The Corvette has now entered its eighth generation, and it was one of the most anticipated vehicles when it went on sale last year. It was also a matter of time before I would finally spot one somewhere out and about. I have waited at least a year to see the mid-engine C8 Corvette up close, and it finally happened almost three weeks ago when I spotted my first C8 Corvette. The second one I spotted came a week ago, and both instances were very exciting. They say good things come to those who wait, and this was no different when it came to seeing the new Corvette in person.
The most significant change from the C7 to the C8 is that the latter has its engine placed behind the seats like many current and previous sports cars. For many years, there have been rumors circulating around the auto industry that the Corvette would switch from its traditional front-engine layout to mid-engine. This switch officially occurred for the eighth-gen Corvette, and GM hasn't looked back since.
By becoming mid-engine, the Corvette now has a better, more even weight distribution compared to every previous Corvette generation. The same 6.2-liter LT1 V8 from the C7 Stingray carries over to the C8 Stingray producing 490 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Z51 Performance Pack has a slight bump in horsepower to 495 with its dual-mode performance exhaust. The Corvette C8 Stingray launches from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, entering supercar territory and carrying a top speed of 184 mph. The C8 Stingray's only transmission option is an 8-speed dual-clutch, the first Corvette model to do this. The 8-speed dual-clutch is operated by either a push-button gear selector in the center console or the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Also included in the Z51 Performance Pack are an electronic limited-slip rear differential and more aggressive brakes.
The C8's interior is lined in leather, metal, and faux suede, among other materials, and consists of a digital gauge cluster, a squared-off steering wheel similar to those in race cars, and a touchscreen positioned toward the driver for ease of use. Like previous Corvette generations, the C8 Stingray's roof is removable and can fit in its rear trunk behind the engine bay. Speaking of the rear trunk, it is big enough to fit two golf bags or suitcases, while the front trunk can fit one golf bag or suitcase. The angled touchscreen contains Chevy's Infotainment 3 Plus system including Bluetooth audio streaming, a 4G LTE hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Pricing for the new mid-engine Corvette Stingray starts just below $60,000 but can increase close to $100,000 with options and dealer markup. In addition, the Corvette C8 Stingray was named last year's Motor Trend Car of the Year and made Car and Driver's 10Best list both this year and last year. Overall, the C8 Corvette is an absolutely phenomenal sports car and an an amazing value for its performance, serving as a budget European exotic. I love the new mid-engine Corvette and can't say enough great things about it. Hopefully I can get my hands on one someday as a second vehicle to my daily driver.
UPDATE: Several hours after I initially published this post, I spotted my third Corvette C8 Stingray. Since this happened within 24 hours of this post going up on here, I might as well include the pics of it below rather than make an entirely separate post on it later.
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