YEP, this thing is 100% Corvette! 2020 Chevy Corvette
The 2020 Chevy Corvette and there amazing designers were able to create something so radically different, that still clearly retains the DNA of the Corvette.
After the dramatic on-stage reveal, Mark Reuss, President of General Motors, emerges from the driver’s seat grinning from ear to ear. (Well, wouldn’t you?) Speaking briefly of the nearly 50 years that have passed since the Apollo 11 landing, he expresses how special it is to be standing next to another engineering marvel: the C8 Corvette.
“For a vehicle that’s been an American icon since 1953, the new generation represents ‘one giant leap’ for Corvette,” stated Reuss. This quote seems fitting when we dive into what sets the next-gen 2020 Chevy Corvette apart from its predecessors.
Let’s Talk Numbers
With each generation of Corvette, GM has worked tirelessly to make it better. And the all new C8 continues that tradition with some astonishing statistics.
Every component of the car has been pushed to the next level for maximum performance and aesthetics. Engineers and designers poured over every single surface, wire, hose, tube, and fastener which would be visible on and around the engine. That 495-hp 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine sits like a crown jewel underneath the rear glass, ready to launch the C8 from 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds! (This figure applies to cars sporting the Z51 performance package only—the base model will likely take just a touch longer to reach 60 mph.)
Putting Down Power
The C8 Corvette is the only vehicle in the segment to use a naturally-aspirated V8. The LT2 features the first ever engine-mounted dry sump lubrication system fitted as standard equipment. It uses three scavenging pumps and a compact reservoir to circulate oil through the engine under pressure, preventing oil starvation during intense cornering. And the incredibly low-profile oil pan allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis than in any previous Corvette. This new lubrication system has proven to be absolutely bulletproof during the automaker’s rigorous testing at tracks around the world.
Also new, is an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission transmitting power to the rear wheels. And although, (sadly) there is no manual option for the new ‘Vette (Really, guys?), the truth is that these dual-clutch transmissions are able to shift faster than any human being ever could. Plus, they help to push the performance of the C8 even further.
First gear is very low to help the car jump off the line very quickly. Second through sixth gear are closely spaced to keep the engine revs near peak power on the track. And, seventh and eighth gear are tall, making for easy cruising and maximum fuel economy.
Packing Away Essentials
Performance aside, one of the most impressive things about the 2020 Chevy Corvette might just be its usability. The engineers understood that this new Corvette, despite the placement of the engine, needed to fit into customers’ lives in the same way as previous generations. This meant that visibility and cargo space needed to be priorities.
The C8 boasts two generous cargo areas made of ultra-lightweight fiberglass with a proprietary resin. The first compartment is located in the front of the vehicle and can hold a medium to large-sized duffel bag, or possibly a small suitcase. The second compartment is located directly behind the engine and is large enough to fit two golf bags, or the removable roof panel!
This is truly groundbreaking luggage volume in this class of vehicle. Cargo space might not be the biggest priority for every sports car owner, but it goes a long way to improving the vehicle’s bandwidth or usability. You could actually take the new Corvette out for a week-long getaway, without worrying about whether you can pack enough for the trip!
But who am I kidding. We both know the prime use of this bad boy is fast and loud—just the way we like it.
Handling Like A Pro
Moving the engine behind the passenger compartment allows for lower mounting of the instrument panel and dashboard, improving forward visibility, while also completely changing the driving dynamics of the vehicle. The main body structure is aluminum, and “makes the most use of high pressure die-casting in General Motors history,” according to Corvette Executive Chief Designer Tadge Juechter.
GM used these precision aluminum panels throughout the car to maximize chassis stiffness, while also minimizing mass. In fact, the chassis is so strong that the C8 is able to sport low rockers on each side, making it very easy for passengers to get in and out of the car. This is usually a problem with other supercars, which use a tub-style chassis configuration.
The steering system is straighter and stiffer now, thanks to the mid-engine configuration. Fifty percent stiffer, to be exact, meaning that the driver’s input through the steering wheel is nearly instantaneous.
