Mid-Engined Corvette Happening?

Don Sherman, Car amp; Driver Magazine Photography by Chris Doane Automotive Illustration by Nick Kaloterakisbr a href"http:blog.ecklerscorvette.comwp-contentcorvetteuploads2015012017-mid-engined-chevrolet-corvette-top-image-photo-655069-s-original.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1708" src"http:blog.ecklerscorvette.comwp-contentcorvetteuploads2015012017-mid-engined-chevrolet-corvette-top-image-photo-655069-s-original.jpg" alt"2017-mid-engined-chevrolet-corvette-top-image-photo-655069-s-original" "678" height"414" abr Behold, mid-engine a href"http:www.caranddriver.comchevroletcorvette" target"self"Corvettea fans: The car youve waited for Chevrolet to build has finally evolved beyond a href"http:blog.caranddriver.coma-mid-engined-c8-corvette-is-coming-the-10-cars-that-paved-the-way" target"self"titillating conceptsa to the engineering mule revealed here. An 82-second strike by our recon op resulted a href"http:www.caranddriver.comphoto-galleryexclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news" target"self"in 15 framesa before security narcs dropped the curtain on this black test carwith its two occupants still inside. Dont fret over the 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 and this Corvettes 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 todays Stingray. A Holden SSV utes sheetmetal wraps door to door around the heinie. The wing keeps the tail during high-speed runs and what could be more 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 drivers-side B-pillar and the cooling intakes located along the rocker a href"http:blog.ecklerscorvette.comwp-contentcorvetteuploads201501corvette-inline5-photo-655083-s-original.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1710" src"http:blog.ecklerscorvette.comwp-contentcorvetteuploads201501corvette-inline5-photo-655083-s-original.jpg" alt"corvette-inline5-photo-655083-s-original" "678" height"414" abr Scaling the span between the axles using the wheels as guides (were estimating them at 19 inches in diameter) yields a wheelbase of 98.9 inches, some eight inches shorter than that of todays 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 of this Corvette ZR1s mass will be supported by the rear wheels, enhancing launch traction and balls-out braking. There are rumblings that the engine bay may eventually host to a small, 3.5- to 4.0-liter V-8 with all the fixinsmeaning no Thus far GM has issued no denials discrediting a href"http:www.caranddriver.comfeaturesc8-chevrolet-corvette-exclusive-what-to-expect-from-the-heart-stopping-mid-engined-zora-feature" target"self"our most recent (and highly detailed) mid-engine Corvette forecastsa. While theres 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 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. a id"article-continued" href"http:www.caranddriver.comphoto-galleryexclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news"span class"continue"View Photo Galleryspanabr