A Corvette with the engine behind the driver is coming. Finally. Maybe? Probably, as there’s been tons of reports and mules running around that prove the real thing is right around the corner. And according supposedly leaked documents on Corvette Forum, the all-new C8 may have up to 850 horsepower using a twin-turbo V8.
A recent post indicated that one of their members got their hands on an analyst’s document that revealed not only the engine options but also the trim levels for the upcoming C8 Corvette. That document said two new V8 engines are set to begin production at GM’s Tonawanda, New York plant: a 4.2-liter and a 5.5-liter. Both are said to be twin-turbocharged. And they could see use in some Cadillacs as well.
The link to the document has been taken down, but according to the forum, blog the model codes of the document reveal the future of both the C7 Stingray and the mid-engined C8.
From the article on the post:
The current Corvette is listed as two distinct variants: the Y1BC and the Y2BC. The Y1 is the current C7 Corvette, and it’s listed well into the future with 2021 as the last year of motor production. So it looks like the C7 will live at least another three years, but there is no word on a replacement front-engine platform in this document.
Moving to the Y2, or the mid-engine car, it seems like there will be a big split between the three motors. IHS Markit has the 6.2L being the main choice for the car with an average of 14,000 yearly units from 2019 to 2021, with the production of that V8 dropping a bit after that.
The 4.2L motor is next on the list with a projected yearly production volume averaging more than 7,000 units.
Finally, the 5.5L carries the smallest production quantity with around 5,000 engines per year coming out of the Tonawanda plant.
In addition to the C7 and the C8 the document also allegedly revealed a “Cadillac Sports Car” using the same 4.2-liter and 5.5-liter motors, both of which are expected to be turbocharged. The 5.5-liter motor is reported to have an output of up to 850 HP and 720 lb-ft of torque. The 4.2 is speculated to have a max output of 420 HP.
The current C7 variants can easily run with performance and exotic cars costing two and three times as much. Yet if these performance figures on the upcoming C8 are true, it looks like we may have a Corvette that can compete with hyper-exotic cars.
Jalopnik has reached out to Chevrolet for comment and we will update this post if they respond. Take all this with a huge grain of salt, of course, but it’s a compelling and plausible dose of info on the next Corvette.