Early examples of the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette has been delivered into the eager hands of excited owners, meaning the internet has become chock-full of videos featuring boys (and girls!) playing with their new toys. But the simple fact of the matter is that, even in the current maxed-out Z51 trim, the C8 can't hold a candle to the outgoing C7 when equipped with the Z06 and ZR1 package.
But everyone has known for a long time that Chevy would eventually offer better, badder mid-engined 'Vettes—it was only a matter of time. And yet, GM has remained largely mum about what, exactly, future upgrades might entail. But a document leaked to Hagerty goes quite in-depth on the C8's future—even if it suggests that the current coronavirus pandemic might result in significant production delays.
More To Come
The internet's rumor mill has been churning with sightings of hybrid Corvettes, flat-plane crankshaft Corvettes, all-wheel-drive Corvettes, and more. But the Hagerty leak essentially lays all the speculation to rest. It turns out, amid the pandemic, GM’s executive director in charge of program management, Michelle Braun, ordered all car and truck development halted. The official hold order, however, released previously unknown details—including the Corvette's original planned timeline out to 2025.
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Pretty much anyone who has a new C8 in their garage might want to hold off from paying attention, because things are about to get very serious. To put the numbers in context, the current C8 Z51 uses the LT2 V8, which is a 6.2-liter, 16-valve unit with up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. But for 2022, the Z06 package was supposed to debut with a 5.5-liter, DOHC, 32-valve V8 producing 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. In 2023, the Corvette Grand Sport revival promised to employ the LT2 with 600 hp and 500 lb-ft.
Model year 2024 is slated to add a twin-turbo setup to the LT7 to crank out 850 hp and 825 lb-ft in the ZR1. And 2025 was intended for the release of the Corvette ZORA, with a hybrid-augmented version of the ZR1's engine producing 1,000 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of twist. But current owners can, at least, console themselves that with delays on the horizon, the dates may be pushed back significantly.
Sources: Hagerty