Imagine you have to spin up and then stop four people that sit at the edges of the playground roundabout. It is doable, of course, but it is somewhat hard. Now, question yourself - how could you spin up or slow down that playground roundabout quicker without making any modifications to it?

It is easy! Move the people toward the center!

This is precisely what the GM tends to do with the new mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8 - move all the heavy stuff (engine, transmission, wiring, lubricants, and well, you) as close to the center as possible. Everything of consequence will be in between the wheels, thus dramatically reducing the forces that act on the wheels during the cornering. This will make the steering far quicker and swift. After all, manufacturers do opt for a mid-engine setup for its top-notch sports cars thanks to such a profound impact on the driving characteristics.

Compared to any Corvette of the past, the 2020 C8 Corvette will have higher levels of grip, sharpness, and ferociousness. We only have to wait a bit as the new 2020 C8 Corvette will debut July 18, 2019. This is what we know about it.

Update 05/03/2019: We've updated this list with the latest facts about the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette!

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Introduces a New Plaque

Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles introduced us to the new Corvette plaque at the “What’s New with the Corvette” seminar held at the National Corvette Museum’s Bash. People attending the seminar had a chance to discuss the new mid-engine GM halo car, but I feel that the new, redesigned plaque was the highpoint of the event.

You may have already seen the new plaque in the video GM shared on facebook. If not, take a look at the video that showcase Corvette logo evolution, it's quite something

However, visitors of the “What’s New with the Corvette” seminar had a far better look at it. Harlan Charles had two plaques, and he showed them to anyone who has asked. I have seen some comments on the Internet where people bash the design thinking that the new badge will be bigger than before. Not exactly!

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Will Debut in South California, Orange County in 07/18/2019

In an email sent to the press and VIP customers, GM delivered an invitation for the official introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 on 07/18/2019. The invitation stated that the event would be held in Orange County, California.

Could it be that the date also designates the Nurburgring lap time for the Corvette C8?

To explore this possibility, let's see the Corvette C7 (and C6) Nurburgring lap times. Former Corvette test driver, Jim Mero, conducted tests for his company and this is what he achieved with the 'Vettes on the 'Ring:

As you can see, the possible Nurburgring lap time of the Corvette C8 at 7/18/2019 would make the entry-level Corvette C8 15+ seconds faster around the 'ring compared with the C7 Corvette Stingray Z51. Honestly, if this rumor fulfills, I'd be rather positively surprised.

This then leaves a lot of room to grow for the other 'Vettes. The proposed Zora could finally go around the 'ring in less than seven minutes. Still, I am not sure if it will be able to win, or at least, come near to the Nurburgring record holder - the Porsche 911 GT2 RS who lapped the Green Hell in almost inconceivable 6:40.30.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Will Be Unveiled During a Live-Stream Event

Reportedly, the Corvette C8 Reveal will be live-streamed around the world, and this is the place you should be watching it when it starts.

Hit that bookmark!

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Corvette Looks Like an Exotic Supercar Not An American Sports Car?

The mid-engine setup allows only so many options when it comes to the design. The sheer nature of the mid-engine car immediately limits the designers directing them to make a car with the quite long back end, short front bonnet, a rather generous wheelbase, and an angled siluethe. The aerodynamics is one of the main reasons for the rather sharp and angled front end. The whole car acts as a surface designed to increase downforce levels. The C8 Corvette is no different.

However, on the released spy photos I noticed some surprising novelties compared to the previous models.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette has large rearview mirrors mounted on the edge of the windows and not suspended on the leaver on the doors.

