{"id":24354,"date":"2019-11-08T14:40:46","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T18:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=24354"},"modified":"2019-11-08T14:40:46","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T18:40:46","slug":"new-corvette-hits-60-in-2-9-seconds-but-wont-arrive-until-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/new-corvette-hits-60-in-2-9-seconds-but-wont-arrive-until-march","title":{"rendered":"New Corvette hits 60 in 2.9 seconds … but won’t arrive until March"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Passersby<\/p>\n<\/div>

Pontiac –\u00a0<\/em>Due to the 40-day UAW strike, production of the much-anticipated\u00a0mid-engine Corvette C8 will be delayed from December until late February, General Motors confirmed Wednesday. That means customer deliveries likely will start in early March.<\/p>\n

Patient buyers\u00a0will get the most capable Corvette ever, with a long list of\u00a0firsts.<\/p>\n

Chevrolet says the made-in-the-USA $59,999 supercar will rocket from 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds when equipped with the $5,000 Z51 performance package. That makes it the first sub-3-second entry-level Corvette in history.<\/p>\n

That number is quicker than the last-generation front-engine, $80,000 Z06 performance model that boasted 650 horsepower, even though the C8 Z51 is rated at only 495 horses.\u00a0(The base 490-horse C8 with no Z51 trimmings will hit 60 in 3 seconds flat.)\u00a0Chevy\u00a0says both C8 versions will trip the quarter-mile in just 11.2 seconds.<\/p>\n

Passersby will get an eyeful of the all-new 6.2-liter V-8 LT2 engine responsible\u00a0for these jaw-dropping numbers: It will be\u00a0the first Corvette to ever\u00a0show\u00a0its engine under glass. Corvette’s design team was deeply involved in designing the engine cover, valve covers and exhaust heat shields because \u2014 like a mid-engine, $250,000\u00a0Ferrari\u00a0\u2014 the top of the engine will be on full display amidships.<\/p>\n

“The engine is a showpiece,” said assistant LT2 chief engineer Mike Kociba at a deep dive into the Corvette\u2019s oily bits at GM Performance and Racing Center. “It’s the jewel in the ring setting. When the design team came to us, we were flattered that they wanted to show it off.”<\/div>\n

The mid-engine layout gives the Corvette fundamental handling and package advantages over the traditional\u00a0front-engine layout, leading to numerous Corvette firsts.<\/p>\n

The LT2 powerplant, which succeeds the\u00a0LT1 used in the front-engine ‘Vette,\u00a0is the first base Corvette mill to use a so-called dry sump lubrication system. That system is common on race cars to avoid oil starvation when the car is at high side G-loads. The technology was driven by the mid-engine car’s handling capabilities that can exceed 1 G. Kociba says the engine is capable of 1.25-G loads in every direction.<\/p>\n

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