Chevrolet Corvette C8 — the Mid-Engined Corvette from Stingray to ZR1X
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is the eighth-generation Corvette and the first with its engine behind the driver. Revealed on 18 July 2019 and built in Bowling Green, Kentucky, since February 2020, it moved America's sports car into supercar territory: the range now runs from the 369 kW Stingray to the 932 kW ZR1X hybrid. It is sold in right-hand-drive form in the UK, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and officially in continental Europe.
Key takeaways
- First mid-engined Corvette; Stingray coupé with removable roof panel and convertible with folding hardtop; eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox only.
- Stingray: 6.2-litre LT2 V8 with 369 kW (495 hp) in US trim, 354 kW (482 PS) in EU trim.
- Z06 (2023) with a 500 kW (670 hp) flat-plane-crank V8; E-Ray (2024) hybrid with all-wheel drive.
- ZR1 (2025) with 793 kW (1,064 hp) and ZR1X (2026) with 932 kW (1,250 hp), the most powerful Corvette so far.
Chevrolet Corvette C8 at a glance
| Specification | Chevrolet Corvette C8 |
|---|---|
| Production | from 3 February 2020, Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Platform | GM Y2XX, aluminium structure |
| Body | two-seat targa coupé; convertible with retractable hardtop |
| Layout | rear mid-engine; rear-wheel drive, AWD on E-Ray, Grand Sport X and ZR1X |
| Engines | 6.2 LT2 V8, 5.5 LT6 V8, 5.5 twin-turbo LT7 V8, 6.7 LS6 V8 (2027); hybrid versions |
| Power | 354–932 kW |
| Gearbox | Tremec TR-9080 eight-speed dual-clutch |
| Wheelbase / length | 2,723 mm / 4,630 mm (Stingray) |
| Width / height | 1,933 mm / 1,234 mm |
| Luggage space | 370 litres in two compartments |
| Kerb weight | about 1,654 kg (Stingray) to about 1,798 kg (E-Ray) |
| Predecessor | C7 Stingray |
Moving the engine behind the driver
Mid-engined Corvette prototypes had existed since the 1960s, but every production car up to the C7 kept the engine in front. The C8 finally made the change. GM revealed the coupé at a media event in Tustin, California, timed to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, and the convertible followed in October 2019. A strike at General Motors delayed the start of production until 3 February 2020.
Size at a glance
Chevrolet Corvette C7
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is 137 mm longer and 56 mm wider than the Chevrolet Corvette C7.
| Dimensions | Chevrolet Corvette C8 | Chevrolet Corvette C7 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,630 mm182.3 in | 4,493 mm176.9 in | +137 mm+5.4 in |
| Width | 1,933 mm76.1 in | 1,877 mm73.9 in | +56 mm+2.2 in |
| Height | 1,234 mm48.6 in | 1,234 mm48.6 in | Same |
| Wheelbase | 2,723 mm107.2 in | 2,710 mm106.7 in | +13 mm+0.5 in |
Moving the engine behind the seats pushed the cabin 420 mm forward. Inside, the driver faces a 12-inch digital instrument display and an 8-inch touchscreen. Luggage space totals about 370 litres, 2 cubic feet less than in the C7. The coupé keeps the Corvette tradition of a removable roof panel, and the convertible has a retractable hardtop.
The C8 won the 2020 MotorTrend Car of the Year and the 2020 North American Car of the Year awards. The front-engined predecessor is covered in our Corvette C7 Stingray guide.
Stingray: LT2 V8 and dual-clutch gearbox
The Stingray keeps a pushrod V8: the 6.2-litre LT2 with a cross-plane crankshaft, dry-sump lubrication and cylinder deactivation. In US trim it produces 365 kW (490 hp) and 630 Nm, or 369 kW (495 hp) and 637 Nm with the optional performance exhaust. There is no manual gearbox; every C8 uses the Tremec TR-9080 eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Z51 package adds a third radiator, adjustable performance suspension and larger brakes of 338 mm at the front and 351 mm at the rear. Chevrolet quoted 0–60 mph in 2.9 seconds for a Z51 car, and Car and Driver measured 2.8 seconds. In Europe, Chevrolet lists the Stingray at 354 kW, with 3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and 296 km/h maximum, with combined fuel consumption of 12.3 l/100 km and 281 g/km of CO2. Fuel costs for your own mileage can be checked in the 1cars fuel cost calculator.
Z06: a flat-plane-crank V8
The Z06 of 2023 has a completely different engine. The LT6 is a 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 with four overhead camshafts and a flat-plane crankshaft, and it revs to 8,600 rpm. It produces 500 kW (670 hp) at 8,400 rpm and 624 Nm at 6,300 rpm in US trim; Chevrolet Europe lists 474 kW.
The Z06 has a wider body with 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels; optional carbon-fibre wheels save 19 kg of unsprung weight. With the Z07 package Chevrolet claims a 10.6-second quarter mile, 1.22 g of lateral grip and 314 km/h (195 mph). A Z06 lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:11.826. It was the 2023 MotorTrend Performance Vehicle of the Year and Road & Track's Performance Car of the Year.
E-Ray: hybrid and all-wheel drive
The E-Ray, unveiled on 17 January 2023 for the 2024 model year, is the first hybrid Corvette and the first with all-wheel drive. The LT2 drives the rear wheels with 369 kW (495 hp), while an electric motor on the front axle adds 119 kW (160 hp) and 169 Nm. Combined output is 488 kW (655 hp) and 807 Nm. The 1.9 kWh, 300-volt battery is small, so the E-Ray is not a plug-in: its Stealth Mode allows electric driving up to about 72 km/h (45 mph) for roughly 6 km.
