Report: 2019 Corvette ZERV Coming Soon, Will Really Be Mid-Engine
How long have the rumors of a mid-engine Corvette been floating around? Many believe that the car is still coming, and a source for Car and Driver has provided a timeline for the production of the new Corvette.
The new mid-engine Corvette will be a 2019 model, according to the source, that’ll debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Currently the project is codenamed ZERV. It’ll be powered by the current LT1 that is in the C7 Corvette. That engine is expected to make somewhere between 450 and 500 horsepower. The reason for that engine is that it’ll be still used in the front-engine variant of the C7 ‘Vette until production of that ceases.
In January of 2019 then, a higher-powered C8 Corvette will debut with a starting price in excess of $100,000. That’ll be a new four-cam, 32-valve V8 designed for the project. The LT1-powered C8 should start around $80,000.
Finally, in 2020, a hybrid E-Ray Corvette will appear with electric front-wheel drive.
The C7, is not going out without a bang. They are expecting an announcement at the 2017 NAIAS show in Detroit of a high-power Corvette that would possibly be the return of the ZR1 name.
Furthermore, Car and Driver reports that the C8 is being developed at Building 54 at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds. So if you’re looking to see it in action, just requisition a spy satellite and snap some pictures!
What do you think? Is there really a mid-engine Corvette coming? Will it carry the Zora name? Let us know what you think!
via [Car and Driver]
