Corvette C8 to be Launched Next Fall

2018 Corvette C7 ZR1 Spy Photos

UPDATE A new report from Automobile might clear some confusion about the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. After decades of rumor and speculation, America’s sports car is all but confirmed to finally make the switch to a mid-engine configuration (about which we have mixed feelings).

We’ve seen some pretty telling spy shots of the mid-engine ‘Vette, but we’ve also seen (barely) camouflaged versions of a new, current-generation (C7) Corvette with a big wing and some other aggressive-looking aerodynamics. This, we believe, is the C7 ZR1, which will sit atop the C7 food chain. Automobile speculates the new ZR1 will make over 700 horsepower, and we already know it does pretty damn well on the track.

So, what do all of these Cs and Zs mean? It means the current, C7 Corvette is likely to be sold alongside the upcoming C8 “Zora," named after the father of Corvette performance, Zora Arkus-Duntov, who was also a proponent of putting the Corvette’s engine behind the driver. Both cars are expected to be sold together as 2019 models, and possibly continue for a couple model years before the C7 is phased out.

The C7 ZR1 could be the last hurrah for the classically configured front-engine, rear-drive Corvette that has soldiered on for over 60 years. While a beloved sports car—and arguably already the best car in its class for the money—Chevy has decided it’s time to move the Corvette upmarket and take the mid-engine plunge. The C8 Zora should have what it takes go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Audi R8 and the McLaren 570S while finally out-handling the next-oldest name in premium sports cars, the Porsche 911.

A rumor that’s almost as old as the mid-engine Corvette gossip is the notion that GM will spin Corvette off from Chevy, to become its own brand of performance cars. Could two different Corvettes sold side-by-side in the same model year be a hint that the second-hottest Corvette rumor could also come true?

The Automobile report suggests the 2019 Corvette(s) will go on sale in mid- to late 2018. The C7 ZR1 is expected to start at $105,000, while the mid-engine C8 Zora could start anywhere from $65,000-$95,000. Which car would you rather have? The Drive

This Motor Authority spy photo of a C8 mule is heavily camouflaged

09/08/17 After years of speculation, sources say Chevrolet is finally going to build a mid-engine Corvette.

Expected to debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit, the all-new model will reportedly go into production and be launched a year from now.

Chevrolet hasn't said much about the car but Automobile Magazine is reporting the model will be powered by a small block V8 engine. There's no word on specifications but other report say the car will be supercharged

When the next Corvette arrives, it could cost significantly more than today's model which starts at $55,495. Estimates vary widely as the report says pricing could start anywhere between $65,000 and $95,000.

The model is expected to be sold alongside the C7 for up to a year and that will give fans a chance to pick up the C7 ZR1 which is expected to have more than 700 hp.