, albeit in supercharged form, in the upcoming Corvette ZR1. The mid-engined Vette might not have forced induction, instead relying on less weight and better balance as the way it'd solidify its position as the halo Corvette.

Of course, there could be an insane version on the way, this is the just the start of a car that's been nearly 50 years in the making.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...-corvette-porsche-911-turbo-s-testing-photos/

 

[Gecko]

Road and Track still exists? lol...

 

[mmcartalk]

Road and Track still exists? lol...

Actually, I still have a monthly subscription...but I'm about to drop it.

 

[supra93]

Compared to the Aria concept

 

[supra93]

Mid-Engine 2019 Corvette Front And Rear Fascias Leak From Factory

Chevrolet's highly anticipated mid-engine Corvette C8 has only recently come out to play, wearing very heavy camouflage. Yet, we can now start piecing together what it will look like.

These two images were leaked by a Corvette Forum member, and apparently show the front and rear fascias of the mid-engine Corvette C8, after receiving a fresh coat of paint at the automaker's manufacturing plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

According to GM Inside News, the fascias could have been there to undergo paint quality testing, which would put the car somewhere around 12 months away from entering production.

One thing we can say for certain is that the front fascia does not belong to the upcoming C7 ZR1, whose air inlets are angled in the opposite direction as the ones seen in these images.

As for the rear, it indicates an angular taillight design, similar to the C7's, plus a center-mounted third brake light and cutouts underneath that could serve as brake cooling exit ducts. Speaking of cutouts, the rear diffuser might be properly massive, flanked by a pair of exhaust tips on each side - like we saw on this prototype back in August.

The 2019 mid-engine Corvette C8 should be unveiled before the end of 2018, with the first models reaching showrooms the following year.

http://www.carscoops.com/2017/10/mid-engine-2019-corvette-front-and-rear.html

 

[mikeavelli]

I would be livid if that leaked out. How is that even possible? smh

 

[supra93]

Leaked CAD Images Reportedly Show Mid-Engine Corvette Components

Are these the real deal or just an elaborate hoax?

Everybody knows a mid-engine Corvette is coming, but the members over at CorvetteForum got something of a surprise late yesterday. A new user with the curious name ZERV posted up a few pictures of CAD designs, showing the engine and bones of, well, something car-related. Those who aren’t used to 3D renderings like this might have some trouble understanding what they’re looking at, but the folks at CorvetteForum seem pretty darned sure this is the mid-engine C8 Corvette – or rather, parts of it beneath the skin.

Specifically, we’re getting a look at the front, the engine/transaxle, and the rear subframe on which the engine will sit. That is, if you think these images are legit, which CorvetteForum senior member firebirdfan adamantly believes. Among a list of observations the user gleams from the drawing are a very “beefy” transaxle, front suspension components that bear similarity to the last few Corvette generations, and an LT1 V8 engine.

We can’t quite pick out the same details that firebirdfan cites to identify Corvette-related bits, especially with the small size and grainy nature of the photos. But the engine does bear a resemblance to the current 6.2-liter LT1 V8. And it's also clearly in a mid-engine configuration with the upturned headers and transaxle clearly visible. As for the rest, we can only yield to Corvette experts who might be able to identify specific components.

Regardless of the details, the big question here is whether or not this is really the new mid-engine Corvette. The images themselves appear to be photographs of a computer screen – something we'd expect from a properly nervous leaker of info – and they conveniently show just enough detail to be interesting while stopping short of delivering a knockout punch. Then there’s the CorvetteForum user ZERV who originally posted the images. The name isn't a random choice – ZERV is believed to be GM’s codename for the mid-engine Corvette project, and the user is a new member with this post being the only one linked to the account. The original photos posted by ZERV were taken down, but not before another member uploaded them to imgur.

