How Chevrolet Made the Mid-Engined Corvette’s Engine

The most iconic American sports car of all, the Chevrolet Corvette, continues to amaze, with the eighth generation offering also being a historic first. The C8, as Corvette experts and enthusiasts call Chevy’s latest-generation ‘Vette, now sports an entirely never-before-seen mid-engine design. The new body design mates Chevy’s two-seat performance machine with an equally fresh naturally aspirated V-8 rated at 490 horsepower in stock form, which places the ‘Vette squarely in supercar territory. The story of how the Corvette’s new engine came to life is also just one of many sure to impress.

New from the Ground Up

The C8 Corvette is new from the ground up, though Chevy designers and engineers note that the previous two generations, the C6 and C7, significantly contributed their DNA to this latest Vette. The LS based GM small-block V-8 engine in the new Corvette is derived from the all-world C7 ‘Vette’s power plant, for example. That engine, the LT1, is now the new 6.2-liter LT2, and it’s entirely something to behold in its functionality and performance, as well as being perfectly suited to the Corvette’s new look.

Front-Engine to Mid-Engine

Moving Chevy’s Corvette from a front-engine to a mid-engine layout opened many design and engineering opportunities previously unavailable for the ‘Vette. The basic idea of a mid-engine Corvette goes back at least 60 years at General Motors, and there were many designs which never quite panned out for one reason or another. But with modern manufacturing and production tools now able to deliver stunning looks and performance, Chevrolet has finally given life to a mid-engined Corvette dream.

World-Class Engine

The C8, or Corvette Stingray, engine pairs its 490 horsepower with 465 lb-ft of torque, allowing the new LT2 to outperform the last-generation C7’s LT1 V-8. To be sure, the C7’s engine was already a superior offering at 455 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. However, Chevrolet Corvette engineers never rest on their laurels, and the result in the new C8 was an engine that combines speed, power, agility, and even brute force all in one neat small-block V-8 package.

Design Genius

Chevy engine designers hit their stride with this new LT2 engine. Starting with a blank sheet of paper and the C7 LT1 for baseline design purposes, they produced a better power plant all around. For instance, the LT2 features more efficient intake and exhaust manifolds, a new camshaft, and a more-robust lubrication system. A new dry-sump system and an engine-mounted oil reservoir also contribute to the LT2’s lower engine oil requirement, going from 9.7 quarts in the LT1 to 7.5 quarts in the LT2.

Happily, all this design genius eliminates the need for routine engine-out services, an expensive proposition frequently seen in mid-engine cars. Spark plugs, accessory belts, and ignition components can all be worked on or replaced with the engine in place rather than dropped.

Design and Sightlines

To say that the C8 Corvette boasts beautiful design all around, including in its engine bay, is an understatement. Everywhere you look, the latest-generation ‘Vette, the first mid-engine design in its storied history, delivers pure beauty and power. With the LT2 engine now behind the driver, the Corvette’s front offered engineers a world of intriguing possibilities, and they took advantage of the opportunity.

Test Drive the Chevrolet Corvette Today in West Texas

This mid-engined Corvette also just plain looks beautiful decked out in razor-sharp well as flowing lines perfectly suited to the 2020s and beyond. This ‘Vette is an instant classic. Don’t miss out on a chance to test drive and then own this newest Chevrolet Corvette today before it completely sells out.