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Apart from the power top, I assume the Coupe will look [mostly] the same with the top removed?
Felt the same about the ND RF, not a convertible & more of a Targa.
Apart from the power top, I assume the Coupe will look [mostly] the same with the top removed?
Felt the same about the ND RF, not a convertible & more of a Targa.
Yup. But you don't get the sweet glass engine cover.
Corvette officials wouldn't answer any questions about whether we might see this 5.5-liter DOHC engine in a future production car, but that seems all but inevitable. As we pointed out last week, FIA LM GTE homologation rules state that an engine "must be derived from a series production engine produced at more than 300 units and fitted to a series vehicle from the same manufacturer." Now that the production Corvette has gone mid-engine, a switch to flat-plane crank and overhead cams could be in the works too.
Although the 2020 Corvette Stingray is only available with an automatic transmission, it still comes with a number of interesting tricks to give the driver the most visceral experience possible behind the wheel. One of these is a quick way to grab the lowest available gear, providing an immediate burst of torque on demand.
To execute this handy little trick, simply hold down the downshift paddle behind the steering wheel. The transmission will then downshift to the lower available gear without over-revving the engine, making for a quicker, more-convenient downshift compared to clicking the downshift paddle multiple times.
For reference, the 2020 Corvette Stingray is equipped with the new M1L dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission, which was developed by Tremec specifically for the new eighth-generation Vette. Feeding the gearbox is the naturally aspirated 6.2L LT2 V8 engine, which doles out upwards of 495 horsepower at 6,450 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 5,150 rpm when fitted with the optional performance exhaust system.
As we covered previously, GM originally used a Porsche PDK transmission in the early stages of prototyping for the 2020 Corvette Stingray. In fact, the first eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette prototype, also known as Blackjack, was built from a list of disparate components, including parts from a Holden Ute and the Chevrolet Corvette C7, which helped engineers to rapidly get a workable vehicle up to speed.
As such, the Porsche PDK was set as the benchmark for the new Tremec M1L dual-clutch eight-speed unit currently in use in the production 2020 Corvette Stingray. The gearbox is wired directly to the shift paddles, and can swap cogs in less than 100 milliseconds without interruption in the flow of torque.
Indeed, for those drivers that still want immediate feedback and high levels of engagement, the 2020 Corvette Stingray’s eight-speed is on the level – especially with this cool trick to grab the lowest available gear.
glad you're enjoying it. Alot of insightful knowledge there, I liked the following
How the Fiero "Iron Duke" four cylinder built in GM Brazil engine plant had a conrod defect rate of 1 in 4 so a Fiero/4 owner had a ~62% chance of having a engine with a defective conrod
How when Toyotas starting using some of the same subcontrators as the big-3 Detroit, Toyota was dismayed of the awful quality. Instead of firing them, Toyota sent their experts to those subcontractors and helped them improve their process and production to improve qaulity (that plastic manufacturer in Ohio who made the dashpanels with the inconsistent quality)
Smith and Stempel drove GM into the ground, the GM board member who realized how awful the environment was the former Proter and Gamble CEO Smale who later became the head of the GM board since he looked indepth into GM's woes esspecially accounting and finance.
Agree with you that not much was learned by GM exec's as Wagner did similar actions as his former CEO's which resulted in his ouster.
Next auto industry book I wanna read is Bob Lutz's book
Well I'm still reading the book, mind you I am at the tail end of it due to reading other automotive books as well.
All I can say is nothing changes at the Big Three, this after reading DeLoreans book from two decades before and also thinking about the buyouts from ten years ago. The CEOs and upper level managers at the Big Three are a bunch of Prima Donna's about as useless as a politician.
It'll be an Absolute Zero day in hell if any of them got a penny off me.
Well I'm still reading the book, mind you I am at the tail end of it due to reading other automotive books as well.
All I can say is nothing changes at the Big Three, this after reading DeLoreans book from two decades before and also thinking about the buyouts from ten years ago. The CEOs and upper level managers at the Big Three are a bunch of Prima Donna's about as useless as a politician.
It'll be an Absolute Zero day in hell if any of them got a penny off me.
+1
Rick Wagner (fired GM CEO) definitely followed that mantra and other US auto exec's when they flew a small fleet of business jets from Detroit to DC to press their need for bailout loans (mind you only GM and Chrysler took loans, Alan Mulally Ford's CEO was shrewd enough to guide Ford through the crisis without a emergency loan).
Curious how Mary Barra (GM's current CEO) will do, I like her personality and she's also a electrical engineer (like me) so I'm rooting for her.
