2021 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z51 - Driven
Chevy quite literally redefined what the Corvette name means when it unveiled the all-new, mid-engined C8 Corvette – a model that was decades in the making. Finally bringing the mid-engine configuration to the Corvette was no easy undertaking, but in the end, the new Corvette looked like a supercar, performed like a high-end sportscar, and created quite a stir in the automotive community thanks to its attractive low price. It seems impossible that a car like the C8 Corvette could retail for less than $60,000, but as promised it does ($59,995 as of the time of this writing). This makes the C8 Corvette come off as a much-cheaper alternative to many exotic cars, so how does it hold up? We spent a week with the 2021 C8 Corvette 3LT with the Z51 performance package to find out.
Lottery Winner Scores a Chevrolet Corvette C8, But It’s Never Than Simple
A lucky individual from Georgia named Dennis Kahler scored a huge win when he won a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette C8 from a scratch-off Georgia Lottery ticket. He also pocketed a cool $250,000, which would’ve made anyone’s day.
Turns out, some jackpot prizes take time to bear fruit, especially if there’s no plan in place to actually award Kahler with a Corvette C8 the moment he won it. What was supposed to be a joyous moment for the lucky fella has turned into bouts of frustration after Kahler discovered that the Georgia Lottery didn’t set up a designated winner’s car or even acquire a Corvette C8 order slot.
The Chevy C8 Corvette Is Coming To Forza Horizon 4!!!
Ever since Chevrolet unveiled the Corvette C8 in 2019, it was only a matter of time before the first mid-engine Corvette in the nameplate’s history would find its way to the world of Forza Horizon 4.
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is now being unleashed in Forza 4. Ok, so we’re all going to have to wait until January 14, 2021 for the unleashing to become official, but all the same, the ‘Vette C8 will make its long-awaited debut in Forza 4 alongside other automotive luminaries like the 1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z and the 1965 Honda S800. New seasonal events, challenges, and stunts will also be included in the Series 31 update.
You Can Now Gain 200 Horsepower In Your Chevy C8 Corvette With a Bolt-On Supercharger
If there’s one thing we know about Chevrolet Corvette enthusiasts, it’s that this crowd isn’t a patient lot. That’s important to know because the more powerful Corvette C8 Z06 hasn’t been revealed yet, and instead of patiently waiting for the model to drop, owners have turned to the aftermarket world to get their fix of extra power.
A sea of turbocharged setups has already hit the market, but supercharged options have been dry, at least until now. Kansas-based supercharger company ProCharger has just revealed the first supercharger option for the new Corvette C8, and it is a doozy. The full specs are yet to be announced, but the tuner has provided Corvette C8 owners something to look forward to: an extra 200 horsepower. That’s a promising start, at the very least.
Here’s What’s New In the 2021 Chevy C8 Corvette
The C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette was off to a rough start due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The production shut down not only delayed deliveries, but also shortened the 2020 model year run and postponed upcoming versions of the sports car. But the factory is now back to full throttle and Chevrolet is rolling out 2021 model year cars. The good news is that they come with a few upgrades.
The C8 Corvette Grand Sport Won’t Exist Because We’re Getting Something Better
Back in April 2020, a leaked timeline revealed what new versions of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 we should expect in the coming years. Chevy was reportedly planning to to unveil a brand-new Z06 for the 2022 model year and a Grand Sport version for the 2023 model year. But a new report claims that Chevrolet decided to axe the Grand Sport nameplate. Instead, it will roll out a new model called E-Ray. Just like the cancelled next-gen Grand Sport, it will be a hybrid.
This Race Between a Chevy C8 Corvette and a Rolls-Royce Wraith Hardly Seems Fair
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 and the Rolls-Royce Wraith share a few things in common. Both are two-door models. Both are also fast, powerful, and, well, that’s pretty much it. If you thought of two premium models that couldn’t be more different from one another, you’d probably land at the mid-engine sports car and the luxury rig on four wheels.
Fortunately, drag races don’t discriminate. If you have a car that can burn rubber on a strip, you’re more than welcome to try your luck against an equally potent opponent. Even better, if you have someone like Hennessey who’s willing to host a race between a Chevrolet Corvette C8 and a Rolls-Royce Wraith, then you get your fill of fun and entertainment, all wrapped in a four-minute video that’s a must-watch if you have a modicum of spare time.
