Chevrolet Corvette (C8)


The Chevrolet Corvette is the eighth generation of the Corvette sports car manufactured by American automobile manufacturer Chevrolet. It is the first rear mid-engine Corvette since the model's introduction in 1953, differing from the traditional front mid-engine design started in 1963. The C8 was announced in April 2019, and the coupe made its official debut on July 18, 2019, in Tustin, California. The convertible made its debut in October 2019 during a media event at the Kennedy Space Center to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Production officially began on February 3, 2020, delayed by the 2019 General Motors strike.
Two variants of the C8 would go racing globally. The base model Corvette would serve as the basis for the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, debuting in July 2019, later going on to win the 2020 and 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championships and the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship. It would later be succeeded by the Z06-based Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2024, following the discontinuation of the LM GTE class.

Overview

The Corvette C8 is GM's first rear mid-engine sports car since the Pontiac Fiero. It features a vastly different design from previous Corvettes, with an all-new aluminum architecture and coilover springs in place of the rear transverse mono-leaf spring used on prior models. The exterior features more aggressive aerodynamics including larger air intakes and prominent side scoops. A trunk is located at the rear, with additional storage space at the front of the car. Combined, these provide of cargo space, less than that of the C7. As a result of the switch to a mid-engine layout, the passenger cell has been shifted forward by. The cockpit has been designed to be driver-centric, with numerous controls mounted on the center console as well as utilizing a new hexagonal steering wheel. A digital screen replaces the instrument cluster and reflects one of the six driving modes selected, and is accompanied by an touchscreen. A special Z button is located on the steering wheel; named in honor of earlier performance packages like Z51, Z06, and ZR1, it allows the driver to quickly activate customized performance settings.

Stingray

Trim levels and options

Three trim levels are currently available, 1LT, 2LT and 3LT, augmented by three suspension setups, FE1, FE3 and FE4 which correspond with the two Z51 Performance packages. In addition, three seat options are also available: GT1, GT2 and Competition Sport. The interior is upholstered in leather, Microsuede or performance textile with carbon fiber or aluminum trims. A Performance Data Recorder has been upgraded with a higher resolution camera as well as a new interface. GM's virtual camera mirror is optional, which projects video from the backup camera onto the rear-view mirror.

Engine

The Stingray uses a new version of the LS-based GM small-block engine derived from the C7 Stingray's LT1, now called the LT2. The new naturally aspirated 6.2 L OHV V8 with crossplane crankshaft is rated at at 6,450 rpm and of torque at 5,150 rpm, an improvement of and over the outgoing LT1. The engine uses a dry sump lubrication system. Like the LT1, the LT2 features Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, which is used when the car is subjected to low load scenarios such as highway cruising.
The engine has two radiators, one on each side in the front. The Z51 package includes a third radiator, a radiator on the rear driver's side, cooling both engine oil and transmission lubricant, taking air in through the rear quarter panel opening.
The optional NPP sport exhaust system brings the total power output to and torque to. Chevrolet says that the C8 can accelerate to in 2.9 seconds when equipped with the optional Z51 package; Car and Driver recorded an adjusted time of 2.8 seconds.

Transmission

The Stingray is only offered with an 8-speed dual-clutch automated transmission made by Tremec, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. No manual transmission option is available. The only other model years not offered with a manual transmission were the 1953–1954 C1 and the 1982 C3.

Suspension

The base model of the Stingray comes with unequal length double wishbone suspension at the front and rear axles made from forged aluminum. Monotube shock absorbers are standard at all four wheels. The car can be equipped with a front-axle lifting height adjustable suspension system that can add of ground clearance at speeds under.
The Z51 package adds a performance-tuned adjustable suspension with higher front and rear spring rates and firmer dampers. The front shocks, on vehicles without hydraulic front lift, and the rear shocks, have threaded spring seats that allow adjustment of the preload on the coil springs.
Magnetic Selective Ride Control is an available option for all trims and levels. On Z51 equipped Corvettes, Magnetic Selective Ride Control includes Performance Traction Management and electronic limited-slip differential.