The Corvette switching to a mid-engine layout is huge news, but it's not the only major change happening with the car. In October, Chevy revealed the race-ready C8.R, now packing a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V-8 engine—a big step away from the pushrod V-8s found in the new road car and last-generation race car. A Chevy engineer confirmed the engine would make its way to a road-going Corvette, and this test car is likely it.
Facebook user Jim Lill shared a video to the C8 Corvette Owners group showing what looks to be a heavily camouflaged Corvette testing in the mountains east of San Diego on Monday afternoon. The car's looks aren't what interests us—it's the sound. Unlike the normal Corvette, which has a traditional, deep pushrod V-8 noise we're familiar with, this one sounds more like the flat-plane C8.R. It has more in common sound-wise with a Ferrari 458 than it does with any Corvette. Though Chevy hasn't officially confirmed it, the dual-overhead-cam flat-plane V-8 will likely be the engine powering the C8 Z06. In the race car, it uses direct injection, and makes around 500 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque, according to engineers. It's expected to make more in the road car. We're curious to see what Chevy has in store.
If you explored Chevrolet's C8 Corvette configurator when it was first launched last year, you probably came across options for ground effects body kits, available in either carbon fiber or black painted form (shown optioned on the configurator screenshot above). The kits, which include a splitter and side skirts, were recently removed from the car's configurator without explanation.
A report from CorvetteBlogger.com prompted us to reach out to GM regarding the development. A representative told us it's removed the ground effects option kits from the C8 due to supplier constraint. CorvetteBlogger.com reports buyers who placed orders for cars with the kits have been notified that the option is being stripped from their configurations.
CorvetteBlogger.com also says current inventory at the Corvette plant means some early buyers will be getting their cars with the kits included—it's just that the supplier couldn't keep up with demand to fill every order. It sounds like a lot of Corvette buyers want those aero kits.
GM's representative told us the kits are dealer-installed accessories, meaning customers who receive cars without them can still order later and get them installed post-delivery. CorvetteBlogger suggests the kits won't return until at least the next model year.
The carbon-fiber version of the kit had a list price of $4850, making it the single most expensive option on the C8 Corvette, just $150 less than the Z51 performance package. The black painted version cost $3850. If you really need carbon fiber on your Corvette, don't worry—the carbon fiber targa roof piece, carbon fiber grille insert, and carbon fiber mirror caps are still available.
Rumors that the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray lapped the Nürburgring in 7:28.3 may have missed the mark, but not by much because the official time is awfully close: 7:29.9.
General Motors snuck the time into the trailer of its documentary about developing the eighth-generation Corvette (which it will release in two parts over the next few months). During a tracking shot of the camera moving uphill toward the track's famous banked corner Karussell, the time can be seen overlaid on the tarmac, in a shade of white meant to make you mistake it for the track's infamous graffiti.
A GM spokesperson confirmed to The Drive that Corvette Racing driver Oliver Gavin achieved this time during the C8's development at the Nürburgring in the summer of 2019. The car used was a prototype equipped with the Z51 Performance Package, which adds larger brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, functional aero, and a performance exhaust that raises engine output to 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.
While we already know the C8's 2.9-second zero-to-60 time—which is comparable to hypercars from a decade or two ago—this lap time doesn't mean much in a vacuum. The C8's stunning performance is better highlighted when compared to the other rides below.
7:04.0: 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C7) (Unofficial)
7:13.9: 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C7) (Unofficial)
7:19.6: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (C6)
7:28.0: 2005 Porsche Carrera GT
7:29.6: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
7:29.9: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 (C8)
7:32.0: 2015 Audi R8 V10 Plus
7:38.0: 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia
7:59.0: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 (C6)
Despite a 155-horsepower deficit, the new Corvette nearly equaled the time of the fastest Camaro that's ever been sold, and triumphed over many cars that cost several times as much. Performance like this ought to whet your appetite for what the C8 will do when GM gives it more power in the form of the upcoming Z06, which is expected to feature an overhead-cam V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. Rumors allege this engine could produce 600 or more horsepower, and that the chassis it powers will brandish aero even more extreme than that of the C7 ZR1.
Seeing as a Corvette prototype has been spotted in what looks like benchmark testing against a Porsche 911 GT2 RS, we have nothing but sky-high hopes for America's affordable supercar. Until GM decides to let the world know if it'll hit it out of the park with the Z06 or ZR1, however, we'll get plenty of practice twiddling our thumbs.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the fastest Camaro did a 7:16. I'm surprised it's only a couple seconds faster than the R8 as that's not really fast on a track relative to its power to weight ratio.
