Mid-Engine C8 Corvette Mule Spotted

[Sideways&Smiling]

For those who didn't believe the C8 would be a mid-engine layout, here you go:

Old article detailing info on it:
http://m.caranddriver.com/features/c...d-zora-feature

New article about the test mule:
http://m.caranddriver.com/news/exclu...st-photos-news



Behold, mid-engine Corvette fans: The car you’ve waited patiently for Chevrolet to build has finally evolved beyond titillating concepts to the engineering mule revealed here. An 82-second strike by our recon op resulted in 15 frames before security narcs dropped the curtain on this black test car—with its two occupants still inside.

Don’t fret over the pointy-pickup camouflage; more attractive attire will follow. Instead take solace in a cabin hugging the front axle, ample space between the cockpit and the rear wheels for the hot parts, and this Corvette’s crouched and ready attitude.

The nose clip is from Holden's Commodore SSV (with even wider flares), while the cabin module, roof, and exterior mirrors are hand-me-downs from today’s Stingray. A Holden SSV ute’s sheetmetal wraps door to door around the heinie. The wing keeps the tail planted during high-speed runs and what could be more practical than the bumper-mounted 2-by-10 for shoving this test sled back to the garage when it breaks down? Other items of note: The fuel-filler located on the driver’s-side B-pillar and the cooling intakes located along the rocker panels.



Scaling the span between the axles using the wheels as guides (we’re estimating them at 19 inches in diameter) yields a projected wheelbase of 98.9 inches, some eight inches shorter than that of today’s Corvette. That blueprint upgrade comes from bumping the transmission from ahead of to behind the rear axle as God and Dr. Porsche intended. A tighter wheelbase quickens steering response and cinches up the turning circle. It goes without saying that at least 60 percent of this probable Corvette ZR1’s mass will be supported by the rear wheels, enhancing launch traction and balls-out braking. There are rumblings that the engine bay may eventually play host to a small, 3.5- to 4.0-liter V-8 with all the fixin’s—meaning no pushrods.


Thus far GM has issued no denials discrediting our most recent (and highly detailed) mid-engine Corvette forecasts. While there’s no fresh intel regarding launch timing, the fact that experimental hardware has left the laboratory suggests that the C8 Zora sports car is on schedule to roll into showrooms in about 20 months as a 2017 model, at which point it will be sold alongside the front-engined Corvette. Place your orders now or find yourself stuck at the back of a long delivery line.

[Kimsey47]

My money is that GM is making a mid-engine SSR since the first one was so awesome...

[funwheeldrive]

A FRS with 30k in mods would destroy this.












[/sarcasm]

[BlackMonarch]

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

A FRS with 30k in mods would destroy this.












[/sarcasm]

Almost missed this white text...

[malave7567]

I actually like the fact that they are using the Ute's rear on the test mule lol. It's probably the only thing they currently had in the fleet to mate to the stingray cockpit that could fit an engine back there. Shoot, forget the Mid-engine corvette. Give me a mid-engine Holden Ute.

(for those not familiar with Holden in Australia, the Ute is basically a Camaro with an El Camino style back).

[Dadhawk]

Best thing I like about the thought of mid-engine C8 'Vette is it means it will leave wide open the used market for C7s.
@malave7567 I'm with you on the mid-engine UTE! Heck I'd just like to have the option for a FE-RD one!

[Teseo]

I want to see the nurburgring's lap time

[Rampage]

36 years ago, I was a big advocate for the need for a mid-engine Corvette. After seeing the performance capabilities of the C5, C6 and C7, I no longer see the need.

[BlackMonarch]

Originally Posted by Rampage

36 years ago, I was a big advocate for the need for a mid-engine Corvette. After seeing the performance capabilities of the C5, C6 and C7, I no longer see the need.

It's because the front-engine, rear-drive format on the Corvette is tapped out, if you add more power you lose considerable amounts of traction. Unless they make the car heavier in the rear for more traction, I don't see them going much further.

For lack of a better example, there's a reason the Veyron has a 1100bhp engine sitting over the rear wheels, and not between the front brakes.

[Sideways&Smiling]

Originally Posted by Rampage

36 years ago, I was a big advocate for the need for a mid-engine Corvette. After seeing the performance capabilities of the C5, C6 and C7, I no longer see the need.

It will be better. They want to compete on the world level. This will be competing with the new NSX, Ferraris, etc.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by BlackMonarch

It's because the front-engine, rear-drive format on the Corvette is tapped out, if you add more power you lose considerable amounts of traction. Unless they make the car heavier in the rear for more traction, I don't see them going much further.

