Chevrolet engineers and drivers have been really
busy for the last two weeks testing the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette C8 at
the Nürburgring. We thought you might want to take a look at how the mid-engine
model looks like alongside the current C7 generation. The two cars were spotted
driving together, providing a good opportunity for a real-life visual
comparison.
The difference in proportions is clear, giving a
strong indication of where the engine is located. While the C7 has a long hood
and a cabin that mostly occupies the rear half of the vehicle, the C8 is a
totally different beast. If we didn’t know there was a Corvette under that camouflage
foil, we’d bet our money on it being an Italian supercar.
The hood is much shorter and, consequently, the cab
is brought forward compared to the C7. Also, the massive side air intakes
located behind the doors represent another departure from the front-engine
Corvettes we’re used to.
We’re dying to see what the mid-engine Corvette
looks without the full body wrap, and we assume you are too. Chances are we’ll
get to see it in all its uncensored glory sometime next year — possibly at the
Detroit Auto Show in January.
According to reports, at the heart of the C8
Corvette will be an upgraded version of the 6.2-liter LT1 V8 delivering around
500 horsepower. However, rumor has it Chevrolet will also offer a new
flat-plane crank V8 in both naturally aspirated and twin-turbo versions, with
600 hp and 800 hp, respectively.
There are also rumors about Chevy adding a
front-mounted 200-hp electric motor to the aforementioned twin-turbo V8 for a
total of 1,000 hp and all-wheel drive. Regardless of the engine fitted to the
C8 prototypes spied at the Nürburgring, they do go like crazy: just check out
the gallery to see the mid-engine Vette in full-attack mode.
