A Chevrolet Corvette C8 has been spotted
running road tests in the typical upcoming-model camouflage, in addition to
carrying what appears to be an emissions testing device at its rear end. Given
that the now-mid-engined model has already been launched last July, this looks
to be a new version being trialled ahead of its debut.
Seen on the rear quarter panel above the
rear wheel arch, and on the front wheel arch just behind the headlamp assembly
is an orange toggle switch at each location, which sources have indicated to
our spy photographers that these are kill switches to cut power the electric
motors. Given their positions, this could indicate the the plug-in hybrid C8
Corvette will be all-wheel-drive with electric motors at both axles.
Curiously, the headlamps used on the PHEV
development vehicle here are not the items from the production C8 Corvette, but
rather different units which more closely resemble those on the C8 test car
from 2018. At the back, the tail lamp setup here also appears to have reverted
to interim trial units, though the surrounds seem to match those of the
production car.
Sources also suggest that the
electrification of the mid-engined Corvette will place emphasis on performance
rather than fuel economy, and as such the PHEV model could further build upon
the internal combustion 6.2 litre V8 model’s 0-97 km/h performance of under
three seconds (with the Z51 Performance Package fitted).
Output figures for the plug-in hybrid C8
Corvette have yet to be suggested, even from the rumour mill, though for
reference the current internal combustion, naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8
model outputs 495 hp at 6,450 rpm and 637 Nm of torque, which are sent to the
rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as
standard. This will be one of possibly various versions, as Corvettes has
historically spawned numerous variant nameplates, such as the Z06 and the ZR1,
for which forced induction powertrains will be prime candidates. More of this
PHEV C8 Corvette can be expected to surface in the coming months, and for the
meantime its debut is estimated to take place either later this year or early
in 2021.