This is the C8 mid-engine Chevy Corvette

[DarkSunrise]

Yeah I have to agree the manual option was dead as soon as it was decided the c8 would go mid-engine. I think it was the lead engineer who stated that the c8 won't ever be getting a manual due to the lack of willing suppliers at the price point they'd be looking at. Shame because that essentially forces a buyer to choose between a front engine manual c7 and mid engine dct c8. Seems you can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by unhappymeal

Sure, but the C8's ATP is way above the $35,000 price range you are talking about.

And?

[maslin]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Manufacturers could use any transverse setup that is in all the FWD cars and stick it in the back.

Don't know about where you live, but I can count the number of Lotus and Alfa's I've seen on about 3 fingers.

Affordable, mid engine cars with a manual transmission and a warranty.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by maslin

Don't know about where you live, but I can count the number of Lotus and Alfa's I've seen on about 3 fingers.

Affordable, mid engine cars with a manual transmission and a warranty.

Just because they don't doesn't mean they can't. The MR2 and Fiero weren't anything magical. There just aren't enough loving homes for those kittens.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by maslin

Don't know about where you live, but I can count the number of Lotus and Alfa's I've seen on about 3 fingers.

Affordable, mid engine cars with a manual transmission and a warranty.

I second what Ultramaroon said. Affordable mid engine cars existed. Take a Lotus or Alpha and remove the carbon fiber and the aluminum and the high end leather and the supercharger and the car would be cheap. I’ve grown up around MR2s and Fieros so this concept isn’t odd. It is like driving a Civic backwards.

Again, the Corvette just proved everyone wrong who said going mid engine was going to balloon the MSRP. It didn’t.

[reni]

Originally Posted by unhappymeal

Uh, yeah. I mean, as nice as the Supra is, I'll save up longer and pay 20% more for the near exotic with a NA V8. As an added bonus it means more jobs for the Canadian and US suppliers instead of the Austrians.

Sure, for anyone without any particular religious affiliation, the Vette is the obvious choice this time around.

But this is on a *Supra forum*.... I mean can you imagine the shitstorm it would have been back in the day if you went on, say, a Honda forum and created a "Mustang Cobra vs ITR" thread?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Yea, the first year base model may be the unicorn 10 years from now. It will be interesting to see how much my "base" model would cost me (I'd have to add the Z51, plus I can't help but add trim levels). So far, in the configurator, this is my C8....

fify


Gawd, it sure is pretty. Too bad I'll never be able to sit in one much less drive it.

[maslin]

I’m saying the Lotus and Alfa offerings are (reasonably) affordable. It’s a 2 seat mid engine sports car, no one expects it to be $15k on the showroom floor.

You can get an ‘05-‘06 Elise under 30k, there’s a few ‘16 Alfa c4 under $40k.

While the vette is certainly a game changer in hp/dollar in the mid engine game, it isn’t the only “affordable” mid engine car on the road. The rest are just ignored or dismissed as impractical. As if the mr2 was ever practical

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Keep in mind only the base model is under 60K. To get the great 0-60 (and limited slip, wtf?!?!) you're adding the Z51 package. To get the super nice interior its the uprated package. Prices will add up quick and there will be a ton of variety in options.

Since the base has the dry sump already, the Z51 might be a cheaper upgrade.

If the base car has heat problems on the track, I would be worried about the Z51 also having problems... the brakes are only growing by a tiny bit, and I don't see a lot of space for a radiator in the back, so that can't be very big either.

I imagine that in 2020 the car would have electronic torque vectoring/stability control (via brakes) of some sort standard, so no LSD or no e-diff is not as big of a deal as it used to be when not having that option meant open diff with no way to put any power down.

The base car looks really really solid to me. Maybe one day if I have too many spare parking spots and money, I'd get one and throw some titanium bits on the engine so it can make better noises at higher rpm. I'll just have to make sure I never look at it from the rear :P

Originally Posted by maslin

While the vette is certainly a game changer in hp/dollar in the mid engine game, it isn’t the only “affordable” mid engine car on the road. The rest are just ignored or dismissed as impractical. As if the mr2 was ever practical

Actually, the AW and SW MR2s *are* pretty practical. The front storage is not bad, and you get an extra compartment in the rear that will swallow up a lot of smaller items. The ZZW Spyder though...that's a different story. It's possible to clear up a Porsche sized space in the front if you throw out the ABS and power steering, but otherwise it's never going to fit more than a carry-on bag.