Chevrolet claims 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds and a 10.5-second quarter mile, the quickest of any Corvette at launch, and a top speed of 293 km/h (183 mph). Carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The European E-Ray is rated at 473 kW combined, 0–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 291 km/h.
ZR1 and ZR1X: the four-figure Corvettes
The ZR1, revealed in Miami on 25 July 2024 for the 2025 model year, uses the LT7: the Z06's 5.5-litre flat-plane V8 with two turbochargers. It produces 793 kW (1,064 hp) and 1,123 Nm. GM president Mark Reuss drove a test car to 375 km/h (233 mph), and Chevrolet claims a 9.6-second quarter mile at 152 mph with the ZTK aerodynamic package. The ZR1 lapped the Nordschleife in 6:50.763.
The ZR1X of 2026 adds the E-Ray's front electric motor. With 932 kW (1,250 hp) and all-wheel drive it is the most powerful Corvette ever built; Chevrolet claims under 2 seconds to 60 mph and a quarter mile in under 9 seconds. Its Nordschleife time of 6:49.275 was later beaten by the Ford Mustang GTD Competition in April 2026, a reminder that the Ford Mustang is still the Corvette's oldest rival. These cars sit among the fastest models in the 1cars supercars section.
Versions compared
| Version | Model year | Engine | Power (US) | Torque | 0–60 mph (claim) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stingray | 2020– | 6.2 LT2 V8 | 369 kW (495 hp) | 637 Nm | 2.9 s (Z51) |
| Z06 | 2023– | 5.5 LT6 V8 | 500 kW (670 hp) | 624 Nm | 2.6 s |
| E-Ray | 2024– | 6.2 LT2 V8 + front motor | 488 kW (655 hp) | 807 Nm | 2.5 s |
| ZR1 | 2025– | 5.5 LT7 twin-turbo V8 | 793 kW (1,064 hp) | 1,123 Nm | 2.3 s (ZTK) |
| ZR1X | 2026– | 5.5 LT7 V8 + front motor | 932 kW (1,250 hp) | — | under 2 s |
| Grand Sport | 2027– | 6.7 LS6 V8 | 399 kW (535 hp) | 705 Nm | — |
By our calculation, a US Stingray carries about 4.5 kg per kW and an E-Ray about 3.7 kg per kW, while the ZR1X has more than two and a half times the output of the EU Stingray. For 2027 Chevrolet revealed the Grand Sport with a new 6.7-litre LS6 V8 of 399 kW (535 hp) and 705 Nm, plus an all-wheel-drive Grand Sport X. See how every version compares with other performance cars in the 1cars rankings.
Production and US prices
| Model year | Cars built (US data) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 20,368 | first year, strike-delayed start |
| 2021 | 26,216 | chip shortage limited output |
| 2022 | 25,831 | — |
| 2023 | 53,785 | Z06 added |
| 2024 | 42,934 | E-Ray added |
| 2025 | 25,835 | ZR1 added |
In the US the Stingray coupé started at US$60,995 for 2021 and US$69,995 for 2025, when the convertible cost US$76,995. The E-Ray started at US$102,900 in summer 2023, the Z06 at US$108,100 for 2024, and the ZR1 coupé at US$173,300 for 2025. In Australia, sales began in mid-2021 at A$149,990, limited to 200 cars a year.
The C8 in Europe
Right-hand-drive C8s go to Britain, Japan, Australia and New Zealand; in Japan, 300 cars were sold within 60 hours of pre-sales opening, a Corvette record there. Continental Europe gets left-hand-drive cars, which were shown at the IAA in Munich in 2021. Because of the petrol particulate filters required in Europe, the EU Stingray is rated at 354 kW (482 PS) instead of 369 kW.
According to autohaus.de, in July 2024 a new importer, AEC SV, took over distribution in Germany, with prices from about €110,000. That puts the Stingray against the Porsche 911 Carrera and other European sports cars, a match-up you can set up in the 1cars comparison tool.
Racing: C8.R and Z06 GT3.R
The racing C8.R made its debut at the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona. It won the IMSA championship in 2020 and 2021 and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023, collecting three teams' and three drivers' titles before it retired in 2024. Its successor, the Z06 GT3.R, was revealed in 2023 and first raced at the 2024 24 Hours of Daytona.
Verdict: which C8 to choose
The Stingray with the Z51 package is the best value and the easiest to live with, especially as a convertible. The E-Ray suits drivers who want all-weather traction and the quickest launch without the Z06's hard edge. The Z06 is the enthusiast's choice for its high-revving engine and track ability, while the ZR1 and ZR1X compete with far more expensive hypercars. Early 2020 cars were recalled because of a front-boot fault; the fix was an over-the-air software update, so check that it has been done. Specifications of every Corvette generation are collected in the 1cars Corvette catalogue.
Photo gallery
FAQ
Why is the C8 Corvette mid-engined?
Moving the engine behind the seats improves traction and balance and allowed Chevrolet to reach supercar performance. It is the first production Corvette with this layout.
How much power does the C8 Corvette have?
From 354 kW (482 PS) for the EU Stingray to 932 kW (1,250 hp) for the ZR1X. The US Stingray has 369 kW (495 hp) with the performance exhaust.
Does the C8 Corvette have a manual gearbox?
No. Every C8 uses an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox made by Tremec.
How much does a C8 Corvette cost in Germany?
autohaus.de reported prices from about €110,000 in July 2024, when the importer AEC SV took over distribution.
What is the fastest C8 Corvette?
The ZR1 reached 375 km/h (233 mph) in a GM test. The ZR1X, with 932 kW and all-wheel drive, accelerates fastest: under 2 seconds to 60 mph, according to Chevrolet.
