The Chevrolet Corvette (C8) is the eighth generation of the Corvette sports car manufactured by American automobile manufacturer Chevrolet. It is the first rear mid-engine Corvette since the model's introduction in 1953, differing from the traditional front mid-engine design started in 1963. The C8 was announced in April 2019, and the coupe made its official debut on July 18, 2019, in Tustin, California. The convertible made its debut in October 2019 during a media event at the Kennedy Space Center to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Production officially began on February 3, 2020, delayed by the 2019 General Motors strike.
Two variants of the C8 would go racing globally. The base model Corvette would serve as the basis for the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, debuting in July 2019, later going on to win the 2020 and 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championships and the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship.[5][6] It would later be succeeded by the Z06-based Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2024, following the discontinuation of the LM GTE class.[7]
Overview
The Corvette C8 is GM's first rear mid-engine sports car since the Pontiac Fiero. It features a vastly different design from previous Corvettes, with an all-new aluminum architecture and coilover springs in place of the rear transverse mono-leaf spring used on prior models. The exterior features more aggressive aerodynamics including larger air intakes and prominent side scoops. A trunk is located at the rear, with additional storage space at the front of the car. Combined, these provide 13 cuft of cargo space, 2 cuft less than that of the C7. As a result of the switch to a mid-engine layout, the passenger cell has been shifted forward by 16.5 in. The cockpit has been designed to be driver-centric, with numerous controls mounted on the center console as well as utilizing a new hexagonal steering wheel. A 12 in digital screen replaces the instrument cluster and reflects one of the six driving modes selected, and is accompanied by an 8 in touchscreen. A special Z button is located on the steering wheel; named in honor of earlier performance packages like Z51, Z06, and ZR1, it allows the driver to quickly activate customized performance settings.
Stingray
Trim levels and options
Three trim levels are currently available, 1LT, 2LT and 3LT, augmented by three suspension setups, FE1, FE3 and FE4 which correspond with the two Z51 Performance packages. In addition, three seat options are also available: GT1, GT2 and Competition Sport. The interior is upholstered in leather, Microsuede or performance textile with carbon fiber or aluminum trims. A Performance Data Recorder has been upgraded with a higher resolution camera as well as a new interface. GM's virtual camera mirror is optional, which projects video from the backup camera onto the rear-view mirror.
Engine
The Stingray uses a new version of the LS-based GM small-block engine derived from the C7 Stingray's LT1, now called the LT2. The new naturally aspirated 6.2 L OHV V8 with crossplane crankshaft is rated at 490 hp at 6,450 rpm and 465 lbft of torque at 5,150 rpm, an improvement of 40 hp and 10 lbft over the outgoing LT1. The engine uses a dry sump lubrication system. Like the LT1, the LT2 features Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, which is used when the car is subjected to low load scenarios such as highway cruising.
The engine has two radiators, one on each side in the front. The Z51 package includes a third radiator, a radiator on the rear driver's side, cooling both engine oil and transmission lubricant, taking air in through the rear quarter panel opening.
Grand Sport
The Grand Sport was unveiled on March 21, 2026 with a new 6.7 liter V8, with availability in late 2026 for the 2027 model year.[8]
Z06
The Z06 is an LT6-powered version of the Corvette, unveiled on October 26, 2021; it entered production in 2022 as a homologation vehicle for the 2023 model year.
Trim levels and options
The Z06 has three trim levels adding various interior comfort and technology upgrades: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ. Additionally, the Z07 Performance Package can be applied to any trim, adding improved brakes, carbon fiber aerodynamic elements, suspension tuning, and performance tires.
Engine
The Z06 uses the new naturally aspirated 5.5 L LT6 flat-plane crank DOHC V8, producing 670 hp at 8,400 rpm, 460 lbft of torque at 6,300 rpm. Redlined at 8,600 rpm, the LT6 surpasses the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series' M159 engine to become the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8. A modified version of this engine has powered the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R since 2019, and many features in the racing engine carry over to the road engine. Other features of this new engine include a cast aluminum block, dual coil valve springs supporting titanium intake & sodium filled exhaust valves, forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rods, active split intake manifold with twin 87mm throttle bodies, four-into-two-into-one stainless steel exhaust headers, and a factory six-stage 10-quart dry sump oiling system with individual crank bay scavenging.
E-Ray
The E-Ray performance hybrid version of the C8 Corvette was unveiled on January 17, 2023. Similar to the Grand Sport model from the previous C7 generation, a significant portion of the Z06 body is reused for the E-Ray with different badging. Also, 21" rear and 20" front wheel sizes are ported from the Z06 with some unique wheel options for the E-Ray. The 6.2 L engine, DCT transmission, and performance exhaust components are reused from the C8 Stingray model. Performance hybrid 1.9 kWh battery assembly, electric motor drive assembly, regenerative braking, hybrid electronics, and hybrid cooling system are new to the E-Ray model. The E-Ray entered production as a 2024 model year Corvette. At initial product launch, it was the quickest production Corvette ever made, as well as the first with all wheel drive, and the first performance hybrid.
Trim levels and options
The E-Ray has three trim levels adding various interior comfort and technology upgrades: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ. Additionally, a ZER Performance Package can be applied to any trim. It includes summer only tires, a rear spoiler wicker extension, but no chassis tuning. The E-Ray comes standard with Performance Brembo Carbon Ceramic brakes and an eAWD drivetrain with no mechanical linkage between rear and front drivetrains.
