Currently reading: New Chevrolet Corvette: Stingray name confirmed for reinvented icon
Mid-engined Porsche 911 rival will be fully revealed on 18 July, bearing the badge of the pivotal second-gen model

Chevrolet has confirmed that the long-awaited C8 generation of its iconic Corvette sports car will receive the Stingray name, a moniker that has adorned various Corvette models since 1963. 

Update: Mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray arrives with 495bhp V8

The Stingray badge had its first outing on 1963's second-generation Corvette, but was discontinued in 1976. It was revived in 2014 to identify entry-level variants of the C7 Corvette, launched in 2014.

The announcement, accompanied by the reveal of the new model's badge designs, is the first since the model's 18 July launch date was officially confirmed earlier this year. 

Stingray symbol black onwhite

Switching away from a front-engined layout for the first time in the car's 66-year history, a video (below) showed the Porsche 911 rival being driven hard at the Nürburgring, revealing the expected V8 soundtrack. 

Prototypes of the C8 Corvette, showing the distinctive long rear deck and cab-forward proportions indicative of a mid-engined model, have been circling for some time. Reports from the US suggest there have been delays in development owing to significant issues with the chassis and electrical architecture. 

While it's not clear yet if those technical problems have been overcome, a Corvette dealer in New Jersey was taking $1000 deposits for the new model, even before the reveal date confirmation.  

In a further break with tradition, the C8 Corvette will be sold alongside a version of the current car. Sources inside General Motors, which owns the Chevrolet brand, indicate that we can expect a slightly revised version of the existing C7 as an entry-level alternative. Although the C8 will carry a price premium over its front-engined sibling, it will be sold at a price that significantly undercuts the junior supercars offered by other manufacturers.

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There will be no surprise in the choice of launch powerplant, with the C8 set to reach the market using a developed version of General Motors' current LT-spec 6.2-litre V8. Although this engine still uses pushrods, and will be unable to match the low-down torque of turbocharged alternatives, the all-alloy unit has many virtues: it is light, responsive, relatively cheap to build and able to generate around 500bhp with minimal work.

Corvette c8 05

It also gives a clear connection between the radical new car and the front-engined Corvette that will continue in production. This could be advantageous given the existing car has an older and more conservative buying profile than other sports cars in the US.

Punchier powerplants are a certainty, however – especially given GM’s history of offering faster variants soon after the launch of a base car.

US media has previously reported that these will include a newly developed overhead camshaft V8, set to be sold in both naturally aspirated and twin-turbo forms, the latter sure to produce at least as much as the 745bhp of the current supercharged Corvette ZR1. Beyond that, a hybrid version will add an electrically powered front axle to the mix, potentially giving a total system output approaching 1000bhp.

Gallery: Corvette Stingray - America's greatest sports car?

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Another big change will be a new twin-clutch transaxle gearbox (likely featuring eight speeds) developed by transmission supplier Tremec and effectively removing the option of a conventional manual version – a significant shift given the relatively high percentage of current Corvettes that are still sold with a clutch pedal.

Like its rivals from Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, the new Corvette will display its mid-mounted engine through a glass cover.

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Despite GM’s sale of its European operations to the PSA Group last year, the new car is being developed with significant use of the Nürburgring Nordschleife and we can expect the sort of aggressive aerodynamics necessary for good high-speed performance there, possibly including active elements.

But while the C8 will no doubt be extremely fast, the need to keep costs down means that the use of expensive materials will be limited. The chassis is believed to be an aluminium spaceframe, and it will have the glassfibre bodywork that has been used by every previous generation. Carbon brakes are certain to be available, but the new Corvette is likely to stick to a base specification of cast-iron discs for the same reason.

While the C7 Corvette has a ‘targa’ roof with removable panels, it seems likely that the C8 will shift to a more conventional split between coupé and a convertible, the latter to follow at a later date.

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Production of right-hand-drive variants for European, Asian and Australian markets is likely, in part due to the success that the Ford Mustang has enjoyed in the UK and Australia, but also due to strict new laws that prohibit the import of left-hand-drive models in certain markets. 

A US source said that the loss of Vauxhall and Opel has not made a significant difference in the case for European sales, with the C6 and C7 Corvettes both sold on this side of the Atlantic in small volumes through accredited dealers, of which the UK has just one. The current Corvette's 6.2-litre V8, however, falls foul of impending WLTP regulations, meaning it, and its powertrain-sharing Camaro stablemate, can no longer be sold new in the UK from August. 

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Mike Duff

Mike Duff
Title: Contributing editor

Mike has been writing about cars for more than 25 years, having defected from radio journalism to follow his passion. He has been a contributor to Autocar since 2004, and is a former editor of the Autocar website. 

Mike joined Autocar full-time in 2007, first as features editor before taking the reins at autocar.co.uk. Being in charge of the video strategy at the time saw him create our long running “will it drift?” series. For which he apologies.

He specialises in adventurous drive stories, many in unlikely places. He once drove to Serbia to visit the Zastava factory, took a £1500 Mercedes W124 E-Class to Berlin to meet some of its taxi siblings and did Scotland’s North Coast 500 in a Porsche Boxster during a winter storm. He also seems to be a hypercar magnet, having driven such exotics as the Koenigsegg One:1, Lamborghini SCV12, Lotus Evija and Pagani Huayra R.

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www.Naagin.in 10 June 2019

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DesertNative 13 April 2019

C-8 Corvette to Replace, not Join C-7

According to Car and Driver, the C-7 will end production later this year.  The C-8 will be the only Corvette in 2020.  Further, the base model is to be about $5000 more than the base C-7, or about $62000 (under £48000, less than €55000).  If true, the C-7 can go away; they'll sell every C-8 they can make. 

DesertNative 13 April 2019

C-8 Corvette to Replace, not Join C-7

According to Car and Driver, the C-7 will end production later this year.  The C-8 will be the only Corvetter in 2020.  Further, the base model is to be about $5000 more than the base C-7, or about $62000 (under £48000, less than €55000).  If true, the C-7 can go away; they'll sell every C-8 they can make.