Although production of the mid-engined Corvette C8 was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, we learned that Chevrolet has big plans for the sports car, with Z06, ZR1, and Zora models underway. The Z06 is officially scheduled for 2022, and even though we don't know if it will arrive on time, we just learned a few juicy details about it from our friends over at Muscle Cars and Trucks.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will feature carbon-fiber tires

Quoting a "network of well-placed sources," Muscle Cars and Trucks claims that the Z06 will ride on carbon-fiber wheels. These rollers will be optional, so you'll have to pay extra to get them, but it's still good news. Like the Ford GT, the Chevy Corvette will finally benefit from wheels that are much lighter and more durable than standard alloy rims. The wheels will measure 20 inches in the front and 21 inches in the rear and will come wrapped in high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires.

This is the same rubber that Porsche offered on the outgoing 911 GT3 RS and 911 GT2 RS models and features a tread compound transferred directly from Michelin's race-spec tires. Michelin will most likely produce bespoke versions of these tires not only for the Z06 but for the upcoming ZR1 and Zora models too.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will feature active aerodynamics

The Corvette Z06 will be a far more aerodynamic car than the standard Corvette, mainly thanks to its active aero features. The package will include an adjustable rear wing, adjustable front splitter, and even adjustable side flaps, all of which will adjust themselves electronically during braking, cornering, and while accelerating. But just like the carbon-fiber wheels, the aero features will be optional and likely available with the familiar Z07 package. The source mentioned above says we should forget about a fixed rear wing for the Z06.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 could have a center-mounted exhaust

The C8-generation Corvette no longer features a mid-mounted exhaust. Chevrolet dropped this already traditional feature for a quad-exhaust layout with two pipes at each corner of the bumper. But the center-mounted exhaust could make a comeback on the Z06 model. Muscle Cars and Trucks says that Chevrolet is currently analyzing this option as a way to improve the sound of the 5.5-liter V-8 that will power the V-8. A re-routed exhaust that exits through the center will reportedly "improve the pitch of the exhaust note, and allow the mid-engine Corvette Z06 to sound more like an exotic car." It may sound like a somewhat silly reason to go through all that trouble, but given that Chevy is now aiming at the mid-engined supercar market, it's not exactly ridiculous to worry about such things.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will arrive in 2022 if things go as planned

Chevrolet is already facing delays. The 2020 model year Corvette has been discontinued much earlier than planned, while production of the 2021 model year C8 will also be shorter. The Corvette Z06 was originally scheduled for 2022, but the factory shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic could push it back to early 2023. Either way, the Z06 will be followed by the Grand Sport, which will feature a hybrid drivetrain in 2023 and the ZR1 in 2024. The 2025 model year should bring the Corvette Zora, a beefed-up hybrid with a whopping 1,000 horsepower.