While some may say that the rearview mirrors on the previous 'Vettes looked better (I am among them), GM had to create new door mirrors due to requirements of the European market. The C8 'Vette will be sold there as well. Europeans need their rearview mirrors larger, and if you take a look at any Euro C7 Corvette, you will see that it had somewhat bigger (and uglier) rearview mirrors than the one sold in the U.S. To mitigate this, the 2020 C8 Corvette will have different door mirrors.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette's door handles are repositioned under the air intake surface on the doors

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With such large air intakes on the sides and different execution of the doors, designers repositioned the door handles. I watched how Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter opens passenger doors of the Corvette when GM CEO Mary Barra left the 'Vette prototype at the Siller Foundation charity gala in New York. Juechter reached under the part of the intake that is on the doors and pressed the door release. I'd like them to be more like on the Huracan, somehow, but this "hidden" trick is good as well.

Despite its Looks, the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Will Have Much the Same Tires as the Regular C7 Corvette

Apart from offering advantages in terms of driving dynamics and precision, the mid-engine setup means that the wheels do not have to be as chubby as on some similarly fast "normal" cars. According to the leaked option list document and some spy pics, I found out that the standard C8 Corvette has 245/35ZR19 front tires and 305/30SR20 rear tires (rear ones grew in size from 285 profile that is on the C7. Of course, buyers will have more than one option for the tires. For the wheels too.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Has Been Rendered More Times Than We Can Count

With a shorter bonnet, the cockpit moved forward, and a large vented engine cover, rendering artists from around the world had quite a straightforward job in creating their interpretations of the new mid-engine Corvette. And after looking at many of them, I can say that rendering guru Chazcron, from MidEngineCorvetteForum.com, did the best job of all.

I would not be surprised if the new C8 Corvette ends up much like this. I do like it despite its similarities with certain Apolo supercars and even some design links with the McLaren MP4-12C.

For me, the major concern is the look of the rear end. I hope that GM designers will pull it off with enough links to the C7, but without ruining that sleek mid-engine supercar form.

Chazcron showed us that it can be done. Only, I'd like GM to remove that hideous rear spoiler you can see on the spy photos.

Other 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Renderings

This Is What We Know About The 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette's Interior

Someone (not wholly reliable though) told me that the display behind the steering wheel in the C7 Corvette has a vertical resolution of 480 pixels. That's 480p (you must know about it, at least from YouTube). The 12-inch reconfigurable display is only one of many vital novelties in the new C8 Corvette. First of all, some spy photos do reveal that Chevy kept the analog warning lights on the sides of the instrument panel. I like that touch.

On the other hand, the new mid-engine C8 Corvette's interior does show several secrets about the car as a whole. First of all, some photos reveal the Stingray trim as one of the options. The one, whose interior you see on the images, is the mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8 Stingray. The inscription is clearly visible on the upper part of the trim between the seats.

This one has a three-spoke steering wheel. Many aren't fond of it, but I think that from the driver's point of view this steering wheel will make a lot of sense.

Heavily tilted toward the driver, the central console features buttons for the transmission (no standard shifter here). More importantly than that, GM integrated an excellent dial for the infotainment system next to it. It gives out some Lexus and Benz vibes, but I don't mind it. Nevertheless, this interior does give a certain aura of premium and exclusivity thanks to chubby chunks of leather and stitching covering many, if not all, surfaces in it.

The problem may be, however, with the cargo space. Some did suggest that the new C8 Corvette will be able to carry two golf bags with ease. With an average golf bag size of 36 inches by 14 inches by 10 inches, you can pretty much visualize the cargo space in your head. Sure, we have to wait for the information about the cargo space in other possible compartments, or even behind the seats. The spy photos, though, do show that GM did not manage to provide any cargo space behind the seats.

Nevertheless, the 2020 Corvette's interior looks far more upscale than ever before. On the same note, I will say right away, that the C8 Corvette's interior should offer more room compared to all competitors you can imagine. It simply has to.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Will Feature Independent Suspension and Magnetic Ride Control

While the details of the C8 Corvette's suspension setup are not disclosed yet, thanks to the leaked option lists, I can see that the C8 Corvette has an independent suspension setup with the magnetic selective ride control. Coupled with the 245/35ZR19 front tires and 305/30SR20 rear tires, the C8 should provide unmatched levels of grip compared to any previous Corvette. The mid-engine setup apart from moving the bulk of the weight closer to the center of the car enables lower center of gravity. All these features, along with the possible active aerodynamic setup will transform the GM halo sports car into a supercar. I believe that firmly.

