Chevrolet Corvette C8 pips Ferrari 458 Italia at Nürburgring

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 has clocked a lap time of 7 minutes and 29.9 seconds on the Nürburgring track which has prompted the General Motors-owned brand to stamp the timing in an upcoming documentary. A senior General Motors official claimed that the timing was legitimate.

The Corvette C8 was piloted by British racer Oliver Gavin who joined the team in 2012. The car, at the time of the Nürburgring trial, was still a prototype. It was, however, fitted with the Z51 Performance Package which included an electronic limit-slip differential, larger brakes, a performance exhaust system, and functional aerodynamics. The C8 Corvette’s output was 495 bhp and 637 Nm peak torque. It made the car the most powerful entry-level Corvette ever.

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 attains 0-60 mph in less than three seconds. But at Nürburgring it beats the Ferrari 458 Italia which clocked 7 minutes 38 seconds (2011). The C8 Corvette also came better off the Audi R8 V10 Plus. The former is only marginally slower than its predecessor, the 2017 Camaro ZL1, which completed the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 29.6 seconds. 

The Chevrolet Corvette, now in its eighth generation, has a mid-ship configuration which is the first of its kind in the history of the car. The placement of the engine improves the car’s straight-line and track performance because of the increased rearward weight balance. The 6.2-liter LT2 V8 motor is mounted just behind the driver. It has three scavenging pumps and a dry-sump system.

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 would no longer get a manual gear system. The 8-speed, Tremac-developed dual-clutch transmission will be available as standard. A right-hand-drive model of the Corvette will also be introduced. GM has already started commercial production of the car at its Kentucky plant. The standard Corvette C8 is expected to be command an ex-showroom price of $60,000.

Also read: General Motors to stop producing Chevrolet Impala