Even with tiny trickles of information being
leaked out to the public via internet, it is certain that the excitement for
the release of the C8 Corvette
was not dampened one tiny bit! Christopher Smith of Motor1.com
covered the recent release in-depth for the blog this past week and remembered
placidly that it was three years ago when he caught his first blurry glimpse of
an early C8 prototype, covered heavily in camouflage. As all official veils are
finally off of the C8, the whole world finally gets a chance to literally “see
what all the fuss was about”.
This is a true time of intense change for
America's most iconic sports car, as there has now been brought to life the
mid-engined model that was first proposed by Zora Arkus-Duntov more than 50
years ago. There have been many prototypes through the years, with a few of
these coming so close to production, but nothing ever fully came into roaring
and track-ready existence. With 60 years of pins and needles, the question that
Chris asks within the blog is if it was all worth the wait, and claims that
“all indications point to a resounding yes”!
The engine now taking up the space behind the
passengers is a 6.2-liter V8, which derived from the LT1 that was the proud
power source for the C7 Stingray. The mill is now named LT2, because of the
design tweaks that were required for mid-engine duty, and the exceptional boost
in power it enjoyed. The all-important horsepower stat resides at 490, with the
ability to boost up to 495 after addition of the Z51 Performance Package. The
claim on the table here is that the new Stingray can reach 60 mph in less than
3 seconds, easily running side-by-side with the absolute most powerful 'Vette
in existence.
The inside view of the C8 was leaked a few times,
but now it is on display for everyone to see what it's like. There is a pair of
digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, and a
stately and beefy center console in between the passenger and the driver. In
the center spine is placed an array of manual controls for the climate
adjustability. When asked what the smartest addition would be off the ground,
all of us here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson
would have to recommend the Z51 Performance Package: it adds better brakes and
cooling, the five extra Horsepower, and a retuned exhaust that is a bit deeper.
Magnetic Ride Control is also available and can be controlled through the four
driving modes carried over from the previous model, as well as two new ones.
“Z Mode” allows full customization of every single
setting. C8's new digital vehicle platform and electronic architecture allow
over-the-air updates for the C8's multiple computer systems. Even though the
engine is now situated in the middle, the design as a whole is not in a
completely different category from the C7, and the roof can lift on out for
open-air driving. This article wraps up with the sentiment that “The Chevy
Corvette could well remain the bang-for-buck performance champion of the
world”, and this star-studded new vehicle's release is one of the most exciting
automotive events of 2019!
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