You Should Probably Quit Driving Your 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette
It’s 2020 and vehicle safety is more important than ever. You would think that as advanced as we are as a civilization, we’d be able to nail something as simple – in a generalized way – as vehicle safety. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and that’s why GM has placed a recall and stop-sale on the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette, 2021 Cadillac CT4, CT5, XT4, the 2021 Buick Encore GX, and the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer. So what’s the deal? Well, if you own any of these models, you just might go to hit your brakes, just to realize that you suddenly can’t stop.
This is NOT How You Want to Find Your Chevy C8 Corvette
Online trending challenges have become the rage these days. Some challenges like the Ice Bucket Challenge caught one because they were tied to a larger and very important cause. Other challenges like the Tide Pod Challenge were stupid and dangerous and should never have even started. Somewhere between those two challenges lies the “drop your car challenge.” Nothing about this challenge served a higher purpose, but there’s also nothing dangerous about it. The purpose of this challenge is simple: show off your car. That’s it. It’s an ultimately harmless exercise that revolves simply letting everyone see what your car is. Or at least that’s what we thought until we saw this photo of a Chevrolet Corvette C8, or whatever’s left of it. This is a different interpretation of the “drop_your_car_challenge,” and, unfortunately, it’s not a very pleasant one.
2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette by Pandem
Widebody kits look good on virtually any car. Whether it’s a drift-spec Toyota Supra or a humble Daihatsu Copen, everything can be tricked out to please the eye with a neatly-designed, flared-out body kit. Including the mid-engined Chevy C8 Corvette, as Pandem was kind enough to demonstrate.
The 2022 Chevy Corvette Z06 Will Have an Engine on Par With That of the Porsche 911 GT3
What if I told you that the 2022 Chevy C8 Corvette Z06 wasn’t going to feature a turbocharged engine? Would you be sad, depressed, or upset? Well, you shouldn’t be, because a new report claims exactly that and it’s very good news. A more potent turbocharged engine will be found in a model that sits above the Z06, but the Z06 will feature a free-breathing, 5.5-liter, flat-plane V-8. Why is this good news? Well, grab a coffee and let me explain.
Chevy Has Recalled The C8 Corvette Over Frunk Faults, But Still Blames Owners
Back on July 10, 2020, we told you about the C8 Corvette’s frunk problem – you know; the one where the front hood opens as you’re driving for no reason? Well, it took 5 days for GM to issue a statement, and in that statement, it blames drivers for the Funk opening on its own. Now, just over two months later, Chevy and GM are issuing a recall that apparently affects more than 6,000 2020 model year C8 Corvettes, however, you apparently still don’t know how to properly latch the front hood.
The Australian-Spec Chevy C8 Corvette Won’t Wear a Chevy or Holden Badge
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette can hardly be called a new car anymore. Sure, it’s the latest Corvette, but as it approaches its first year on the market after getting loads of attention from journos, bloggers, vloggers, and influencers, it’s not new anymore. Unless you happen to live in Australia, that is, where the C8 Vette hasn’t arrived yet. When it does, it will not be sold under the Chevrolet or Holden blazon.
Engineering Explained Exposes the C8 Corvette’s 5 Big Flaws and Why They Are Actually Impressive
Recent reports from the NHTSA revealed that the Chevrolet Corvette C8 has a big issue with the front trunk lid, which can open unexpectedly and with no warning. Owners also reported uneven panel gaps, so the new C8 is struggling with a few quality issues. Some have also complained that the Corvette C8 comes with features and tech that aren’t exactly suitable for a modern sports car, such as brake by wire, a pushrod engine, and all-season tires as standard. But the folks over at Engineering Explain claim that these "flaws" are actually impressive features to have. Here’s how they explain it.
GM Blames Drivers for the 2020 C8 Corvette’s Frunk Problem
Earlier this month I told you about the C8 Corvette’s frunk problem – basically a situation where the frunk, despite being properly latched, would fly open at speed, damaging the car and putting the driver at risk. At the time, every reported incident was pretty clear that there were no visual or audio warnings that the frunk was open. Now, GM is basically saying that it comes down to driver error and that it cannot identify any mechanical issues.