Did someone at Chevrolet decide to seek some internet glory by leaking legitimate engineering shots of the new C8 Corvette? Was the leak planned as part of a viral marketing campaign to generate buzz ahead of a potential reveal? Or is simply someone having a bit of fun by pulling on the heartstrings of Corvette enthusiasts? From our perspective, there's good evidence to suggest these are legitimate. There's also some evidence to suggest it was an intentional leak, as the new C8 could well be unveiled in just a few weeks at the North American International Auto Show. This would be a great way to generate some viral buzz before showtime.

In the end, only time will tell.

https://www.motor1.com/news/224438/leaked-cad-images-mid-engine-corvette/

 

[supra93]

 

[Ian Schmidt]

If the render's accurate, that'll be a home run for Chevy. I like the LFA-ish details on the rear.

 

[Gecko]

Are those renders or shots of the real car?

 

[F1 Silver Arrows]

Are those renders or shots of the real car?

Hey @Gecko, those are renders of what is purported to be the mid-engine Corvette (some say it will be called the Chevrolet Zora).

 

[supra93]

What to expect from the long-awaited mid-engined Vette.

On the eighth day, God created Mid-Engined Corvette. Certain Mesoamerican cultures offered the still-beating hearts of human sacrifices to Mid-Engined Corvette. Medieval Europeans believed that Mid-Engined Corvette’s horn could cure all maladies. It is said that Kublai Khan kept in his personal zoo at Xanadu a Mid-Engined Corvette of exceptional splendor. The phrase “mid-engined Corvette” means “goat sucker” in Spanish, owing to the thing’s propensity to drink the blood of livestock. Inside the briefcase from Pulp Fiction? Mid-Engined Corvette.

Mid-Engined Corvette has always been with us, even when it totally didn’t exist. And short of a few concept vehicles over the decades, it has never existed beyond the realm of folklore, the occasional conspiracy theory, and the fever dreams of automotive journalists.

But as it is written, so it shall be. Mid-Engined Corvette is real, and you’ll see the official, genuine article next spring. And no, Chevy isn’t playing any games with the terminology: The engine will be bolted between the occupants and the rear wheels. Those expecting a carbon-fiber spaceship powered by an antimatter machine will be somewhat disappointed.

Like the recent front-engined Corvettes, the mid-engined one will remain an attainable sports car with supercar performance. Surely some bits of carbon fiber and magnesium will be stirred into the mix, but Chevy will construct the mid-engined car’s spaceframe primarily from aluminum. And as in the past, its body will be made largely of fiberglass panels. To contain costs, Chevy will launch the new car with an updated version of the pushrod LT1 engine that powers today’s C7 Corvettes. We expect the mid-engined Corvette, or C8, to be a bit heavier than the current car’s roughly 3500 pounds, but it will compensate for that with about 500 horsepower from the LT1. And thanks to the increased traction of a rearward weight bias and a quick-shifting transaxle, it’ll be quicker than the C7.

Oh, did we not mention the transaxle? (Note that we used the singular form of the word.) There will be only one gearbox, and it won’t come with a clutch pedal. Chevy has been working with Tremec on a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic unit. The driver’s involvement in shifting gears will begin and end with the steering-wheel-adjacent shift paddles.

But there’s some consolation: That engine bay will also eventually host even more compelling mills. The first to follow the LT1 will be a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft capable of a Ferrari 458–like maximum engine speed of 9000 rpm. Sympathy for the transaxle, though, means the engine speed will be limited to several hundred rpm below that. That engine should be good for at least 600 horsepower.

Then, because it is totally unnecessary, Chevy will bolt two turbochargers and two big air-to-water intercoolers to the 5.5-liter V-8. The turbo engine will make about 800 owner-maiming horsepower. You will not be surprised to learn that this will be the fastest version around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

But hang on: What if we told you that within a couple of years Chevy would add a 200-hp electric motor to the mix? The twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 will abuse the rear tires while the electric motor, housed in what would typically be a front trunk, will energize the fronts. That’s right: This mid-engined/front-motor Corvette will have a horsepower rating at or near the four-digit mark.

