Update: This story has been revised to reflect new info from GM Authority published after our piece went live.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is throwing off timelines all over the automotive world — most notably, in our minds, delaying the new Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport. But it’s not just all-new vehicles that are suffering; variants of existing models are also being pushed back. One of the latest vehicles to be affected, it seems, is the new mid-engined C8-generation Chevrolet Corvette.
Hagerty is reporting that GM has issued an order pausing all future car and truck development for the moment — a directive may delay several new, more powerful versions of the Chevy Corvette slated for upcoming years. The report, however, also gives us some insight into what those versions of the new ‘Vette will be…and that has us even more disappointed that we’ll have to wait so long.
According to Hagerty, which cites leaked documents and their own reporting, the next Corvette due to arrive stateside is the Z06 in 2022. It will have a more powerful version of the 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 found in the C8.R endurance race car, which is expected to put out around 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque in road car form. (That, incidentally, tracks with Car and Driver‘s inside reporting, so we’re guessing this is pretty much guaranteed.)
Reportedly, a new Corvette Grand Sport is set for 2023, with a slightly more powerful version of the Stingray’s engine. Around that time, the Corvette E-Ray should also reportedly arrive, allegedly packing a hybridized 6.2-liter V8 powertrain that makes around 600 hp and 575 lb-ft, as well as bringing all-wheel-drive to the table. A Corvette ZR1, in turn, is slated for 2024; it will allegdly have a twin-turbocharged version of the 5.5-liter V8, pushing the output to somewhere around a stunning 850 hp and 825 lb-ft.
Hagerty also lists a new halo version of the Corvette, the Zora (named after the car’s spiritual father, Zora Arkus-Duntov, who always wanted to see it go mid-engined), arriving in 2025. That will add a hybrid component to the engine from the ZR1, bringing the total to 1,000 horsepower and 975 lb-ft. That car, like the E-Ray, will also reportedly have all-wheel-drive.
Our big takeaway? There appears to be a lot of awesome coming down the pipeline for Corvette enthusiasts — though don’t expect a manual transmission. Hopefully, this development delay won’t affect the timeline too much.