For lack of a better example, there's a reason the Veyron has a 1100bhp engine sitting over the rear wheels, and not between the front brakes.

I don't think that's the case. The c7 is already rear biased and the veyron is awd which is really how it handles the power.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by BlackMonarch

It's because the front-engine, rear-drive format on the Corvette is tapped out, if you add more power you lose considerable amounts of traction. Unless they make the car heavier in the rear for more traction, I don't see them going much further.

For lack of a better example, there's a reason the Veyron has a 1100bhp engine sitting over the rear wheels, and not between the front brakes.

You're overestimating the importance of a mid-engined layout for speed. Certainly mid-ship engine mounting is important for race cars but for sports cars this means quite a bit less in terms of overall speed. Feel is another story.

Randy Pobst owns 7 of the top 10 production car lap records at Laguna Seca. Only the top 2 are in mid-engined cars. Both of those cars cost well over $1M, but more importantly feature electric motors to add instantaneous torque in places where it's traditional motor cannot. 7 of the remaining 8 are in front-engined vehicles. 1 is mid-engined McLaren MP4-12C.

So unless Chevy is going to be making the new C8 a >$1M mid-engined hybrid Vette, chances the C8 is only going to be more exotic sports car but only equally or marginally faster than the current ZR-1 at a track like Laguna Seca with a driver like Randy P.

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna_seca.html

1. Porsche 918 Spyder 1:30.97 143 '13 887 / 1640 Randy Pobst
2. McLaren P1 1:33.06 139 '13 737 / 1395 Mikel Miller
3. SRT Viper TA 1:33.62 139 '13 649 / 1520 Randy Probst
4. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1:33.70 138 '08 647 / 1530 Randy Pobst
5. Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR 1:33.92 138 '08 608 / 1536 Chris Winkler
6. SRT Viper GTS 1:34.23 138 '13 649 / 1560 Randy Probst
7. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Z07 Package 1:34.43 137 '11 512 / 1394
8. McLaren MP4-12C 1:34.50 137 '10 600 / 1434 Randy Pobst
9. SRT Viper 1:34.63 137 '13 649 / 1520 Randy Probst
10. Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series 1:35.03 136 '13 631 / 1550 Randy Pobst
11. Devon GTX 1:35.08 136 0 659 / 0
12. Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 1:35.40 136 '11 700 / 1575 Randy Pobst
13. Nissan GT-R Nismo 1:35.51 136 '15 599 / 1720 Randy Pobst
14. Porsche 911 GT2 RS 1:35.56 136 '10 620 / 1370 Johannes van Overbee
15. Porsche 911 Turbo S (991) 1:35.62 136 '13 560 / 1605 Randy Pobst
16. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1:35.80 135 '08 647 / 1530 Randy Pobst
17. Ferrari 458 Italia 1:36.22 135 '09 570 / 1485 Randy Pobst
18. Nissan GT-R 1:36.30 135 '12 550 / 1736 Randy Pobst
19. Nissan GT-R 1:36.35 135 '11 530 / 1736
20. Lexus LFA 1:36.39 135 '10 560 / 1609
21. Audi R8 GT 1:36.39 135 '10 560 / 1520
22. Nissan GT-R 1:36.63 134 '12 550 / 1736 Randy Pobst
23. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 1:36.77 134 '10 450 / 1400
24. Porsche 911 Turbo 1:37.80 133 '09 500 / 1570
25. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 1:37.82 133 '13 507 / 1702 Randy Pobst
26. Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 1:38.04 132 '12 740 / 1725 Randy Pobst
27. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1:38.28 132 '14 461 / 1577 Randy Pobst
28. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 1:38.70 131 '08 647 / 1530 Car and driver
29. Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 1:38.70 131 '13 659 / 1750 Randy Pobst
30. Audi R8 V10 plus (2013) 1:38.70 131 '13 550 / 1570 Randy Pobst

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

It will be better. They want to compete on the world level. This will be competing with the new NSX, Ferraris, etc.

The new Z06 competes with nearly everything at the "world level". Mid-engined or not. Only major engineering feats such as a hybrid powerplant seem to make a difference in speed now. See my post above.

[Sideways&Smiling]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

The new C7-ZR1 competes with nearly everything at the "world level". Mid-engined or not. Only major engineering feats such as a hybrid powerplant seem to make a difference in speed now. See my post above.

Eh, it's one track and one driver. They don't have to set a target price of a million dollars to make a mid-engine layout be an improvement over a front-mid.

The new NSX will be in the $120k-$180k range (I'm guessing $130-140k) and have similar hybrid AWD tech.

Mid-engine will always have better balance. Front-mid is quite good though and superior to front or rear.