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All hail the Emperor! Chevy's Ferrari-fighter is almost here.

It's real! After years of speculation, the mid-2019 Chevy Corvette has been caught during covert testing in Michigan. We've seen shots of this ghostly Vette in C7 bodies, but this is the first time we've captured it with a clear view of what appears to be an engine mounted amidships.

Codenamed the Emperor, according to the Detroit News, this Corvette will reposition Chevy's iconic sportscar to compete with European exotics and the Ford GT. The newspaper reports a front-engine Vette will still be sold concurrently for a few years after the launch of its more exotic sibling.

It's unclear what exactly the mid-engine Corvette will be, though we expect an intense focus on weight savings, aerodynamics, and use of materials like carbon fiber. Engine speculation has included a twin-turbo V6 and/or a more traditional V8. General Motors also has a 10-speed automatic transmission developed with Ford in its arsenal that's launching in the Chevy Camaro ZL1.

Reportedly, the mid-engine Corvette was being developed nearly a decade ago, but was delayed due to GM's bankruptcy in 2009. With GM's now-healthy balance sheet, the mid-engine Corvette appears to be fully revved for 2019.

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