Performance
Chevrolet reported a 10.5-second quarter-mile time and a 0–60 mph time of 2.5 seconds, making it the quickest Corvette up to the initial E-Ray production date. The 6.2 L engine and performance exhaust combination produces 495 hp and 470 lbft to the rear wheels, like the Stingray Z51 model. The performance hybrid electric drive system gives an additional 160 hp and 125 lbft to the front of the vehicle for overall totals of 655 hp and 595 lbft.
ZR1
The Corvette ZR1 was revealed on July 25, 2024, at a private event in Miami, Florida, and a video revealing the vehicle was uploaded to Chevrolet's YouTube channel the same day. It is the most powerful Corvette to date, as well as the first to go into full scale production with a twin-turbocharged engine. This is in stark contrast to last generation's version of the ZR1, which instead utilized a supercharged engine located in the front. The starting price for the ZR1 is $173,300, according to the Chevrolet official website page.
Performance
The ZR1 utilizes an LT7 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged DOHC V8 engine similar to that of its sister model, the Z06, producing 1064 hp at 7,000 rpm and 828 lbft of torque at 6,000 rpm. According to Chevrolet, it is the most powerful V8 engine the company has ever built and is linked to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The car itself has a dry weight of 3670 lb, while the convertible weighs slightly more, at 3758 lb. It is rear-wheel drive and has a top speed of 233 mph as tested by GM president Mark Reuss.
Chevrolet claims the ZR1 can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 2.3 seconds and complete a quarter mile in 9.6 seconds at 152 mph when equipped with the ZTK performance package. Without the ZTK performance package, the ZR1 can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds and complete the quarter mile in 9.7 seconds. The ZR1 set a time of 6:50.763 around the Nürburgring race track.[11]
ZR1X
The Corvette ZR1X, introduced for the 2026 model year, is a hybrid variant of the C8 Corvette, combining the twin-turbocharged 5.5L LT7 V8 engine from the ZR1 with an upgraded version of the electric motor and all-wheel-drive system from the E-Ray. It is reported to produce a combined 1250 hp, making it the most powerful Corvette ever produced. Chevrolet says the ZR1X can achieve a 0–60 mph (97 km/h) time of under 2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of under 9 seconds.[12] They also claim the ZR1X can pull 1.0 g latitudinally and longitudinally, thanks to improvements made to the chassis controls from the E-Ray’s eAWD system. The model features advanced aerodynamics, including a carbon-fiber splitter, dive planes, and a high-downforce rear wing. It also features a new standard braking kit, with Alcon 10-piston front and 6-piston rear calipers, the largest ever offered on a Corvette, paired to carbon ceramic rotors. Chevrolet says these will produce 1.9 g of deceleration from 180 mph to 120 mph.[13] The ZR1X set a Nürburgring lap time of 6:49.275, beating the Ford Mustang GTD to set a new lap record for an American production car.[11]
Model year changes
2020 model year
The first production model of the C8 Corvette was the Stingray with a new mid-mounted 6.2 L LT2 V8 engine. It was available as a 2-door targa top or a retractable hardtop convertible. The targa top was available in body color, transparent, or visible carbon fiber.
2021 model year
Trim levels and options
2021 saw a list of changes following the 2020 launch year of the C8 Corvette. Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat and Blade Silver Metallic were retired. Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat and Silver Flare Metallic were added as premium color options. Additionally, full length racing stripes saw 4 new color options.
The interior saw the addition of Sky Cool Gray / Strike Yellow color available only on the 3LT. Magnetic Ride became available separate to the Z51 package for the 2021 model year. The Z51 package saw a price increase from $5,000 to $5,995 starting 2021. The front lift saw an increase from $1,495 to $1,995 as well.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard in 2021. Black Trident Spoke wheels, all weather floor liners, and carbon fiber mirror covers all saw minor price increases as well.
Production
Awards
The Corvette C8 was named 2020 Motor Trend Car of the Year, and was also featured on 2020 Car and Driver 10Best. The C8 was also named 2020 North American Car of the Year, 2020 Detroit Free Press Car of the Year, 2020 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Best of the Year, and Edmunds Top Rated Sports Car for 2020 and 2021.
The Corvette C8 Z06 won both the MotorTrend Performance Vehicle of the Year[20] and the Road & Track Performance Car of the Year,[21] both for 2023.
The Corvette C8 Stingray and E-Ray won the 2025 Car and Driver 10 Best.
Motorsport
C8.R
The racing version of the base model C8, called the Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, was unveiled in 2019 alongside the Corvette C8 convertible.[5] Built to LM GTE regulations, the C8.R was the first mid-engined Corvette built for racing by Chevrolet and Pratt Miller Motorsports, as well as the first Corvette race car to use a flat-plane crank V8.[22] It completed its debut in the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona. The C8.R won a total of three Teams' championships and three Drivers' championships during its tenure, before being retired in 2024 following the discontinuation of the LM GTE ruleset.
Z06 GT3.R
The Z06-based
External links
References
- Rich Ceppos. 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Is More Than the Best Corvette Ever Car and Driver, October 15, 2019^
- Rich Ceppos. Tested: 2023 Corvette Z06 Is an American Ferrari and Then Some Car and Driver, October 2, 2022^
- Ezra Dyer. First Test: 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Enters Another Dimension