Auto enthusiasts have been heavily pushing for a mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette. Known as the “father of the Corvette“, Zora Arkus-Duntov had designed several prototypes of mid-engine cars in the 60s and 70s. There are reports of the launch of a mid-engine Corvette once in every year but ended up in vain. Here is what we have heard about the forthcoming C8 Corvette release date, engine, price and looks.
C8 Corvette Release Date
According to latest reports, a mid-engine Corvette C8 will replace the C7 in late 2018 and supplant the current-generation car in 2018.
Expected to be showcased at the 2018 Detroit auto show, the production of next-generation Chevrolet Corvette (C8) will commence either in late 2017 or early 2018. The currently available C7 will be slowly phased out with the arrival of 2018 model.
As per unconfirmed reports, by the end of 2019 all the existing C7 models will be discontinued to pave way for C8 variant. It is to be noted that “8” probably stands for “2018”, although we don’t have a clear indication.
C8 Corvette Price, Engine and Specs
On the specifications front, the upcoming Corvette C8 will be equipped with a horsepower between 450 and 500. Moreover, the pricing of the upcoming C8 is expected to be priced between $80,000 and $100,000. There are reports that a new version named V8 will also be launched, which will offer premium features than C8.
C7 Corvette will stay alive
However, the currently available C7 Corvette will not be retired as such, but will be provided with a high-end final send off. This signals the possible launch of a new ZR1 variant, which will most likely be debuted at the Detroit auto show 2017.
C8 Corvette will be IoT-enabled
By 2020, the C8 Corvette will feature a hybrid “E-Ray” version with electric powered front wheels. It is widely rumored that this version will feature gesture based driving and IoT mechanism.
If things go as planned, C8 Corvette will be tested on the grounds in Milford, Michigan, sometime in mid-2017, along with the new Ferrari 458, Porsche 911 and Nissan GT-R.
C8 Corvette Nürburgring timing: 7 mins and 8 secs
Even though there is no official confirmation from General Motors, insider reports suggest that the Corvette Z06 went past around the Nürburgring in just 7 minutes and 8 seconds.
However, the current figure is more reasonable than the previously rumored time of 6 minutes range.
Meanwhile, auto enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the benchmarks results of C8 and would like to see whether it beats the Corvette Z06 or not.
