Chevy Corvette C8 High-Performance Models' Powertrain Details Leaked

• The world now knows all about the 2020 C8 Corvette Stingray, but there are many more high-performance C8 Corvette models to come.
• The Z06, the ZR1, and the Zora hybrid will use a 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8 engine, and the Grand Sport may use a hybrid version of the 6.2-liter V-8, according to a leaked document found by Hagerty.
• The document states that the Z06 will arrive first as a 2022 model, with the Grand Sport arriving for 2023, the ZR1 for 2024, and the Zora as a 2025 model.
  

We already knew that Chevrolet is working on a 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8 that is going to power the upcoming C8 Corvette Z06, the ZR1, and the hybrid Zora. We were aware it could produce 600 to 1000 horsepower with turbochargers and an electric motor and have a Ferrari-rivaling sound. New information suggests that the Grand Sport variant could be powered by a hybridized version of the 6.2-liter V-8 that powers the 2020 Corvette Stingray, according to a leaked document obtained by Hagerty. That leaked information also lays out the model years and powertrains of all the upcoming high-performance Corvette variants. Adding the new details in this document to what we already know about Chevy’s plans, here’s what we predict:

2022: Z06

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We previously reported that the C8 Z06 will use a naturally aspirated DOHC 32-valve 5.5-liter V-8 with a flat-plane crank, just like a Ferrari V-8, that should rev to between 8500 and 9000 rpm. The document sent to Hagerty says that it’ll produce 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. That means the 5.5-liter would produce about 118 horsepower per liter, 20 percent more than the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350’s 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V-8, which has an output of 101 horsepower per liter. We expect the C8 Z06 to go on sale in early 2021 as a 2022 model, starting at about $85,000.

2023: Grand Sport

As is Chevy’s tradition, the Grand Sport will arrive after the Z06. This time around, we expect it’ll be powered by the same naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 found in the 2020 Corvette Stingray, but it could have electric assistance, according to Hagerty. When C/D reached out to Chevy for confirmation, a spokesperson said the automaker will not “engage in speculation on potential future product.” If this leaked document is correct, we expect Chevy will use hybrid components from the Zora variant paired with the 6.2-liter V-8. The only reason Chevy would offer the Grand Sport as a hybrid would be if it could use the existing electric powertrain and plug and play. Here, it could make up to 600 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, Hagerty says.

2024: ZR1

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The ZR1 will use a version of the 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8, but it will trade the Z06’s stratospheric redline for a pair of power-inflating turbochargers. It will have a movable rear wing and a front suspension that can automatically adjust ride height with speed to move the center of pressure and increase downforce for optimum handling balance. The twin-turbocharged engine will put out 850 horsepower and 825 lb-ft of torque, but it’s still not the most powerful Vette.

2025: Zora

The all-new Zora variant will be powered by the twin-turbo 5.5-liter flat-plane-crank V-8 in conjunction with an electric motor that could add between 100 and 150 horsepower. The electric motor will live where the front trunk is on other models and will power the front wheels independently of the rears. The eight-cylinder engine will drive the rears. The Zora will be the most powerful C8 Corvette, producing 1000 horsepower and 975 lb-ft of torque. The Zora’s all-wheel drive and instantaneous low-end torque will make it one of the quickest cars on the planet.