Meet the All-New, Mid-Engine, 2020 Chevy Corvette C8

FINALLY! Rumors have been swirling since the 1960s about GM building a mid-engine Corvette. Seriously, this gossip has been around since the Apollo rockets were going into space. In fact, the Corvette has long been a favorite for space explorers, something which GM was quick to point out during the reveal event for the all-new, 2020 Chevy Corvette.

There’s something about the ‘Vette which has always attracted drivers in search of excitement, and most importantly, speed. Long appearing in ads, commercials, movies, music videos, and posters on the walls of young car enthusiasts from all walks of life, we’re beyond excited to see that America’s sportscar shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In fact, it’s just getting started.

The Big Reveal

GM really went all-out with the C8 Corvette debut. A small army of press, GM employees, and lucky Corvette fans crowded into an enormous 300,000+ square foot aircraft hangar in Tustin, CA. The atmosphere was electric—the air alive with energy and anticipation.

And what did GM have up its sleeve? Well, let’s recreate the scene…

Two former NASA astronauts take the stage, Dr. Mae Jemison and Scott Kelly. Each speaks about what led them to pursue careers with NASA, with two clear themes present: overcoming challenges and destiny. Then, Barry Engle, GM Executive Vice President, appears front and center, reiterating how human history’s fastest travelers—astronauts—naturally gravitated toward the Corvette due to its legendary speed and performance. He shares his own story of the first time he laid eyes on a Corvette. A story which we all likely have our own nostalgic version of.

Then, finally, Engle announces the all new, mid-engine 2020 Chevy Corvette. A projection appears on the wall behind him: a flying V aircraft sweeps across the screen. Sirens blare, red lights flash, and radio chatter rises over the dull roar of jet engines. A camera pans over alloy wheels, enormous brakes, a quick flash of red as light dances across the side profile of the new C8.

The shape of the car is somehow familiar, but the proportions are different.

Several quick, up-close shots flash across the screen, each one highlighting a different area of the car from the roof line and side vents to the rear window. The Corvette badge flashes and we receive our first precious glimpse of the new mid-mounted engine in all its glory. A quick cut to the interior, before the plane’s wheels touch down on the runway. Then, a driver appears inside the Corvette, revs the engine, and takes off in a flurry of acceleration down the runway. Images flash by of water beads running along the bodywork, hands tightening on the steering wheel, the driver’s eyes, the speedometer, then…

On With The Show

At long last the sensory teasing is over and the new 2020 Chevy Corvette C8 rolls out onto the stage. It approaches the camera head on—and doesn’t disappoint. The flare of the wheel arches, the slope of the roof, that signature V8 rumble.

YEP, this thing is 100% Corvette!

It’s amazing that the designers were able to create something so radically different, that still clearly retains the DNA of the Corvette.

After the dramatic on-stage reveal, Mark Reuss, President of General Motors, emerges from the driver’s seat grinning from ear to ear. (Well, wouldn’t you?) Speaking briefly of the nearly 50 years that have passed since the Apollo 11 landing, he expresses how special it is to be standing next to another engineering marvel: the C8 Corvette.

“For a vehicle that’s been an American icon since 1953, the new generation represents ‘one giant leap’ for Corvette,” stated Reuss. This quote seems fitting when we dive into what sets the next-gen 2020 Chevy Corvette apart from its predecessors.

Let’s Talk Numbers

With each generation of Corvette, GM has worked tirelessly to make it better. And the all new C8 continues that tradition with some astonishing statistics.

Every component of the car has been pushed to the next level for maximum performance and aesthetics. Engineers and designers poured over every single surface, wire, hose, tube, and fastener which would be visible on and around the engine. That 495-hp 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine sits like a crown jewel underneath the rear glass, ready to launch the C8 from 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds! (This figure applies to cars sporting the Z51 performance package only—the base model will likely take just a touch longer to reach 60 mph.)

Putting Down Power

The C8 Corvette is the only vehicle in the segment to use a naturally-aspirated V8. The LT2 features the first ever engine-mounted dry sump lubrication system fitted as standard equipment. It uses three scavenging pumps and a compact reservoir to circulate oil through the engine under pressure, preventing oil starvation during intense cornering. And the incredibly low-profile oil pan allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis than in any previous Corvette. This new lubrication system has proven to be absolutely bulletproof during the automaker’s rigorous testing at tracks around the world.

Also new, is an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission transmitting power to the rear wheels. And although, (sadly) there is no manual option for the new ‘Vette (Really, guys?), the truth is that these dual-clutch transmissions are able to shift faster than any human being ever could. Plus, they help to push the performance of the C8 even further.

First gear is very low to help the car jump off the line very quickly. Second through sixth gear are closely spaced to keep the engine revs near peak power on the track. And, seventh and eighth gear are tall, making for easy cruising and maximum fuel economy.

Packing Away Essentials

Performance aside, one of the most impressive things about the 2020 Chevy Corvette might just be its usability. The engineers understood that this new Corvette, despite the placement of the engine, needed to fit into customers’ lives in the same way as previous generations. This meant that visibility and cargo space needed to be priorities.

The C8 boasts two generous cargo areas made of ultra-lightweight fiberglass with a proprietary resin. The first compartment is located in the front of the vehicle and can hold a medium to large-sized duffel bag, or possibly a small suitcase. The second compartment is located directly behind the engine and is large enough to fit two golf bags, or the removable roof panel!

This is truly groundbreaking luggage volume in this class of vehicle. Cargo space might not be the biggest priority for every sports car owner, but it goes a long way to improving the vehicle’s bandwidth or usability. You could actually take the new Corvette out for a week-long getaway, without worrying about whether you can pack enough for the trip!

But who am I kidding. We both know the prime use of this bad boy is fast and loud—just the way we like it.

Handling Like A Pro

Moving the engine behind the passenger compartment allows for lower mounting of the instrument panel and dashboard, improving forward visibility, while also completely changing the driving dynamics of the vehicle. The main body structure is aluminum, and “makes the most use of high pressure die-casting in General Motors history,” according to Corvette Executive Chief Designer Tadge Juechter.

GM used these precision aluminum panels throughout the car to maximize chassis stiffness, while also minimizing mass. In fact, the chassis is so strong that the C8 is able to sport low rockers on each side, making it very easy for passengers to get in and out of the car. This is usually a problem with other supercars, which use a tub-style chassis configuration.

The steering system is straighter and stiffer now, thanks to the mid-engine configuration. Fifty percent stiffer, to be exact, meaning that the driver’s input through the steering wheel is nearly instantaneous.

And speaking of the steering wheel, the 2020 Chevy Corvette’s is very unique. Sporting flats on the top and the bottom, it looks more rectangular than it does round. This too has a purpose: to give the driver maximum visibility of the wide-screen, completely configurable instrument panel, as well as maximum visibility over the wheel and leg room underneath it.

Leather, suede, and aluminum are used throughout the interior—premium materials that make you feel like you’re in a high-end luxury car worth much more than the starting price of the C8 Corvette (just under $60,000). The new Corvette is nothing short of stunning inside and out, and now Chevrolet will be offering more color combinations than ever before: 12 exterior and six interior. Everything from seat materials, to stitching and seat belts can be customized to your liking.

Moving Forward

Back in January we said that the C7 Corvette ZR1 could represent the upper reaches of performance in a front engine, rear wheel drive platform. The C8 Corvette, with its mid-engine configuration, is just the beginning of an entirely new era for Corvette. Performance variants are soon to follow which will boast higher horsepower numbers and blistering performance stats.

Whatever comes next we can be sure of one thing, Corvette is here to stay, and it’s ready to take on the world of supercars!