The rumors do suggest an active aerodynamic setup with active side skirts and spoilers. We told you about that before.

All of this will affect suspension behavior and provide some abilities that Corvette never had. Ferrari actually created a whole new brain for the electronic stability system that enables drivers to dance with their 488 GTB or the F8 Tributo and not die in the process. The 2020 Corvette could very well have something like that.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Could Have As Much As 1,000 Horsepower

With an engine positioned in front of the rear axle, but behind the driver, it would seem that manufacturers do struggle to find the perfect engine for such a setup. Not GM tough. A V-8 is behind the driver. Based on top of the well-known LT1, the engine in the "entry" 2020 Corvette will be the pushrod, 6.2-liter V-8 with 500 horsepower. It is expected to get the name of LT2.

More importantly than that (yes, with mid-engine cars, there is a more important thing than power), Corvette engineers have a chance to play with the weight distribution and with the weight balance. If they get it just right and lower that LT2 as much as possible, even the least powerful C8 Corvette should be faster around the track compared to far more powerful high-grade 'Vettes of the past.

Apart from the naturally aspirated V-8 (yay), the mid-engine 'Vette will have many other powertrain options. Rumors go as follow:

-* Corvette C8 Z06 with a 5.5-liter, V-8 (flat-plane crank) and more than 600 horsepower

-* Corvette C8 ZR1 with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter, V-8 (flat-plane crank) and more than 755 horsepower

-* Corvette C8 Zora, twin-turbocharged, V-8 and an electric motor at the front for close to 1,000 horsepower

If all of this comes to fruition this practically means that GM, in terms of performance, will compete will all imaginable sportscars, supercars, and hypercars with the mid-engine Corvette.

-* The Stingray will aim for the 911, Audi R8, AMG GT, Honda NSX

-* The Z06 will go against the likes of the Huracan (or its successor), 570S, or high-powered R8

-* The Corvette C8 ZR1 will go against the 720S, Ford GT, or the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

-* The Corvette C8 Zora performance should aim for the big guns from the McLaren, Ferrari, and Porsche

The main advantage will be a far more affordable price of the mid-engine C8 Corvette compared to, basically, any of the possible competitors I noted here. Nevertheless, this tells us something about the performance.

2018 Chevrolet Corvette C7 specifications

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Should be Able to Eclipse 60 MPH in 2.5 Seconds

With an 8-speed, dual clutch transmission (no manual, deal with it), rear axle ratio of 3.62 and 3.8, and integration of the limited slip diff, the mid-engine 2020 C8 Corvette's performance should go something like this:

In fact, some rumors suggested that the new 'Vette is "illegally" fast and quick. GM consulted the lawyers about the potential risk of selling something that fast. Take this with a grain of salt, though. If the Porsche 911 GT2 RS can legally exist, the mid-engine Corvette can too.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Will Be Offered With Lots of Options

First of all, it will be fully connected, and it will have a novel head-up display. It will also have power mirrors, sport bucket seats, and 14 speakers on its insane Bose audio system. Just read the leaked document and prepare yourself for the new mid-engine 'Vette.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Has Be In The Works For More Than 50 Years

We have published an article with a full timeline of the mid-engine Corvette. Believe it or not, GM flirted with the mid-engine Corvette idea for generations. I will list here nine exceptional mid-engine Corvette concepts envisioned before:

-* 1964 CERV II

-* 1968 XP-880

-* 1970 XP-882

-* 1972 XP-895

-* 1973 XP-897GT TWO-ROTOR CORVETTE

-* 1973 FOUR-ROTOR CORVETTE

-* 1976 AEROVETTE

-* 1986 CORVETTE INDY

-* 1990 CERV III

You can learn all you need about them here.

