[txsupra11]

Our exclusive mule sighting confirms that Chevrolet means mid-engine business.

Behold, mid-engine Corvette fans: The car you’ve waited patiently for Chevrolet to build has finally evolved beyond titillating concepts to the engineering mule revealed here. An 82-second strike by our recon op resulted in 15 frames before security narcs dropped the curtain on this black test car—with its two occupants still inside.

Don’t fret over the pointy-pickup camouflage; more attractive attire will follow. Instead take solace in a cabin hugging the front axle, ample space between the cockpit and the rear wheels for the hot parts, and this Corvette’s crouched and ready attitude.

The nose clip is from Holden's Commodore SSV (with even wider flares), while the cabin module, roof, and exterior mirrors are hand-me-downs from today’s Stingray. A Holden SSV ute’s sheetmetal wraps door to door around the heinie. The wing keeps the tail planted during high-speed runs and what could be more practical than the bumper-mounted 2-by-10 for shoving this test sled back to the garage when it breaks down? Other items of note: The fuel-filler located on the driver’s-side B-pillar and the cooling intakes located along the rocker panels.

 

[txsupra11]

Scaling the span between the axles using the wheels as guides (we’re estimating them at 19 inches in diameter) yields a projected wheelbase of 98.9 inches, some eight inches shorter than that of today’s Corvette. That blueprint upgrade comes from bumping the transmission from ahead of to behind the rear axle as God and Dr. Porsche intended. A tighter wheelbase quickens steering response and cinches up the turning circle. It goes without saying that at least 60 percent of this probable Corvette ZR1’s mass will be supported by the rear wheels, enhancing launch traction and balls-out braking. There are rumblings that the engine bay may eventually play host to a small, 3.5- to 4.0-liter V-8 with all the fixin’s—meaning no pushrods.

Thus far GM has issued no denials discrediting our most recent (and highly detailed) mid-engine Corvette forecasts. While there’s no fresh intel regarding launch timing, the fact that experimental hardware has left the laboratory suggests that the C8 Zora sports car is on schedule to roll into showrooms in about 20 months as a 2017 model, at which point it will be sold alongside the front-engined Corvette. Place your orders now or find yourself stuck at the back of a long delivery line.

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/exclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news

 

[Chi_weezy]

GTR meets, CTS-V meets Konigsegg Agera as far as styling goes

 

[TS_Scion]

I'll call it "exclusive proof" when there is a vehicle announcement from GM and actual technical specs. Not R&T making shit up about another test mule (btw, there have been a half dozen mid-engine Vettes tested over the years).

 

[weedwhacker]

I like this updated El Camino, however not feeling the toneau cover. :nervous:

 

[txsupra11]

Mid-Engine Corvette C8 Zora Prototype Spied?

The rumor about GM developing a mid-ship Corvette is as old as it gets, but this time, it could be real as spies have caught a telling test-mule.

Spy shooter Chris Doane cornered a strange prototype that Car&Driver magazine believes is an engineering mule for a new mid-engine Corvette model.

It's a bizarre looking beast blending parts from Holden's Commodore SSV ute, including the front end and tail section, with the cabin section, roof, and some other elements such as the exterior mirrors from the current C7 Corvette Stingray.

C&D editor Don Sherman says that the appearance of the prototype on the road "suggests that the C8 Zora sports car is on schedule to roll into showrooms in about 20 months as a 2017 model". He adds that the mid-engine supercar won't replace the front-engine Corvette Stingray, but will be sold alongside offering a new-gen V8 with a displacement of around 4.0-liters – possibly, GM's upcoming twin-turbo V8.

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/01/mid-engine-corvette-c8-zora-prototype.html

 

[tubasteve]

With a holden badge? just looks like a bad ass Maloo......

 

[txsupra11]

I was thinking, maybe this is GM's responds to that new rumored Ford GT?

 

[HVH20]

I can see them putting the ZO6 engine in the back and doing a hybrid assist for the front wheels to get AWD and hypercar performance levels.

 

[Ismael]

That back doe

 

[articzap]

GTR meets, CTS-V meets Konigsegg Agera as far as styling goes

Spot on. I'm glad they decided to steal from something other than Ferrari tho for styling, although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

 

[Stevenh]

With a holden badge? just looks like a bad ass Maloo......

For the unfamiliar...

Calling this "proof" of a mid-engine C8 is absurd.

 

[220]

Ok, I like.

With more space, there's more engine too.

 

[forcefedvw]

gm at it again using a holden as a test bed, i personally think that is the ugliest car period i really hope they revise it a bit!

 

[Jarrett H]

Going to be tricky figuring out which leaf springs to go with.

 

[Dynomite]

lol wtf thats just a holden ute

 

[Troux]

I'll call it "exclusive proof" when there is a vehicle announcement from GM and actual technical specs. Not R&T making shit up about another test mule (btw, there have been a half dozen mid-engine Vettes tested over the years).

This. The mid engine Corvette has made it further than this before without seeing production.
Also everyone here calling it a Holden....do you really not understand how mechanical prototype mules work yet?

 

[Usury]

I own a chevy volt.

 

[martel317]

I kinda like the shovel vette.

 

[Memph]

I'll call it "exclusive proof" when there is a vehicle announcement from GM and actual technical specs. Not R&T making shit up about another test mule (btw, there have been a half dozen mid-engine Vettes tested over the years).

Bob Lutz's article leads me to believe that this is them continuing the program that was meant to replace the C6