Could the prototypes’ aggressive side intake openings be faked?
We don’t have much time to guess what the new mid engine Corvette will look. That doesn’t mean we aren’t any less interested when good spy shots or exceptional renderings show up in our inbox, which is why we offer this detailed creation from Chazcron, one of the C8 rendering gurus over at MidEngineCorvetteForum.com.
Official Corvette C8 is Now Available
The C8’s front door is the focus of this time. It’s likely that many Corvette prototypes include some substantial fake padding underneath the camo wrap on their doors. The close-up rendering below attempts to remove some of this for a cleaner look. Although the mirror still has soft lines, the rocker treatment is accurate. It remains to be determined if this recreation is accurate, but it will be evident that there won’t be much time to wait.
The large side intake on the C8 is another interesting feature. We’ve seen prototypes with intakes that are pointed forward and extensions that reach well into the doors. New renderings show that the extension leaves a large and awkward looking piece hanging from the door when it is opened. Many believe that the vents were deliberately exaggerated to distract us from the real design. It’s difficult to see any aggressive intakes on older prototypes with heavy camo covers. Interestingly, the earliest photos from 2016 (below), don’t show any major side vents.
We are referring to very early prototypes, which could be significantly different from the production model. We have seen some changes to the side vents during the prototype phase. These forward extensions could be a clever ploy by Chevrolet. Here is a collection of spy photos that shows the side vents on different prototypes over the past couple years. Have a look, and make your own decision.
Zora Arkus Duntov was the one who came up with the idea for a Chevrolet Corvette mid-engined. This was 50 years ago. He is often referred to as “the father of Corvette”, and he led America’s supercar through 1960s. He also championed some the most iconic ‘Vette models. The 2020 C8 Corvette will be revealed July 18. It will be literally the culmination of more than a half-century worth of designs, discussions, and many prototypes. Motor1.com will live-stream the event and provide photos and video.