Leno and Tadge Juechter, Corvette engineer, dig into details about the C8 droptop.
Jay Leno He lives the good life. He has a fleet of vehicles that would make any auto enthusiast jealous. But he is also the first to drive them. 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Other than General Motors employees. In a video that runs almost an hour, Leno and Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter go into detail about the C8.
Juechter says that physics drove the decision to move engine behind driver. The C8 development team was looking to improve its performance and decided that moving the powerplant would be the best option.
The original idea was to attach a fabric roof to the convertible. After looking at the competitors, it was decided to change course and install a hardtop. This layout has many advantages, including a reduction in noise, harshness, vibration, and vibration.
To fold the hardtop, six electric motors are required and several linkages. The chassis doesn’t require any reinforcements. The rear deck needs extra heat insulation to prevent the engine’s heat damaging the roof. Rear storage space is not affected by lowering the roof. The droptop is approximately 80 pounds heavier than the coupe.
The clear panel between the seats is one of the most unique features of the convertible. It can be operated from the door, and it even works with the roof up. This allows for more engine noise in the cabin.
Leno is a great driver and seems to have a lot of fun when it comes to driving. You can hear the V8 engine through the convertible. The V8 engine produces a beautiful mix of muscular and raspy sounds.