While I don’t know quite as much as I might like about the upcoming 2020 Chevy Corvette, what I do know is already enough to get me chomping at the bit to see this beauty in person. Of course, the standout feature has to be the mid-engine design, which will push the already impeccable handling and performance of the current Corvette up to all new levels. Thankfully, the engine I expect to see positioned in the middle of this beauty will be more powerful than ever before – and rumors suggest something truly remarkable in a later edition.
I would love to gush about incredible all-new interior features and options, but sadly I just don’t know enough yet to do so. Some pictures have been snuck from prototypes that suggest we will see some great things – such as a digital rearview display – with much more to come. The outside of the 2020 Chevy Corvette looks great, from what I have seen, and I am particularly anxious to get a full reveal and see that new rear panel.
I have already heard the roar of the updated engine in the 2020 Chevy Corvette, and even though these snippets have only teased how it sounds, I can’t wait to hear more. Perhaps even more exciting, however, is the potential for additional releases and trim levels that will push its performance to even greater heights. I’m watching this beauty closely – and as soon as we know more, we’ll no doubt have even more reasons to get excited.
Reason #1: The Engine Placement
If you know anything about the 2020 Chevy Corvette, then it is probably this – and if you don’t know anything about it, then this is the place to start. The standout feature of the all-new 8th-Generation Corvette is that it will have a mid-vehicle engine placement, rather than the front-engine that has been standard for its entire lifespan. A mid-engine design means greater power and performance than was ever possible before. In fact, word is that a mid-engine design was chosen because the engineers working on the Corvette had simply reached the limit of what a front-engine could do.
No matter why it was chosen, I’m overjoyed that it is finally happening. Prototypes for mid-engine sports cars have been rolling around within Chevy for decades – seriously, since the 1970s. We have almost gotten a mid-engine sports car several times, but each attempt fell short of going into production for one reason or another. Finally, with the 2020 Chevy Corvette, the long tease is over and we will get to see what a mid-engine Corvette can really do. Of course, with this new engine placement, some of the design of the Corvette has changed too.
Reason #2: The Overall Design
Just looking at the 2020 Chevy Corvette, the overall exterior design is one of the most impressive and exciting aspects of the vehicle. With the shift to a mid-engine configuration, the general shape of the Corvette has had to be adjusted and adapted to make that work. In general, the proportions are noticeably different with a shorter front-end than we’re used to and a longer rear to make room for all that power. The new Corvette also rides lower than before, holding onto the road with a precision grip that will make cornering an absolute dream.
These new proportions might change some of the look of the 2020 Chevy Corvette, but much of its style remains the same. There is no mistaking this with some other American sports car out there. The shorter front certainly takes a bit of getting used to, but the advantages of a mid-engine design and the sleek overall shape make that easier than you might expect.
Reason #3: The Starting Engine and Transmission
The mid-engine design of the 2020 Chevy Corvette is great, but it would be pretty meaningless if some little 4-cylinder 140 hp engine got slapped under there. While exact specs have not yet come from Chevrolet, insiders suggest the starting engine will be an upgraded version of the existing engine, which is a 6.2L V8 engine that produces up to 460 hp. The improved version in the 2020 Corvette is rumored to push that to about 500 hp for tremendous overall performance.
All signs also point to that being combined with a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission to be supplied by Tremec. This is a marked improvement over the current automatic transmission, with three of those speeds working as overdrives for high-end performance. It is likely that this will be the only transmission available for the 2020 Chevy Corvette, which may come as a blow to manual-transmission fans. Somehow, however, I think we’ll find a way to get past that and enjoy the incredible performance from this gorgeous new ‘vette.
Reason #4: The Roar of the Engine
With so much talk about the new mid-engine design, and some hint about the actual specs of said engine, you might wonder what it sounds like. Well, rather than try to describe it with all sorts of artful adjectives like “deep” and “thundering,” let’s just have a listen:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxkiiAHhJ3T/
That little clip from the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky does a far better job than all my adjectives ever could. Sure it’s only a few seconds long, but you can hear the power right there, bristling at the commands of the driver, yearning to break free from the petty bounds of physics and explore untold realms of speed and momentum. This beauty is going to be a beast on the highway and everyone around it will know they were just passed by something truly remarkable.
Reason #5: Future Upgrades and Trims
While I’m already excited about the baseline model of the 2020 Chevy Corvette, the rumors I’m hearing about later editions and trim levels have me downright giddy. High-performance versions are expected to roll out after the initial release, including Z06 and ZR1 versions. According to speculation, the Z06 will likely have a DOHC 5.5L V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft, while the ZR1 will have twin turbochargers for even greater power.
The future release that has me most excited, however, is the rumored hybrid release coming later on, which could be named the “Zora.” Word is that this will not only have a twin-turbo V8 but also an electric motor in the front axle that could provide a combined power of nearly 1,000hp. It might be unfair to get too excited about a possible future version of a car that has not even been fully revealed yet, but I don’t care. The idea of a hybrid 2020 Chevy Corvette with horsepower and handling that will absolutely dominate the road is the stuff dreams are made of!
Want to Know More? So Do I!
With so many details and rumors swirling around online and among the automotive press, it’s easy to be thrilled about the 2020 Chevy Corvette and everything it’s bringing to the table. As I know more details, there will be even more reasons to get excited about this gorgeous sports car. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long as Chevrolet is going to make more official announcements soon with all the specs and information we could want, and I’ll be sure to share those with you soon.
