Mid-engine Corvette reportedly delayed, will miss Detroit show debut
New speculative reports from the online forum (and trove of insider information) GM Authority suggest the mid-engine 2020 Corvette will not make its grand entrance in Detroit at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Instead, the long-anticipated sports car is likely to break cover later this spring, possibly at the New York show this upcoming March.
GM Authority’s anonymous inside sources report that the delay in reveal date is due to a significant issue surrounding the car’s onboard electrical systems. The current setup fails to “carry the load necessary to support the necessary components,” requiring a full overhaul by Corvette engineers.
The problems described could be the symptom of several different causes, however, we’re hedging our bets on stumbling blocks related to high-voltage electric hybrid drive components. And while this hybrid tech might not be included on the base model that’s expected to use a traditional pushrod V-8, notable figures from the car’s history, such as former Corvette Chief Engineer Dave McLellan, have speculated that higher-tier versions of the C8 will receive electric hybridization resembling that of the Porsche 918 Spyder and Acura NSX. The hybrid car could potentially be paired with a new twin-turbo DOHC “Blackwing” V-8, which will be used for the Cadillac Escalade and short-lived Cadillac CT6-V.
This revelation certainly wouldn’t be the first shakeup in Corvette’s drivetrain architecture. In addition to the obvious engine migration behind the driver, a new video also surfaced this month providing some interesting audio evidence that the C8.R race car will not feature a traditional small block V-8. Replacing the glorious thunder of the old pushrod setup is a muffled howl, sounding like a smaller-displacement V-8 breathing through twin turbochargers.
We’ll have to wait and see exactly what shape the mid-engine 2020 Corvette will take when it arrives next year, but it’s getting tougher and tougher to be patient.