7:30 is still respectable but I'm not sure what to think of this. The fastest Camaro is 14s faster. And the Corvette is 14s faster than a CTR. It seems odd that the performance of the Corvette is right in the middle between a CTR and a Camaro ZL1 1 LE.
^ This is the base Corvette in as much of a street configuration as they'll ever sell so it's not surprising that it's slower than a track focused top dog Camaro that has +150hp over the vette. Guessing there will be a Z06 and a ZR1 coming shortly that will beat the Camaro.
I am wondering if GM is sandbagging a bit here. This way when they launch the high performance models, we will see a bigger gap in terms of lap times. The 7:30 isn't much faster than the C7 stingray and 5s slower than the carrera s.
The c8 as far as I know is sold out so they don't need to impress people to keep buying it. They can claim a bug performance gap for the z06 and then get more people to buy that?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the fastest Camaro did a 7:16. I'm surprised it's only a couple seconds faster than the R8 as that's not really fast on a track relative to its power to weight ratio.
7:30 is still respectable but I'm not sure what to think of this. The fastest Camaro is 14s faster. And the Corvette is 14s faster than a CTR. It seems odd that the performance of the Corvette is right in the middle between a CTR and a Camaro ZL1 1 LE.
There's not much to think about. Nurburgring times have turned into internet e-peen contest ammo for armchair racers and keyboard warriors and trolls. It's just one facet of a car's performance and in reality 99.5% of the people who will actually drive these cars will never even come anywhere close to advertised times.
Sometimes it it used to discuss interesting performance metric when comparing cars' performances, but as already said...a base model C8 vs a tricked out top dog Camaro = not surprised. I don't honestly put too much stock into ring times any more.
I am wondering if GM is sandbagging a bit here. This way when they launch the high performance models, we will see a bigger gap in terms of lap times. The 7:30 isn't much faster than the C7 stingray and 5s slower than the carrera s.
The c8 as far as I know is sold out so they don't need to impress people to keep buying it. They can claim a bug performance gap for the z06 and then get more people to buy that?
I don't know just thinking out loud lol.
I think 7:30 is reasonable..
The ZL1 1LE is basically everything GM has learned and does right in a ready to go package that cares for almost nothing other than hardcore lap times.
The C8 time is with a brand new platform that it is basically a base model made to appeal to the masses and still be comfortable on roads for the old men with jean shorts.
Comparing the two seems a bit unreasonable. The regular ZL1 and Corvette put up near identical times considering the ZL1's 150hp/200tq advantage, so that's another way of looking at it. It's faster than the C7, so they kept the ball moving in the right direction.
Now the C8 and Carrera S I think are more of a valid comparison. I'm a diehard GM/LS fanboy, but it's hard to imagine Porsche not ever setting the benchmarks for Corvette's at the ring.... especially considering the price gap.
I am wondering if GM is sandbagging a bit here. This way when they launch the high performance models, we will see a bigger gap in terms of lap times. The 7:30 isn't much faster than the C7 stingray and 5s slower than the carrera s.
The c8 as far as I know is sold out so they don't need to impress people to keep buying it. They can claim a bug performance gap for the z06 and then get more people to buy that?
I don't know just thinking out loud lol.
In all reality, none of this matters. Most people don't know where the nurburgring is let alone will ever drive on it.
No one cares that it's 5s slower than a Carrera S just like no one cares that it's 5s faster than something else. The car is gorgeous and sold out for the first year so, with that, I think they hit the goal for the car which is selling more of them.
...in reality 99.5% of the people who will actually drive these cars will never even come anywhere close to advertised times.
How true. But it certainly beats watching red light to red light times...cars driving a straight line that can't handle or brake.
I've watched quite a few of these "ring" times and what separates the cars from the wanna-bees is the amount of see-sawing of the steering wheel. Some cars and their drivers look like they are going for a Sunday drive, they are hardly fighting the vehicle.
Don't get me wrong guys, I was just questioning the time set by the camaro. It's faster than the 7:29 claimed by that article. That's all. Of course that's supposed to be faster since it's the top dog in the Camaro range and it has no ride comfort to talk about.
And for sure, the Corvette has its own group of people who will buy them, just like how the ES350 always sells really well.
What's interesting is that the base C7 stingray actually did a 7:39, but that's with the car going off track twice. GM actually tried 8 different days to set a record, but every single time it was raining or foggy. Back then, it only had the Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP, whereas the C8 Z51 now has Pilot Sport 4S ZP.
