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The standard C8 is much more dynamic than the basic C6 or C7. It's wider, more dramatic, and a lot more going on overall. That said, the Z06 has changed literally everything other than the doors, hatch, roof, hood. The front/rear are dramatically different, the side inlet is totally different, the fender is wider with a new style line, and it's a wide body.
Literally every panel except the hood, roof, and hatch area is different. Front and side intakes are different, with the Wishbone being an obvious differentiator. The rear end design is improved and you have center exhaust unlike the Stingray which is new this generation.
I think some people are having a more difficult time with this because they didn’t do anything different with hood like they usually do, combined with the widebody appearing to be less pronounced over the base version than it was in previous generations. Big part of that is because the base C8 is already significantly wider than previous generation base models/Stingrays.
The reality is they’ve implemented more pronounced design changes this generation than they have in the past with the Z06, even if it may be less obvious to the less discerning viewer.
The standard C8 is much more dynamic than the basic C6 or C7. It's wider, more dramatic, and a lot more going on overall. That said, the Z06 has changed literally everything other than the doors, hatch, roof, hood. The front/rear are dramatically different, the side inlet is totally different, the fender is wider with a new style line, and it's a wide body.
I was typing when you posted this, but you hit the nail on the head in regards to why some feel the difference isn't as big as usual.
Yes, was expecting (and hoping for) a more exaggerated look. Sure its wider, but its more of a stretch than any obvious style enhancement. Hoping for flared fenders or nicer looking side vent trim or grilled front quarter panels, something along those lines.
Literally every panel except the hood, roof, and hatch area is different. Front and side intakes are different, with the Wishbone being an obvious differentiator. The rear end design is improved and you have center exhaust unlike the Stingray which is new this generation.
I think some people are having a more difficult time with this because they didn’t do anything different with hood like they usually do, combined with the widebody appearing to be less pronounced over the base version than it was in previous generations. Big part of that is because the base C8 is already significantly wider than previous generation base models/Stingrays.
The reality is they’ve implemented more pronounced design changes this generation than they have in the past with the Z06, even if it may be less obvious to the less discerning viewer.
Putting a smile from the Joker on the Mona Lisa wouldn't necessarily be an improvement. Getting too far from a Stingray would probably just make the car look either too boy racer or like a transformer.
I think some people are having a more difficult time with this because they didn’t do anything different with hood like they usually do,
They did not have to do anything with the hood bnecause of where the engine was placed.
They did not have to do anything with the rear glass because they had 14" of clearance between top of (std) engine and the glass.
But it is easy to see by looking at the front fascia, rear fascia, side scoops, and spoiler/wing.
The difference in width between the standard car and the Z06 is about the same as the C6 and C7 cars. The difference is the the width is much more integrated in the design, rather than just fender hoops. So in many ways, because it is more integrate, it does not stand out as much. Really it is a better design change than prior versions.
I see this as complaining the Corvette team has done a better job than in the past. Do you guys have bosses that complain when you do a better job? Do you whine when you make more profit?
There is more engineering at play here than styling for the sake of appearances. The wishbone is probably the only styling element. I, for one, think that it is a vast improvement over the base and I really liked the base. To me, the wishbone elongates the lines of the Z06 and makes the whole side of the car visually flow better.
To most people, the most obvious and easiest differentiator is the rear: center round exhaust tips vs, outboard location of the square tips.
If it's a Z07 then the huge wing will let people know from far away.
The front is harder to tell.
Maybe it is my old, tired eyes, but I can't for the life of me pick out a given C8 as being a Z06 or just a base/Z51 car.
Does anyone else suffer from this issue lol?
Ted
Nope. It’s obvious to me but I’m a corvette guy. Have owned 8. Honestly I was excited when I saw that GM was making the vette a mid engine. I was sure I’d want one, until I saw it. Thought the nose was too pointy, side scoops stuck out too far and the shape made the rest of the car seem too thin, and available wheels were unattractive. So I passed. It just so happens Chevy touched all of those areas in a positive way with the new Z06. They pushed the front splitter out and redesigned the front end, the wider fenders and the new scoop shape make the scoops appear smaller in relation to the rest of the car, even if they aren’t, and the wheel choices are much better. IMO of course. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
C8 Z06 Not Visually Different Enough?
