Just announced this week - UK pricing for RHD Corvette C8. £81,700 for the coupe, 5400 more for convertible. This is a launch edition that includes the Z51 performance package, and 3LT upgraded interior. Evo claims the coupe undercuts a basic 911 Carrera in the UK.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo
4trac:Just announced this week - UK pricing for RHD Corvette C8. £81,700 for the coupe, 5400 more for convertible. This is a launch edition that includes the Z51 performance package, and 3LT upgraded interior. Evo claims the coupe undercuts a basic 911 Carrera in the UK.
Launch Edition C8 is 99000 EUR in Germany, incl. 19% VAT.
The price is "high" (compared to the entry price of the base mode) but the launch edition car includes the Z51, the 2LT and 3LT packages.
Car won't be available until the second half of 2021, which is sad. This could change though because while the C8 is sold out in the US, due to the current economic situation in the US, many customers may not actually get their cars. It remains to be seen.
502 HP and 6.2 l V8 engine, at least no turbo. 0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds, Vmax 296 kph (Z51 package) and 1/4 mile in 11.2 seconds.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2019), Mercedes GLC63 S AMG (2020), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)
Jun 9, 2020 12:38:43 PM
996FourEss:Still find the whole mid engine thing a bit odd to be honest
I have issues understanding the advantage since the new C8 isn't really lighter or more dynamic (I think). Time will tell.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2019), Mercedes GLC63 S AMG (2020), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)
RC:996FourEss:Still find the whole mid engine thing a bit odd to be honest
I have issues understanding the advantage since the new C8 isn't really lighter or more dynamic (I think). Time will tell.
Part of the "dynamic" is just simply getting power down. Several skilled testers have noted that you can now use the Corvette power earlier out of corners - traction was always an issue with the traditional Vettes, worse the more powerful the engine - recall your Mustang. And this was despite rear placement of the compact V8 (so called front mid engine), and having a transaxle setup to further shift weight back. Ferrari fight the same issue in their front engine V12s, and they have access to far more sophisticated traction control than GM does. So I believe the GM engineers when they say that the RWD Corvette had reached the practical end of its development, which is after all as old as the 911. The new platform I see as a slightly conservative base platform, that will now have the headroom to develop more aggressive versions over time, and as they gain experience with mid engine tuning.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo
At times I won't believe GM has any less talented engineers than other car makers. They are one of the biggest car companies after all.
I think the problem with the older generations of Corvettes isn't the traction control program, but the manual transmission.
With a manual transmission, the software can't be as aggressive in the intervention as in a PDK or an automatic, stalling the engine is a real possibility, no such fear in a PDK or an automatic.
But of course, one can only advance a front engine rwd platform so far.
Whoopsy:At times I won't believe GM has any less talented engineers than other car makers. They are one of the biggest car companies after all.
I think the problem with the older generations of Corvettes isn't the traction control program, but the manual transmission.
With a manual transmission, the software can't be as aggressive in the intervention as in a PDK or an automatic, stalling the engine is a real possibility, no such fear in a PDK or an automatic.
But of course, one can only advance a front engine rwd platform so far.
Except 85% of Corvettes were sold with the slushbox automatic, not the manual. And it was a major limitation, at least in driving fun. They are way ahead with the current DCT, even sourced it from Europe.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo
Corvettes are often judged here on the drag strip and the front engine had lousy traction (for big power and torque)
Mid Rear Engine already a big improvement and it allow for AWD in the highest performance versions
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18 GT3 Manual, 73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 16 Cayman GT4, 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550, 79 635CSi
Rossi:Well, I knew there is a Ferrari F8. But I didn't know about a Ferrari C8, must be a new model then...
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We're at the point where you can be the fastest or just sound like you're the fastest.
The secret of life is to admire without desiring.
If this is real, it is more than embarrassing, already on a completely different level of pathetic.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2019), Mercedes GLC63 S AMG (2020), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)
Jun 16, 2020 9:42:32 AM
Jun 16, 2020 9:51:05 AM
Leawood911:American sense of humor. Harmless. There is no way he/she is serious about pretending it is a Ferrari. The Fiat on the other hand.
Well, the Fiat makes more sense than the Corvette.
There were even some official Fiat 500 Ferrari editions like the Ferrari Dealer's Edition or the Tributo Ferrari Edition.