Seems to be a common theme in the C8 reviews I've read.
Yea I think there was just too much hype going on with all the talk about a MR Corvette. In reality, the greatest part is its price tag and also GM developed as far as they could with the FR platform of the C7. It's always a tough task to be better than the C7 despite the C8 having the engine at the correct place. I think this is especially true for a car with about 500hp, and that GM, after all, is new to MR.
The other MR sports cars are also very good so it's hard to see GM being able to make something better, regardless of cost.
I think we will truly see the benefit of the new MR chassis vs the C7 once GM starts offering the Z06 and the ZR1 with 700+hp. The way I see it is that nowadays, a proper FR car can handle up to 600hp. Anything more and the shortcomings will start showing versus a MR car. It's sort of like how for FWD cars, 300hp is do-able as seen on the CTR, and they could probably push it to 380hp-400hp. But anything more and it's an issue.
I still think they somehow screwed up the overall design enough that the Corvette isn’t quite as compelling. Cars like these are as much an emotional purchase as a sporting one and in that regard the Corvette C8 inside and outside is a bit weird. It’s almost like they were given 80% of the design budget they needed and couldn’t make it work completely.
It’s too bad because the idea of a MR car with that performance in that price range is awesome.
Yea I think there was just too much hype going on with all the talk about a MR Corvette. In reality, the greatest part is its price tag and also GM developed as far as they could with the FR platform of the C7. It's always a tough task to be better than the C7 despite the C8 having the engine at the correct place. I think this is especially true for a car with about 500hp, and that GM, after all, is new to MR.
The other MR sports cars are also very good so it's hard to see GM being able to make something better, regardless of cost.
I think we will truly see the benefit of the new MR chassis vs the C7 once GM starts offering the Z06 and the ZR1 with 700+hp. The way I see it is that nowadays, a proper FR car can handle up to 600hp. Anything more and the shortcomings will start showing versus a MR car. It's sort of like how for FWD cars, 300hp is do-able as seen on the CTR, and they could probably push it to 380hp-400hp. But anything more and it's an issue.
Agree, thers was ALOT of hype going in on the C8 and the FR had been developed about as far as GM could take it. I'm wondering if the Corvette chassis engineers need more time to refine the chassis, perhaps in suspension design somewhat. A 40F/60R weight balance should be fine to work with so I doubt the overall chassis and layout are the problem. Perhaps, subtle but important changes in some components (spring rates, sway bar torsion,....) in the easy case to maybe more drastic changes (suspension arm pickup points, suspension knuckle design, caster, kingpin inclination,...)
First year, but the C8 intro kinda reminds me of the C4 introduction in 1984 where ALOT of changes happened from C3. It took several years to refine that chassis til it became far better than the C3 (which wasn't great by any means).
Originally Posted by charliemike
I still think they somehow screwed up the overall design enough that the Corvette isn’t quite as compelling. Cars like these are as much an emotional purchase as a sporting one and in that regard the Corvette C8 inside and outside is a bit weird. It’s almost like they were given 80% of the design budget they needed and couldn’t make it work completely.
It’s too bad because the idea of a MR car with that performance in that price range is awesome.
I don't think it's matter of cost factors, despite the low entry cost of the C8 it's got alot of technology besides the mid-engine (dry sump, electronic diff, DCT, sand hollow cast AL suspension arms, very large forged AL castings for engine cradle)..
To me, GM and Bowling Green need more time to further develop what's probably a solid chassis and drivetrain into a great car.
Yea I can't get over it's appearance inside and out. Just doesn't feel right design wise. And yea, it's a shame that it doesn't seem to be a very fun car to drive based on these reviews.
But for that price, many things can be overlooked for actual buyers. And for keen drivers, they can always wait for a facelift or higher performance trims to see if the details will be sorted by then. It's sold out for the first year from what I've heard.
I like the interior for the most part (the crazy long climte control strip is just weird user experience and ergonomics).
But the instrument cluster and steering wheel are pretty cool. I'm 6'4" so I'd not even sure I'd fit well in one either.
The exterior styling seems overdone, sorta like their goal was a Aventador as the reference but added alot of awkward lines and edges that don't flow well.
A better reference woulda been the Huracan and 488 as reference points.
And the chassis needs to be sorted out it sounds like from the reviews
10-03-2019, 09:55 AM
Apart from the power top, I assume the Coupe will look [mostly] the same with the top removed?
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glad you're enjoying it. Alot of insightful knowledge there, I liked the following