The 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Has a Frunk Problem
Back in May we brought you a fun little tidbit about how the C8 Corvette’s frunk acts as a speed limiter. Well, that was a fun twist, but the idea is that if the frunk isn’t securely latched, there are visual and audible warnings inside and the car’s speed is limited to 82 mph. Now, complaints are starting to show up in forums and directly to the NSHTA with claims that the C8 Corvette’s frunk is randomly opening at speed, blocking the view of the driver, damaging the vehicle, and — obviously – creating a very dangerous scenario.
Chevrolet C8 Corvette by Extreme Turbo Systems
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is awesome in it of itself. With 495 horsepower on tap in the Z51 guise, the 2020 Vette can set a blistering pace, taking only three seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. So if a 495-horsepower Corvette C8 Z51 is already capable of such speeds, imagine what a 736-horsepower Corvette C8 is capable of when it goes under the tuning ringer.
Extreme Turbo Systems — the name says it all — recently worked on a bone stock Corvette C8 Z51 with the goal of raising its power to supercar levels. The tuning firm even released a video of the Vette C8 strapped to a dyno rig, undergoing serious testing. The video isn’t particularly exciting, but make no mistake about it, this Corvette C8 Z51 isn’t your typical 2020 Corvette. You might even say that this Vette can give the Lamborghini Aventador S a serious run for its money.
Sigala Designs Is Currently Designing a Widebody Kit for the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette
Production of the Chevrolet Corvette C8 might not go as planned due to the coronavirus pandemic, but tuning companies are still gearing up to deliver aftermarket parts and kits for the American sports car. The folks over at Sigala Designs are working on a new widebody kit for the Corvette C8 and their latest teaser suggests that it will turn the mid-engined Chevy into an even more aggressive beast.
People Are Missing The Point of This Race Between a Hennessey-Modded C8 Corvette and a Bone Stock C7 Corvette
It’s almost every day that we stumble upon a new drag racing video. The usual suspects are supercars that, barely tuned, can do insane quarter-mile times or multi-car races attempting to show viewers which car from a certain segment is the best at going really quickly and at stopping.
Then there’s the sort of video we have here today for you where someone pits a stock car against a modified one and then, mouths wide open, we watch as the one that should win duly wins. But there’s more to it than just that.
This Widebody C8 Corvette is the Mid-Engined Chevy We Deserved
The first mid-engined Corvette in history, the C8 is one cool sports car that’s closer than ever to supercar territory. Sadly, production of the C8 was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Chevy won’t build additional 2020 model year cars. It also seems that the 2021 model year will be a short production year too, so getting a C8 will be rather tricky in the next six to 12 months. Production of the Z06, ZR1, and Zora are also postponed, but if you’re a fan of beefed-up Corvettes, Car MStyle Design just posted a widebody concept of the C8 to keep you excited.
Is This The Most Expensive 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette?
GM pledged to keep the price of the Corvette C8 down and kept its promise with the announcement that the first mid-engined ’Vette will start from just $59,995. It is, then, only natural that we should take a peek at the other end of the scale and try to find some really expensive Corvette C8s. With neither the Z06 or the ZR1 out yet, this fully loaded C8 may just be one of the most expensive out there. For now, at least.
Callaway Cars is arguably one of the most recognizable American specialty manufacturer in the business today. It’s been around since 1977, and in the 43 years that it’s been around, the company has been responsible for a lot of builds, programs, and projects, including its main series of projects, all of which are identified with a “C,” followed by a specific project number. The most recent of these projects was the C21 Aerowagen, a coach-built shooting brake version of the Chevrolet Corvette C7 that was launched in 2017.
This introduction is important because Callaway is in the process of building a special program for the all-new Corvette C8. It’s unclear if this project will be identified as the “C22,” but it remains no less significant in part due to the Corvette C8’s status as the first-ever mid-engine Corvette in the nameplate’s long and illustrious history. For now, the program isn’t close to being completed, but that didn’t stop Callaway from previewing a few of the program’s more notable items, including a new generation of the company’s famed “Double-D” exhaust system. There’s more to this program than the exhaust, and, needless to say, we can’t wait for what Callaway has in store for the mighty Corvette C8.
For $3,000 You Can Have Lambo Doors Installed on your 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette
Most Lamborghinis have abandoned them, tuners consider them a relic of the ’00s and you’d be hard-pressed to find any modern car they are suited to, yet, for just $3,000, Eikon Motorsports offers to fit scissor doors to your C8 for that obnoxious NFS Underground 2 feel. Sadly, light bars and smoke canons are not included.