Mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette will offer a hybrid powertrain with as much as 1,000+ horsepower

For those who are expecting to see the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, we have got some bad news for you as it seems like the model will not be making its debut there, even after all the CAD drawings that we saw earlier.

Hagerty first said that the C8 will make its debut in Detroit, but this model will not make its debut until next year. And we really are not surprised because Chevrolet recently just unveiled the Corvette ZR1, but not a lot of people are happy with it.

Despite the bad news, we also have a good one too, and this will definitely not disappoint any of you. That is because Hagerty just reported that the C8 will be offered in a better engine lineup, and that means a better version of the company’s 6.2 liter LT1 V8 engine. The engine will enable the car to produce as much as 600 horsepower (447 kilowatts), thanks to a higher compression ratio and less restrictive exhaust. Alongside this engine would be other ones that will be added to the lineup later on. This may include a V8 like that in the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350.

What interests us the most now is the rumour that has been going around about a range topping model that apparently will make the ZR1 look lame. If these rumours are true, the model will have a twin turbo V8 under its hood. This will power the rear wheels while the front wheels will be working with an electric motor. It will turn out to be an all wheel drive that can carry out 1,000 horsepower (745 kilowatts).

Corvettes are known for their manual transmissions. However, this may be abandoned for a seven speed dual clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Surely, there will be some who will be disappointed about this. However, the benefit of the DCT is that it can improve the car’s acceleration.

The next generation model may not have a manual transmission just yet, though it will surely have a lightweight construction. This will be done as the automaker uses a hydroformed aluminum space frame chassis as well as lightweight components like carbon fiber and magnesium. Other lightweight bits will include a fiberglass springs as well as carbon ceramic brakes.

Referring to rumours is dicey as we can never tell for sure which ones are valid. But we’ve persistently heard that the mid-engine Corvette will be pricey, and some reports say that it will have a starting price of $70,000. For now, all we can do is sit back and wait for some updates.