The 2020 Corvette C8 stunned fans earlier this year with a beautiful design, a high quality interior and a mid-engine layout. If that wasn’t enough, the model costs under $60,000 and features a 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces up to 495 hp (369 kW / 502 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque.
Of course, there are more powerful variants on the horizon and one first to arrive will be the next-generation Z06. Automobile Magazine says the sports car will likely arrive in late 2021 as a 2022 model.
While it’s still a ways off, the car could be worth the wait. The publication says the model will likely have a twin-turbo V8 that is loosely based on Cadillac’s 4.2-liter Blackwing V8. In the CT6-V, it develops 550 hp (410 kW / 558 PS) and 640 lb-ft (867 Nm) of torque.
Also Read: 2020 Corvette C8 Is America’s Mid-Engine Sports Car For The Masses
The engine will be significantly revised for use in the Corvette and it could be called the LT7. That remains unconfirmed and so does the rumored output of 800 hp (597 kW / 811 PS) and 700+ lb-ft (948+ Nm) of torque.
While those numbers should be taken with a grain of salt, they’d be a huge improvement over the outgoing Corvette Z06. That model has a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 developing 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque.
Little else is known about the car, but the engine could be paired to either the base model’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic or an all-new 10-speed dual-clutch gearbox. There’s even rumors of a manual transmission, but we wouldn’t get our hopes up.
Besides the upgraded engine, there will be a host of other performance tweaks. These could include carbon fiber body panels, an aggressive aerodynamics package and wider fenders to accommodate fatter wheels. We can also expect a sportier suspension and a handful of weight saving measures.
There’s no word on pricing, but the 2019 Corvette Z06 starts at $80,900 and it’s likely the redesigned model will cost several thousand dollars more.
