The C8 Corvette Is Already in Development, And It Could Go Hybrid!
Doesn’t it seem like the C7 Corvette just arrived? Well, it did, making its first appearance at the North American International Auto Show last year. However, that doesn’t mean the Chevrolet performance division has stopped working. Comments from General Motors’ global product chief, Mark Reuss, suggest that the next-generation Corvette is already under construction.
Reuss made these comments to the Detroit Free Press at a recent event, and honestly we’re not surprised to hear that the band is getting back together so soon.
Coming up with a class-leading sports car, like the C7 Corvette, takes years and years of research and development. If the Bowtie hopes to launch the C8 in 2020, it’ll certainly need to use every minute of these next six years. However, chances are engineers have been planning the next-generation long before now.
Interestingly though, Reuss didn’t rule out the possibility of hybrid or electric powerplants underneath the next-generation C8.
It would certainly be a bold move for Chevrolet, given that the Corvette has followed a strict formula since its early years: front-mounted V8 engine, rear-drive, and two doors. However by 2020, hybridization will likely be cheaper, easier to produce, and lighter – making it a no-brainer for reducing emissions and upping output.
Talk of a hybrid Corvette might get you in trouble around some car clubs, just don’t rule it out yet.
