C8 Corvette Chassis Impressions

I hate to be negative, but I can't help it. I did not like the Zeus Bronze color on the 2020 C8 Corvette. Perhaps I'll feel differently if I see it in a different setting.

The interior, in Natural Sueded Leather, did look very good. I can see this as an excellent choice when paired with Adrenaline Red or Morello Red.

2020 Corvette C8 in Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic as seen at the Petersen Museum on July 27, 2019. I'm typically not a fan of blue when it comes to car colors, but I do think that Corvette has had some nice blue hues over the years; Nassau Blue in a C2 comes to mind. The C8 continues the tradition.

Although the Zeus Bronze color didn't do much for me, I was absolutely enthralled with the cutaway C8 on display. For somebody who totally geeks out on the inner workings of Corvettes, this was classic nerdvana.

There it is folks, a Mid Engine Corvette and it's about as real as it gets. The concept had long been a dream of Zora Arkus-Duntov, considered the father of the Corvette. The idea originated in the 1960s and some prototypes were built in the '70s. As performance standards increased, the revolutionary layout would become a requirement.

The 2020 C8 Corvette powerplant is a cousin of the much loved and admired Chevrolet Small Block. It is a 6.2L V8 and includes Variable Valve Timing, Direct Injection and Active Fuel Management. Most of the specs are familiar to C7 LT1 owners, although the LT2 offers 495 horsepower at 6,450 RPM (SAE certified).

Check out the shock absorber / spring top mount (above) and the corners of the passenger compartment (below). The mechanical engineers at the day job said it appears to be parts made of a metal alloy using injection molding. The cylindrical columns are where the alloy is injected into the mold. There is some interesting structural science in play, no doubt computer generated.

Above: C3 Corvette rear suspension with transverse leaf spring. The same system first saw use in 1963 with the introduction of the independent rear suspension on the C2 Corvette and was used throughout the C3 generation, which was last produced in 1982. The concept worked well and was extended to the front suspension in the C4 through C7 Corvettes. Advantages included low unsprung weight (which improves handling) and lower cost, contributing to the Corvette's excellent performance for the buck reputation.

Below is the conventional coil springs / shock absorbers on the C8, with the front to the left and the rear on the right. Packaging constraints prevented using the transverse leaf springs on the C8.

One of the interesting features for the C8, announced at the Tustin CA reveal on July 18, 2019, was that it would be available as both left and right hand drive. While aftermarket firms did some Corvette right hand drive conversions at considerable expense, as a factory based option it is a first for the Corvette.

Check out the hole (highlighted with the red circle) which is where the steering column will pass through.

Above: the right and left C8 engine radiators. The mid-engine layout on the C8 posed numerous engineering challenges, one of which is engine cooling. Some mid engine designs - notably those from Ferrari - positioned the radiators and their air intake behind the passengers and near the engine itself. The C8 designers positioned them up front.

Below: The front portion of the routing for the coolant to the engine. The designers chose to run the hoses down the center of the chassis.

Left: C8 engine oil cap. One pleasant surprise, announced at the Tustin CA reveal was that all C8 Corvettes would feature dry sump lubrication. The high performance system was first seen on the C6 Z06 introduced in 2006 and in 2009 on the ZR1. It continued to be available in the C7 with the Z51, Z06 and ZR1 options.

For the C8 generation, however, it is standard equipment on all Corvettes. It was necessary to include the system to lower the engine in order to mate it properly with the transmission and to lower the center of gravity. The system includes three scavenge pumps. Recommended oil is Dexos 2 0W40 synthetic; capacity is 7.5 quarts.

The M1L 8-speed dual clutch (DCT) transmission we've all heard so much about. It offers shifting times under .10 second, a key metric behind the superior performance of the C8. A manual will not be available with the new generation Corvette. This factoid was of great concern to some of the Corvette faithful, including yours truly who would much rather deal with a three pedal transmission. As spousal unit Francie might say: "Suck it up, buttercup!"