Has The New C8 Corvette Finally Turned The Corner And Become A Genuine Supercar?

They started thinking about making a mid-engined Corvette as long ago as 2012. That’s when the first design sketches began to appear, albeit behind tightly closed doors. But for a long time between now and then it was very much a skunkworks kind of project, a car that Corvette’s small-ish team of designers and engineers very much wanted to make happen, but weren’t sure if their bosses would ever actually let them.

But now, finally, it’s here, with a new dry-sump 6.2-litre V8 at its core, which sits behind rather than in front of its two seats (unlike any other Corvette in history), a dual-clutch eight-speed gearbox (again a first for a Corvette) and an interior that’s three times higher in quality than any previous Corvette’s.

TomM - 3/5/2020 3:37:09 PM

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Over the years there have LOTS of high performance Vehicles that could match the performance of True Exotic Supercars - some from the factory - some made outside by Performance companies. And today's Corvette is certainly at the head of the list of US vehicles right now. However - in the past - it never really reached the desirability of true supercars that were sold at very high prices in low numbers.

Even today - it really does not have the cachet of a Lamborghini - the precision construction of a Bentley or Rolls - and it is Sold by the GM entry level Brand - at prices that true supercars do not come close to. Exclusivity is what keeps it from being in the Top Tier.

But a supercar - it is.

valhallakey - 3/7/2020 2:51:26 AM

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I just had to say it, that's great writing there, beautiful prose! You should write for a magazine or an online car blog site :)

LexSucks - 3/5/2020 3:48:24 PM

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That American Muscle car sound doesn't fit its mid-engined character. Needs a crossplane crank so it sounds like a Ferrari instead of sounding like a Mustang like it does now.

valhallakey - 3/5/2020 10:48:48 PM

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In the tradition of De Tomaso's Pantera. I always loved the sound of them, very incongruous but super cool at the same time.

malba2367 - 3/5/2020 4:54:54 PM

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Be patient...the Z06 will have a cross plane crank twin turbo V8/

malba2367 - 3/5/2020 4:56:19 PM

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I mean the Z06 will have a flat plane crank...Im assuming thats what @Lexsucks meant to type too

LexSucks - 3/5/2020 5:20:49 PM

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Thanks

ricks0me - 3/5/2020 8:15:18 PM

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AGENT009 asks: Has The New C8 Corvette Finally Turned The Corner And Become A Genuine Supercar?

You are showing a disgusting bias against this car just by the way you ask the question. Had it been a Ferrari or Mercedes it would have instant credibility. No need to ask the above question. Chevy steps up their game and you can't even give them the respect they deserve.

The headline should read: Chevy joins the ranks of supercars at a bargain price.

Full disclosure, I am a Ford Guy.

Foncool - 3/5/2020 8:46:12 PM

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The C8 is what Corvettes have always been, big bang for the buck, great throwaway track cars. Will start off as a decent looking design that is under developed. Each year it will get better and better while the adding on tacky appendages until they finally get a greatly developed car at which point they will kill it.

MDarringer - 3/5/2020 11:02:10 PM

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C7 Z06 for example