---
title: "Mid-Engined, C8-Gen Chevrolet Corvette May Surface in 2018"
description: "New report claims the engine will move backwards—and the price will move upwards."
date: "2016-05-16"
modified: "2016-05-16"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/3507/mid-engined-c8-gen-chevrolet-corvette-may-surface-in-2018"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Chevrolet"
  - "Corvette"
  - "Coupe"
  - "sports car"
---

# Mid-Engined, C8-Gen Chevrolet Corvette May Surface in 2018

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/051616-corvette-engine-rumor-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Come 2018, the Chevrolet Corvette's storied history of representing semi-affordable, front-engined American performance may come to a screeching, carbon-ceramic halt. According to a new report, 2018 will be the year the current C7-generation Corvette is phased out in favor of a mid-engined, eighth-generation 'Vette—one with a base price nearly 50 percent higher than the current car's window sticker.

[That's the word from *Car and Driver*](<https://blog.caranddriver.com/c8-in-2018-the-latest-on-the-mid-engine-chevrolet-corvette/>), which claims to have a so-called "impeccable source" with insight into the development of the new mid-engined Corvette. And given the level of detail contained in said report, their contact either has an exceptional amount of knowledge about the project, or has a talent for spinning elaborate hoaxes.

According to *C/D*'s insider, the next-generation Corvette will arrive at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show with a 450–500 horsepower version of the current pushrod V8 mounted between the passenger cell and the rear axle, and a base price reportedly hovering around $80,000. If true, that would be a steep price increase over the current car, which starts at $55,400.

One year later at NAIAS, the next "improvement" in the Corvette line will purportedly rear its head—a C8 with a new four-cam, 32-valve V8 in lieu of the stalwart small block. Reportedly, that 'Vette will cost more than $100,000. Keep in mind the current Z06 starts at $79,400; it's possible to push today's big-bore 'Vette over the $100K mark, but it requires checking option boxes with the vengeance of [Edmont Dantès](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo>).

The year after that, Chevrolet will allegedly wheel out The Big Heresy: a hybrid C8 with electric motors powering the front wheels. [GM has trademarked the name E-Ray](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/1422/the-evening-rush-for-dec-22-2015>), so don't be surprised if said moniker turns up on the car. Also, don't be surprised if the arrival of a hybrid all-wheel-drive mid-engined Corvette causes [Joe Biden](<https://www.thedrive.com/culture/2765/joe-biden-and-beyond-the-7-politicians-who-actually-love-cars>)'s head to explode.

With the C8 purportedly going on sale in 2018, *Car and Driver*'s source claims the C7 'Vette will likely be phased out sometime that year. It's not all bad news for fans of the traditional front-engined Corvette, though: the report claims Chevrolet will see the C7 off with one final variant even more powerful than the current, 650-horsepower Z06—and possibly wearing the cherished ZR1 name.

When asked by *The Drive* about the rumors, Chevrolet spokesperson Monte Doran played it cool. "All I can say is, rumors of a mid-engined Corvette have been around since Zora Arkus-Duntov in the late 1950s," he said with a laugh. "We cannot control what other people speculate about."

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)