The new mid-engined Corvette arrived earlier this year following plenty of hype and a few hiccups along the way for General Motors. In some ways, the early 2020 release proved perfectly timed, as happy new owners were able to spend months during lockdowns enjoying some social distancing behind the wheel of their new toys. The result is that the internet is chock-full of C8 Chevrolet Corvettes doing what they do best—the only problem is that the higher-spec variants of the outgoing C7 can do most of those things better. Of course, the maniacal tuners at Hennessey Performance were eager to get their hands on the C8 and have promised a twin-turbo variant, though the company also wants everyone to know that upgrades for the C7 Corvette still fit into the workshop's schedule.
Track Day Fun
Hennessey just released a video showing a C7 Corvette Z06 undergoing some track testing with the HPE850 package installed. Compared to the new C8, with its mid-mounted, naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 currently maxing out at 495 horsepower, the C7 Z06 had the advantage of a supercharger from the factory. Hennessey's upgrades for the HPE850 package include a pulley system, and engine internal modifications like high-flow cylinder heads as well as uprated valve springs, lifters, and push rods.
All The Work On The Inside
Pairing the engine work with an air intake system and high-flow headers, stainless midpipes, and high-flow catalytic converters allows Hennessey to claim output is now 850 brake horsepower at 6,300 RPM and 715 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 RPM. A 0-60 mph sprint should now take 2.6 seconds on the way to a quarter-mile time of 10.3 seconds at a trap speed of 136 miles per hour. Hennessey's work, as usual, comes with a warranty for the upgrades, in this case for two years or 24,000 miles. Turn up the volume to full blast to enjoy the sounds all the work produces at the track.
Sources: Hennesseyperformance, Youtube