Finagel

All these rumors, but is Chevy really 10 -20 years behind? You look at Lamborghini and even cheap suburu with AWD. I am glad that Chevy might step up with mid engine C8. but i hope they are not still 10 - 20 years behind the competition. I guess we will wait and see and see a 30 year old Ferrari.

vetteship

Chevy is not behind, Lambo still offers a RWD Huracan, and so does Porsche. The AWD will yield a heavier ME Vette and certainly not as much fun.

jimmyb

DON'T FEED THE

NY09C6

If I want AWD I can always drive a pickup truck.

sunsalem

This.

JoesC5

The new NSX stepped up to the plate with an AWD mid engine sports car, and they sold 5 of them last month(April, 2018).

Be careful for what you wish for.

Michael A

AWD has less benefit with a mid-engine car than front engine.

rgregory

Yep. A common mod is to remove the AWD system on lambos. The cars are much more fun 2wd.

Finagel

Lets get serious. AWD is safer and if you watch some shows (ok they maybe in sand) but AWD smokes RWD.) with that said with 4 wheels pulling for you pleasure you can't go wrong. Don't get me wrong I love american Mussel cars. but look at the Dodge Demon. What a disaster it cant even go on a drag strip. By NHRA standards. AWD cars can. AWD are safer and are the wave of the future I just hate to see an american can to be 20 years late to the game..

OnPoint

Guess the 720 is 20 years out of step. LOL.

Quinten33

It’s funny how a lot of people on this forum want to strictly stick with the traditional Corvette formula and design, some don’t even like the C7’s design. Yet others think that they should or will completely abandon the formula and design, go AWD, V6, $200,000, etc. AWD won’t be available on a Corvette until a performance hybrid variant arrives later in the C8 life cycle. RWD is lighter, less complicated, and more fun than AWD.

NY09C6

Are you siding the Honda v-tec fart-can guys or the v8 Chevy guys?

Quinten33

I’m siding with all facts, information, and images provided by credible sources.

BTW, Honda K series and B series are amazing engines, and I enjoy the way they sound. VTEC is very clever, and I don’t know why it gets such a bad wrap.

VETTE-NV

OP...nice first post.

GundamX7X

Based on the CAD images I don't see that happening. I know their has been some other rear mid engine cars that have electric motors in the front (NSX). Only time will tell in the upcoming generations.

Suns_PSD

AWD should possibly be an option for guys that use their cars year around in snowy climates.

It's just not needed, nor fun, in a ME sports car. It also adds weight and cost while not reducing lap times at all.

MitchAlsup

I will go with 2 points::

A) AWD is faster and is certainly more driver forgiving,
B) AWD is not as much fun for the driver who can actually drive.

jimmyb

AWD IS faster in a straight line and more forgiving. It is, in most cases, NOT faster on a road course.

Perfect example is the Porsche 911 Turbo S. In Car and Driver's Lighning Lap, the 2017 Turbo S is over 2 seconds slower than the 2015 Z06/Z07 and only 3/10ths of a second faster than the 2017 GS Z07.
In fact, the ONLY AWD car in the C&D LL TOP 10 is the Porsche 918 Spyder.

jimmyb

As is the 488
As is the 812 Superfast
ETC.....

dcbingaman

I think an AWD Corvette will happen, but as a hybrid. Both the Porsche 918 and the Acura NSX are reportedly excellent handling cars and use electric motors on the front axle to instantiate AWD. I think IF Corvette goes AWD, they will follow this trend.

One big step will be a 48V electrical bus driven by an integral starter generator between the flywheel and the transmission. I think this is coming, because it will greatly simplify accessory drives, power distribution and control. It will also get rid of all the belts on the front of the engine. MB's whole line is going this way in MY2020.

BTW, read in the NYT that Johan de Nysschen is history at Caddilac. Replaced by a GM insider. I guess now, the 4.2L TT may very well head over to Corvette in spite of Nysschen's pronouncements to the contrary !