Mid-Engine Corvette Rumor Mill Finally Gets Meaty Evidence

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Unexpected plant investments. A suspicious trademarked model name. Colonel Mustard in the library with a revolver.

There’s been plenty of clues to fuel the inferno of rumors surrounding a looming mid-engine Corvette, but long-range images published by Autocar give us what we really want — photographic evidence.

The images show an oddly-proportioned Corvette C7 test mule on the track with other General Motors vehicles. We say oddly proportioned, as the vehicle has rear buttresses and a flat rear deck, traits commonly associated with mid-engine vehicles. It’s hard to come to a conclusion other than yes, this is what I think it is.

All of this bodes well for ‘Vette aficionados who have been waiting their entire lives to get their hands on a mid-engine version of the classic nameplate.

Last week, GM sunk $290 million into its Bowling Green, Kentucky Corvette plant to pay for assembly upgrades and modifications, and earlier this month, the automaker filed a trademark application for the “ZR1” name. The last ZR1 was a C6 model packing a 639-horsepower LS9 V8.

Couple these photos, GM’s tip-toeing around, and a May Car & Driver report that stated a mid-engine C8 Corvette will bow in 2018 as a 2019 model (citing a trustworthy source), and the cake seems more baked than ever. The C&D report’s source said we can expect to see a production version unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2018.

While Autocar‘s sources suggest a turbocharged V6 powerplant will show up in some versions of the C8, the C&D insider said the C7’s V8 will find a home in the C8, before a new four-cam V8 appears in 2019.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Jun 28, 2016

    "While Autocar‘s sources suggest a turbocharged V6 powerplant will show up in some versions of the C8" "before a new four-cam V8 appears in 2019." What. The. Actual. F***. Looks like its GMxit for me.

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    • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Jun 29, 2016

      @Hummer Most in the industry believe the Hemi is not long for this world though. It may stay in in trucks but they will be out of cars in the next few years.

  • Probert Probert on Jun 28, 2016

    2 possibilities: They're not bringing out a mid-engine, but are happy to let people speculate because the conservative vette crowd will line up to buy the last of the "real" vettes. They are bringing out a mid,but are happy to let people speculate because the conservative vette crowd will line up to buy the last of the "real" vettes.

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    • J3studio J3studio on Jun 29, 2016

      @VoGo :) We've purchased two new ones over the years. To me, buying a true two seat sports car from any manufacturer is _by definition_ not a conservative act.

  • Redav Redav on Jun 28, 2016

    My main complaint is the use of the word "bow" for "debut." A few select definitions from m-w.com: intransitive verb 1: to cease from competition or resistance: submit, yield ; also: to suffer defeat 2: to bend the head, body, or knee in reverence, submission, or shame transitive verb 2: to incline (as the head) especially in respect or submission 3: to crush with a heavy burden It's a terrible word for the intended purpose. It means both debut and to withdraw.

    • VoGo VoGo on Jun 29, 2016

      "Table" is similarly confusing. Are you putting it on the table, or taking it off the table?

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jun 29, 2016

    I won't believe it until GM confirms it. And mid-engine Corvette fans should be careful what they wish for; the front-engine version is already excellent.

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