To cool these nuclear furnaces, the mid-engined Corvette is going to need massive amounts of airflow. So basically the entire leading plane of the nose will be open to the air and packed full of heat exchangers. The C8 will extract engine-compartment heat through vents below the taillights on the rear fascia. Combustion gases will be fed through an exhaust that includes the familiar dual-mode system to maximize airflow and noise generation at high engine loads. There will be two tips per side instead of the four center-mounted pipes on the C7.

In a break from past Corvettes, the mid-engined car will have a couple of active aerodynamic devices. In the rear will be a conventional power-operated spoiler. Up front, the picture is a little more complicated. We hear that Chevy will use the new Corvette’s front-axle-lift system not just to clear speed bumps and steep driveway approaches but also to change the car’s angle of attack, shifting the aero center of pressure fore and aft, depending on vehicle speed. And—wonders never cease—the C8 will use coil springs in place of the old transverse composite leaf springs.

For an unspecified amount of time, the C7 will be built alongside the C8 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. We’re guessing Chevy will continue building the old car until the company is ready to start producing the Corvette Hovercraft.

https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...c8-the-mid-engined-white-whale-is-nearly-here

 

[supra93]

I didn't see this at first, but someone over at VW forum pointed out that the rear window on C&D's rendering was not corrected. From the newest spy shots it looks like the real thing will be more like the C3 Corvette.

 

[supra93]

User Zerv02, claims to have inside info.

C8 will be at NAIAS 2019
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c8-general-discussion/4227706-c8-will-be-at-naias-2019-a.html

$169,900, final price confirmed
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forum...on/4207277-169-900-final-price-confirmed.html

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Wow. I knew there'd be a premium for the mid-engine, but almost double the price of a Z06? Good luck with that, GM.

 

[Joaquin Ruhi]

User Zerv02, claims to have inside info.

$169,900, final price confirmed
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forum...on/4207277-169-900-final-price-confirmed.html

Wow. I knew there'd be a premium for the mid-engine, but almost double the price of a Z06? Good luck with that, GM.

Other pundits vehemently disagree. Comments by Bob Lutz on a circa September 2018 episode of Autoline Detroit and in the December 2018/January 2019 print edition of Road & Track magazine suggest far lower pricing for the C8 rear-mid-engine Corvette. The C8 over C7 premium might be as little as $5000 (sounds like wishful thinking), and reports on CorvetteBlogger.com and GM Authority, cite a head-spinning number of sources and price guesstimates, from a low of $56,000 to something in the $60,000-$70,000 range to $85,000-$100,000.

There's also talk that the C8 Corvette (tipped to bear either Zora or Manta Ray nomenclature) will eventually be offered with as many as 4 powertrain options:

- a "base" model with an updated version of the base C7 Corvette's LT1 6.2-liter V8, tuned to about 520hp and 485 lb-ft torque (vs 455-460 hp in the current "base" C7)

- a "GT" or "Grand Tour" with the 4.2-liter twin turbo V8 from the Cadillac CT6-V.

- a "Grand Sport" with a 5.5-liter DOHC flat crank V8 with twin turbos with 600-800 hp

- a hybrid AWD version of the above producing a Bugatti Veyron-ish 1000 hp.

Source: https://www.corvetteblogger.com/201...-gms-bold-plan-for-the-c8-corvette-manta-ray/

A video commentary on the above is cautious about this and advises us to take some of that with a grain of salt, and I agree. Four powertrain options sounds like overkill.

 

[supra93]

New Mid-Engine Corvette Rumor Seems Like A Big, Fat Lie

https://carbuzz.com/news/new-mid-engine-corvette-rumor-seems-like-a-big-fat-lie

We reached out to Chevy regarding this rumor and a spokesperson told us, "Chevy will not be making any reveals at Detroit this year.”

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Interesting. Given how specific the leaks were and the claim from the leaker that their source has always been right before, I wonder if this is actually a concerted leak-finder thing on GM's part.

 

[supra93]