Lightest Weight Model Year C8
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
Lightest Weight Model Year C8
MY24 will see added electronics (soft close frunk and safety sensors heavily influenced by meeting the EU's changing safety mandates) which seems enough to increase the nominal curb weight and flag the EPA, hence why we saw spy photos of a Stingray with test pipes. Likely no power increase per CorvetteBlogger.
That then makes MY23 the lightest, I believe. What makes its reduced weight difference from MY20-MY22? A deleted rear hatch lock cylinder.
Edit: Months after I started this thread, it was announced all MY24 trim levels including 1LT will come standard with the rear view camera mirror making MY23 even lighter with another complexity simplified vs future model years.
That then makes MY23 the lightest, I believe. What makes its reduced weight difference from MY20-MY22? A deleted rear hatch lock cylinder.
Edit: Months after I started this thread, it was announced all MY24 trim levels including 1LT will come standard with the rear view camera mirror making MY23 even lighter with another complexity simplified vs future model years.
Last edited by switchlanez; Jun 15, 2023 at 04:41 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,102
From: Fulshear, TX
MY24 will see added safety equipment (mostly electronic sensors, heavily influenced by meeting the EU's changing safety mandates) which seems enough to increase the nominal curb weight and flag the EPA, hence why we saw spy photos of a Stingray with test pipes. Likely no power increase per CorvetteBlogger.
That then makes MY23 the lightest, I believe. What makes its reduced weight difference from MY20-MY22? A deleted rear hatch cylinder lock.
That then makes MY23 the lightest, I believe. What makes its reduced weight difference from MY20-MY22? A deleted rear hatch cylinder lock.
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,186
Likes: 7,458
From: Pittsburgh
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Just to show you where we are headed:
1. C5 ZO6 - 3,118#
2 .C6 Z06 - 3,130#
3. C7 Z06 - 3,582#
4. C8 Z06 - 3,637#
1. C5 ZO6 - 3,118#
2 .C6 Z06 - 3,130#
3. C7 Z06 - 3,582#
4. C8 Z06 - 3,637#
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,767
Likes: 2,968
From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,900
Likes: 4,352
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
The specs you gave for the C5Z06 were for the (1997) LS1 345 hp and 350 lb/feet of torque
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Yes, power can offset weight in terms of performance, but the benefits of lightweight sports cars goes far beyond that. The joys of lightweights cannot be understated, and the feedback a good driver gets is dramatically better. My favorite track cars were my Lotus Elise, and my two MX-5s (Miata). The heavier a car gets the more it deadens the feel and feedback.
It may be funny to joke about a few ounces here and there being irrelevant, but when designers focus on the weight of every single part down to the fastener level, those ounces add up.
It may be funny to joke about a few ounces here and there being irrelevant, but when designers focus on the weight of every single part down to the fastener level, those ounces add up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,767
Likes: 2,968
From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 461
Likes: 328
From: PDX
Yes, power can offset weight in terms of performance, but the benefits of lightweight sports cars goes far beyond that. The joys of lightweights cannot be understated, and the feedback a good driver gets is dramatically better. My favorite track cars were my Lotus Elise, and my two MX-5s (Miata). The heavier a car gets the more it deadens the feel and feedback.
It may be funny to joke about a few ounces here and there being irrelevant, but when designers focus on the weight of every single part down to the fastener level, those ounces add up.
It may be funny to joke about a few ounces here and there being irrelevant, but when designers focus on the weight of every single part down to the fastener level, those ounces add up.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
Amendment: It was recently announced that all MY24 trim levels including 1LT will come standard with the rear view camera mirror making MY23 even lighter with another complexity simplified vs future model years. It is a non-intrusive safety feature that could be worth the minimal added weight/complexity/annual cost adjustment but this adds to the story of the MY23's unique quirk. Pros/cons either way balance out to a wash for me. I've driven a C8 both ways and have no problem adjusting the side mirrors in conflux with the standard reflective mirror to see the full rear field of vision and no visibility gaps/discontinuities.
Last edited by switchlanez; Jun 15, 2023 at 08:42 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Amendment: It was recently announced that all MY24 trim levels including 1LT will come standard with the rear view camera mirror making MY23 even lighter with another complexity simplified vs future model years. It is a non-intrusive safety feature that could be worth the minimal added weight/complexity/annual cost adjustment but this adds to the story of the MY23's unique quirk. Pros/cons either way balance out to a wash for me. I've driven a C8 both ways with have no problem adjusting the side mirrors in conflux with the standard reflective mirror to see the full rear field of vision with no visibility gaps/discontinuities.
FYI if you don't like the rear view camera you can turn it off.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 13,180
Likes: 10,528
So I'm guessing the hardware for the rear view mirror camera adds a pound or two. CMOS cameras are tiny (and mostly plastic). The mirror / LCD screen is likely heavier than the plain one, but the heaviest part of the mirror is the glass and the mount, and both versions have those. The sensors probably add a few pounds in total, with the wire to connect them the heaviest part. The rest is software, which weighs nothing. The heaviest add is probably the power frunk closer. Maybe a few pounds by itself?
I wouldn't expect all of those together to add more than 10 lbs to a 1LT coupe. Less on an HTC or higher trim levels, since they already have the rear view camera. On a car which already weighs 3700 lbs, it's barely noticeable. Most of us could afford to lose 10 lbs or more to balance it out.
I wouldn't expect all of those together to add more than 10 lbs to a 1LT coupe. Less on an HTC or higher trim levels, since they already have the rear view camera. On a car which already weighs 3700 lbs, it's barely noticeable. Most of us could afford to lose 10 lbs or more to balance it out.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 44
Likes: 30
From: New Hampshire
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
I know the weight delta is obviously insignificant. That's why this thread is more about a MY23 quirk as I've stated, not amazing weight savings. And a MY23 1LT plays most into that quirk.
Last edited by switchlanez; Jun 15, 2023 at 06:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
I'm 130 lbs with lean muscle and regular strength training. Any less, I'd start looking anorexic. Understood that I'm an outlier not applicable to the majority but I don't care about pleasing the majority. Have to speak for myself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 1,898
From: Not too far from MacMulkin
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It also bugs me when electronics fail like my Mustang's backup camera did for all of COVID and took years for Ford to get parts to fix under recall. I'm seeing C8 owner's report backup camera and rear view mirror cameras failing. Happy to have one less potential nuisance which I can't simply turn off from happening.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 1,898
From: Not too far from MacMulkin
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Did you even read my post #1? 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 41,332
Likes: 616
From: FL
CI-7-8-9-10 Veteran
Cruise-In IX AutoX Winner
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '11,'19,'22,'25
St. Jude/CI Name Tag Designer