Not gonna lie - we were more than a little bummed to learn that Chevy wasn’t bringing the new mid-engined C8 Corvette to the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. Luckily, the new domestic exotic just got splashed all over the Internet thanks to fresh spy shots of its luxurious cockpit. Read on for all the goods.
A Muscle Car Classic Reaches For The Top Shelf
As Chevrolet’s latest and greatest range-topping monster machine, not to mention the halo and flagship for pretty much the entirety of the GM brand, the new C8 ‘Vette has to have the right interior spec to match.
Luckily, it looks like that is indeed the case, as these spy shots reveal far more luxury, better materials, and a more opulent, luxurious design compared to the current C7 Corvette.
Let’s start off with the hot seat, where drivers will get to grips with a new two-spoke steering wheel. We think this unit looks great, offering a pair of downward-facing spokes that mirror the upturned flags used for the Corvette design (something that’s found in the center of the steering wheel for contrast).
Behind the new sporty steering wheel is an all-digital instrument panel, which is basically a big screen that replaces the current model’s analog gauges. This is definitely the way to go if Chevy wants to keep pace with the current crop of supercars on the market today.
Speaking of tech, the dash offers a horizontal touchscreen for the infotainment system. This thing looks even bigger than the current model’s 8.0-inch display and is angled towards the driver for improved visibility.
We think the center console is a particularly handsome looking piece of design, offering geometric styling and a long line of hard buttons along the outer edge, including buttons for the climate control, seat heater function, and seat ventilation function.
Black leather upholstery is used for the highly bolstered sport seats, which also include red contrast stitching and carbon fiber shells.
The door panels look pretty cool as well and offer more of that sharp geometric design seen in the center console. Look for high-end speakers and more of that white soft-touch upholstery here as well.
Unsurprisingly, we’re not seeing any storage behind the seats like you get on the front-engine ‘Vette - rather, that space is reserved for the big-ass engine.
What’s The Rest Of It Bringing To The Table?
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Note: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 rendering pictured here. |
Outside, the C8 ‘Vette will offer fresh, super-sharp body styling. The overall proportions will be more balanced compared to the long hood line and shark-like demeanor of the C7, with a flat-top tail that extends back for days.
The angles and design will be familiar to fans of the C7 but should come with a new spacey, futuristic vibe that helps it stand out from the current model. Also look for bigger wheels, larger side intakes, and thin, stretched-out headlight housings that pull back into the fenders.
We’d also expect some kind of active aerodynamics feature, at least as far as the rear spoiler is concerned. Active aero might be found in the nose as well.
Motivation will come from a tweaked 6.2-liter V-8 powerplant, although further engine configurations are a possibility as well, such as a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V-8 and even a 1,000-horsepower hybrid.
That said, we expect output of at least 500 horsepower for the base model, while an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission will send the power rearwards. Higher trims might come with AWD to better harness all that muscle.
Late last year, it was reported that Chevy ran into issues with the C8’s electrical system, so odds are the Bow Tie’s boffins are still sorting it out ahead of a reveal this coming summer. As such, we expect further leaks in the coming months as the hype for the C8’s debut continues to build.
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Zora.
Read our full review on the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R.
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