5 Recent Corvette Internet Rumors and Urban Legends
1. The Dead Vet's Vette
Legend has it a father placed an ad in a local newspaper claiming that his son had died in combat, and now the family wanted to sell his old car (a Corvette) at the lowest price possible ($50) to attract a buyer. Apparently, the family (particularly the mother) was bereft; even the thought of the son's car was painful. If this sad story pulls on your heart strings, you are not alone. It does have all the elements of a real tear-jerker, including a fallen war hero in it, after all. Unfortunately, though, there is no proof that any such event occurred. We rate this Internet story an "UL" for "urban legend."
2. Corvette Super Car on Its Way to Market
An exciting yet very hush-hush rumor has been circulating among top Corvette enthusiasts, automotive engineers and car lovers alike, and that is a looming suspicion that Corvette is currently developing a mid-engine "super car." This rumor is largely predicated on two major events: 1) GM has poured $290 million into the factory where Corvettes are manufactured and 2) Ford garnered an unprecedented amount of press coming off an impressive win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. As of July 2016, however, the experts remain split on whether there is any truth to this very popular Internet (and automotive industry) rumor. If a C8 "super car" is ever built and brought to market, it is expected to cost a pretty penny, that's for sure!
3. 750 HP Corvette C8 Engine
There is talk that the mid-engine C8 Corvette mentioned in slide two will debut in 2018 at the Detroit Auto Show. Added to this is the rumor that the much-talked-about secret car will come loaded with a highly competitive supercharged engine that delivers 750 hp, easily. If this rumor is true, Chevrolet will have produced the most powerful American production car to ever hit the automotive market.
4. New Trademark Filing Spurs Rumormill
A recent trademark filing of the "ZR1" name by General Motors has caused some Corvette lovers to speculate whether the famous American automaker will use the moniker for a vehicle that in the future would sit above the Corvette Z06. However, as of to date, speculation regarding the ZR1 name and its future continues to build, as GM withholds any new major announcement on the matter from the public. Considering GM has filed the necessary paperwork would suggest some plan is underway.
5. Electric or Hybrid?
In 2014, there was a lot of talk about whether the C8 Corvette would be purely electric or a hybrid. GM product chief Mark Reuss wouldn't rule out either option at the time, saying production on the vehicle could go in either direction. Either way, the fact that GM refused to make a categorical announcement confirmed the company's desire to stoke the flames of mystery for as long as possible. Note: Work on the C8 Corvette was underway by early 2014, when rumors first started to swirl.
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