Wheels

The Stingray is equipped with and alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport ALS tires, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires available as a part of the Z51 performance package. All-season tires are used on base models for better grip. The exact tire dimensions are 245/35ZR-19 at the front and 305/30ZR-20 at the rear. The standard brakes are four-piston Brembo ventilated discs with diameters of at the front and at the rear. The Z51 package provides upgraded and enlarged brakes measuring at the front and at the rear.

Technology

The C8 Corvette debuted with an 8-inch infotainment screen in a driver-centric cockpit. It comes standard with Chevrolet's Infotainment 3 Plus system. Standard features include Bluetooth connectivity, 4G hotspot, and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims are equipped with a 14-speaker Bose audio system and navigation options. Additional technology features include a Performance Data Recorder package for 2LT and 3LT trim levels as well as a camera based rear-view mirror. The 2020 Corvette was the first year Chevrolet introduced over-the-air updates to the Corvette lineup. This allows Chevrolet to send updates to the vehicle remotely. Chevrolet used this capability to resolve a front trunk recall for the 2020 Corvettes.

Right-hand-drive (RHD)

For the first time since the 1953 introduction of the Corvette, the current generation Corvette is offered in right-hand-drive configuration for the Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, and UK markets. The Corvette is General Motors' only RHD vehicle to be assembled in the factory rather than converted from left-hand-drive. After the pre-sale announcement, 300 RHD Corvettes were sold within 60 hours: a record for Corvette sales in Japan and three times the annual sales number for its LHD predecessor. The introduction of the RHD Corvette to the Australian market was delayed to the middle of 2021 due to the reorganization of Holden Special Vehicles into General Motors Specialty Vehicles which also brings GM vehicles into New Zealand. Only 200 RHD Corvettes will be sold in Australia per year, and the price is set at A$149,990 with higher performance versions above A$200,000. The first sales of the RHD C8 in New Zealand were 28 cars in 2022.

Z06

The Z06 is an LT6-powered version of the Corvette, unveiled on October 26, 2021; it entered production in 2022 as a homologation vehicle for the 2023 model year.

Trim levels and options

The Z06 has three trim levels adding various interior comfort and technology upgrades: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ. Additionally, the Z07 Performance Package can be applied to any trim, adding improved brakes, carbon fiber aerodynamic elements, suspension tuning, and performance tires.

Engine

The Z06 uses the new naturally aspirated 5.5 L LT6 flat-plane crank DOHC V8, producing at 8,400 rpm, of torque at 6,300 rpm. Redlined at 8,600 rpm, the LT6 surpasses the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series' M159 engine to become the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8. A modified version of this engine has powered the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R since 2019, and many features in the racing engine carry over to the road engine. Other features of this new engine include a cast aluminum block, dual coil valve springs supporting titanium intake & sodium filled exhaust valves, forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers, and a factory six-stage 10-quart dry sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging. A feature the LT6 shares with other Chevrolet small blocks and the GM LS small block that succeeded them is the bore spacing of 4.4 inches.

Transmission

The Z06 uses the same 8-speed dual-clutch transmission used by Stingray models, albeit with a shorter 5.56:1 final drive ratio for improved acceleration. Chevrolet says this allows the Z06 to accelerate from in 2.6 seconds.

Suspension

The Z06 features the same basic suspension setup as the Stingray, however, the electronic limited-slip differential and magnetic ride adaptive suspension system are now standard for all Z06 trims. The Z07 Performance Package includes the FE7 track-oriented suspension setup.

Wheels

The Z06's body has been widened to accommodate larger wheels and thicker tires. The wheels have diameters of at the front and at the rear, and are available with standard alloy or optional carbon fiber rims. The tires have dimensions of 275/30ZR20 at the front and 345/25ZR21 at the rear, and the Z07 Performance Package comes standard with Michelin Cup 2 R ZP performance tires. Chevrolet says that the optional carbon fiber wheels, supplied by Australian manufacturer Carbon Revolution, shave off of unsprung weight.