[Atmo]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

If the base car has heat problems on the track, I would be worried about the Z51 also having problems... the brakes are only growing by a tiny bit, and I don't see a lot of space for a radiator in the back, so that can't be very big either...

Actually, the AW and SW MR2s *are* pretty practical. The front storage is not bad, and you get an extra compartment in the rear that will swallow up a lot of smaller items. The ZZW Spyder though...that's a different story. It's possible to clear up a Porsche sized space in the front if you throw out the ABS and power steering, but otherwise it's never going to fit more than a carry-on bag.

Hope this isn't a repost, but Jalopnik describes the Z51 supplemental cooling and more:

https://jalopnik.com/heres-a-detaile...ssi-1836540969

I had a DD Spyder for a year and became adept at packing and packaging enough stuff for overnights for two. The big problem was obstructed side vision with the top up and somehow being invisible to other drivers. Made me smile nonstop top down and at auto-x though.

[conehead]

It looks like the Corvette is moving to a Porsche style sales model, where nearly everyone adds options and the profit margin on those is astronomical. Something like 5% of Porsches are sold without added options. Its a smart business model and also motivates people to buy new to get the exact combination they want.

[WolfpackS2k]

^Believe it or not, but my Cayman S has barely any options (granted I didn't buy this car new - just saying one has to look). Only options my car came with are: Sport Chrono, painted wheel center crests, and an AM radio antenna (which I hate lol). Porsche didn't even offer an LSD as an option on the Cayman until 2009 (4th year of production). I don't get the impression at all, that Chevy is starting to market/sell the C8 like Porsche sells their sports cars.

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Since the base has the dry sump already, the Z51 might be a cheaper upgrade.

If the base car has heat problems on the track, I would be worried about the Z51 also having problems... the brakes are only growing by a tiny bit, and I don't see a lot of space for a radiator in the back, so that can't be very big either.

I imagine that in 2020 the car would have electronic torque vectoring/stability control (via brakes) of some sort standard, so no LSD or no e-diff is not as big of a deal as it used to be when not having that option meant open diff with no way to put any power down.

• The base Corvette has a traditional mechanical LSD - seems fine to me. And electronic torque vectoring via the brakes is a horrible set up if you track the vehicle. The eLSD on the Z51 variant is considerably better than that (as was the same on the C7).
• The base Corvette has 4 coolant radiators - 2 in the front and 1 behind each door.
• The base Corvette has large front brake air ducting.
• The base Corvette has a liquid to liquid oil cooler.
• The base Corvette has a dry sump oil reservoir.

While I agree that the brakes look "a bit" on the small side, everything else looks encouraging for track use to me. BTW all this info is found in the linked article someone posted earlier.

[gymratter]

https://www.carscoops.com/2019/07/ch...-on-august-15/

Chevrolet will reportedly announce full pricing details for the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on August 15.

A number of users from the Corvette Forum state that they have been informed about the August 15 date after placing refundable deposits for the new Corvette with their local dealerships. These dealers are reportedly informing customers that order books for the car opened yesterday (July 24) even though pricing hasn’t been announced.

Chevrolet hasn’t announced an exact date for when production of the 2020 Corvette Stingray will commence but it will be sometime between September (when C7 production is expected to end) and the end of the year. Corvette Blogger reports that production of the most popular exterior color options will start first with other colors, such as Rapid Blue, arriving at a later date.

What we do know about C8 Corvette pricing at the moment is that the entry-level Stingray model will start at under $60,000. Prices will inevitably rise the moment customers start ticking any of the boxes for optional extras but we think there’s a good chance buyers should be able to option the Z51 Performance Package with basic interior trim for less than $70,000, an absolute bargain by any performance car measure.

All those ordering a 2020 Corvette will be thrilled to know that the mid-engine sports car features a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine with 490 hp in standard specification and 495 hp in the Z51 package. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

[Coaster]

The lead designer says they benched the 911 Turbo and the 458. Nice.