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2019), Mercedes GLC63 S AMG (2020), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)
Jun 16, 2020 2:07:52 PM
Jun 16, 2020 2:21:54 PM
Jun 16, 2020 2:23:49 PM
RC:Rossi:Well, I knew there is a Ferrari F8. But I didn't know about a Ferrari C8, must be a new model then...
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We're at the point where you can be the fastest or just sound like you're the fastest.
The secret of life is to admire without desiring.
If this is real, it is more than embarrassing, already on a completely different level of pathetic.
Thinking of the 80 / 20 rule. 80% of women in the US will not be able to tell it's not a real Ferrari
Jul 24, 2020 2:21:59 PM
Topspeed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3IVYXl7uGM
Interesting review; for those not familiar with this Savage Geese channel, these guys are US Midwest no-BS reviewers, and have no problems criticizing cars that deserve it. Their conclusion that the past C7 is more fun on track is a bit surprising, but their observation that GM have somewhat neutered the first version of the C8 perhaps explains this. I don't necessarily buy their conclusion that the C7 is faster around their local track, as the reviewer is a skilled but not professional driver, and has much less experience with mid engine car handling.... a pro driver I guess could get the full speed from the C8, though if it needs a pro driver to do this it still leaves their conclusions valid that the suspension setup of the base car is not good enough.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo
4trac:Topspeed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3IVYXl7uGM
Interesting review; for those not familiar with this Savage Geese channel, these guys are US Midwest no-BS reviewers, and have no problems criticizing cars that deserve it. Their conclusion that the past C7 is more fun on track is a bit surprising, but their observation that GM have somewhat neutered the first version of the C8 perhaps explains this. I don't necessarily buy their conclusion that the C7 is faster around their local track, as the reviewer is a skilled but not professional driver, and has much less experience with mid engine car handling.... a pro driver I guess could get the full speed from the C8, though if it needs a pro driver to do this it still leaves their conclusions valid that the suspension setup of the base car is not good enough.
Mid engine cars are a lot trickier to drive 'fast'.
Front engine cars are much easier to drive, they under steer a lot, and most people would lift in that situation and the nose would gently tucked right in, to extract most of the car would be quite easy to do.
For mid engine cars, the 'tuck' part would be more of "rotating easily", not quite out of control yet but would be unnerving for most people for the rate of rotation. Car just is more eager to change direction. Better skilled drivers could exploit this advantage and go really fast. But one has to overcome that hurdle of feeling out of control first, it isn't, but feels like it. As I understands, GM setup the C8 to have more understeer than normal mid engine cars, as their existing clients are all used to front engine rear wheel drive cars. Wouldn't look good if their brand new C8s keep crashing into trees and guardrails. The extra understeer built in would not be good for laps times though.
Whoopsy - this is correct, but the C7 can have power oversteer issues due to its difficulties getting power down with light rear, and not having McLaren's e-diff tech. In the test linked above, what I missed was the comparison was with the Grand Sport version of the outgoing car, with Z06 width, tires, and brakes... not a base C7. According to Corvettes head honcho, a base Z51-Z51 comparison of C7 to C8 would have the 8 faster on shorter tracks by 1-2 seconds. So, the C8 is slightly faster than the outgoing car, but not by much, perhaps highlighting that the Corvette engineers started conservative as you suggest, and now can refine it going forward.
2017 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2019 Porsche 911 Turbo
4trac:Whoopsy - this is correct, but the C7 can have power oversteer issues due to its difficulties getting power down with light rear, and not having McLaren's e-diff tech. In the test linked above, what I missed was the comparison was with the Grand Sport version of the outgoing car, with Z06 width, tires, and brakes... not a base C7. According to Corvettes head honcho, a base Z51-Z51 comparison of C7 to C8 would have the 8 faster on shorter tracks by 1-2 seconds. So, the C8 is slightly faster than the outgoing car, but not by much, perhaps highlighting that the Corvette engineers started conservative as you suggest, and now can refine it going forward.
Yeah of course the spec of the cars needed to be match closely in order for a proper comparison. But the driving characteristics remains the same. Even the power on oversteer on the old car is still easier to catch than on the mid engine new car simply due to the low polar moment of inertia of the new car, just simple physics.
Agreed.
Many underestimate mid engined cars...until it is too late.
A friend ended up kissing a wall...at a surprisingly low speed and he is an excellent driver.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Lamborghini Huracan Performante (2019), Mercedes GLC63 S AMG (2020), Mercedes C63 S AMG Cab (2019), Range Rover Evoque Si4 Black Edition (2019)