However, that list does not include the most important mid-engine Corvette of all time - the 1964 XP-819 built by none other than the father of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov. If you look at it and compare it with the spy photos of the upcoming mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8 you can see some similarities with it - namely that extremely pointed front end. I know that this is a sort of a Corvette trademark, but considering that GM slapped small pictures of the Zora Arkus-Duntov on the Corvettes camouflage it revealed at the Siller Foundation in New York, I think that it hints at this.

The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette's Pricing Schedule is a Secret but It Could Go Beyond the $100,000 Mark

I don't have a clue about the C8 Corvette's pricing, but I will offer my educated guess:

Car And Driver's Amazing Scenario

Car and Driver reported that they've heard that the Chevy will not change its pricing philosophy concerning the Corvette. At $62,500, the C8 Corvette would be five grand more expensive compared to the C7. That's a logical conclusion, but I find it too good to be true.

The Best Case Scenario

The price for the entry-level 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray will be $70,000. If this happens, I will say that GM did the most incredible thing in the history of mid-engine cars - offered an affordable mid-engine beast that no one has an answer to.

The Most Likely Scenario

The price for the entry-level 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray will be $80,000. I mean consider that the AMG GT (it is not even a mid-engine car) starts at something like $113,500. The cheapest mid-engine car that could, one way or another, compete with the mid-engine Corvette is an Audi R8. That one starts at $169,990.

Honestly, if GM manages to offer the mid-engine Corvette C8 with 500+ horsepower at less than $80,000, I will be amazed beyond words. Heck, I am amazed just by knowing that Car and Driver reported that the "Chevrolet will hold the line on pricing for the 2020 Corvette."

See, this is where I find the problem - apart from all the tech, engineering insanity, speed, and precision, mid-engine cars with supercar performance are not designed to attract "normal" people.

Usually, mid-engine cars of this magnitude are seriously expensive. I am talking about $100+ grand.

While researching about the new mid-engine 2020 Corvette, I realized something profoundly concerning. A lot of people who are actually into Corvettes and want to make a decision about buying a new one seem to think something on these lines - if I save 20 or 30 grand, get some great lease, and don't change my smartphone, PC, or shoes for the next couple of years, I will be able to buy a Corvette.

Elsewhere, the decision about buying a new mid-engine car with supercar performance is quite different. You don't save for it. Not because you can't, but because it doesn't make sense for you to save on something to buy a mid-engine supercar. If you have to save, you don't drive a mid-engine supercar. End of the debate. I feel that GM with the new Corvette tends to aim for types of customers who don't save to buy a supercar.

Conclusion

The delay-plagued 2020 C8 Corvette finally nears its reveal. Hopefully, GM solved the electrical issues (we can expect a 48-volt electric system inside), stiffened up the aluminum chassis that the twin-turbo V-8 managed to break, and handled alleged designed issues. On the more realistic note, I am quite sure that one of the primary reasons for the delays is the wait for a PR-favorable timeframe for its reveal. You know, a timeframe when the mid-engine Corvette reveal makes the biggest bang. That's, apparently, the 18th of July. The 199th day of the year. Soon after the reveal, GM will start taking orders with the first delivers starting late 2019.

Nevertheless, a move from the standard FR layout to the mid-engine design is a sign that the Corvette matured and evolved from the world of conventionality to the world of utter bliss.

More than that, the mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8 is a message to everyone:

We don't *uck around anymore!

Further reading

Read our speculative review of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Zora ZR1

Read our full review of the 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1

Read up on the 1953-1962 Chevy C1 Corvette

Check out our review of the 1963-1968 Chevy C2 Corvette

Read our in-depth review of the 1969 Chevy Corvette 427 C3

Read up on our review of the 1997-2004 Chevy C5 Corvette}

Read up on the 2005-2013 Chevy C6 Corvette

Check out our full review of the 2014-2019 Chevy C7 Corvette

The 9 concepts that led to the mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette C8