It’s official: the first mid-engine Corvette is real and set to arrive this summer.
Corvette engines have always resided under the front hood, but the 2020 model’s will be located behind the seats. As CNN notes, the mid-engine design is standard for many of today’s greatest supercars, including the Lamborghini Aventador and McLaren Senna.
GM made the big reveal of a by posting a so-called “spy shot” of the next-gen Corvette wrapped in camouflage and stamped with an official debut date: July 18, 2019.
All specs are anyone’s guess, but The Drive speculates that the powertrain will feature a brand-new V8 and an automatic dualclutch transmission, possibly the same eight-speed PDK gearbox in the latest Porsche 911.
It’s also unclear if the mid-engined model will entirely replace the current C7 generation, which includes the Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06 and flagship ZR1.
Our guess is yes, as the news of the new ‘Vette came with an announcement that the final C7 production car will be a blacked-out Z06 much like the one pictured below:
The 650-horsepower ride will be auctioned off by Barrett-Jackson. Every dollar of the winning bid will go to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, named for New York City firefighter of the same name who died during the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The organization builds mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for badly injured military veterans and first responders, and even helps pay the mortgages of first responders killed in the line of duty.
You can register to participate in the Z06 auction online, but be prepared to get into a bidding war with Chevy dealer and NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, who bought the first production ZR1 at the same Barret-Jackson sale last year.