Being the first-ever mid-engined Corvette, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is one of the most talked-about sports cars of the year. With its 6.2-liter V8 gasoline engine producing 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is already phenomenally fast considering this is the entry-level model.

But we already know that an even faster C8 Corvette is coming in the form of a new Corvette Z06. Chevrolet has confirmed the new Corvette Z06 will be powered by the same 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 engine as the C8.R race car, and now we get to hear it for the first time.

A new video appears to show a prototype of the new Corvette Z06 accelerating hard through the entrance of the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds. While the regular C8 Corvette has a pushrod V8, the prototype's engine note has a noticeably higher pitch, which suggests it's packing the flat-plane crank engine.

It sounds more like an exotic Ferrari 458 Italia, which was Ferrari's last naturally-aspirated supercar, than the deep growl we're used to hearing from a Corvette. Not that we're complaining, because it sounds superb and looks as fast as lightning.

This isn't a coincidence either, as the new Corvette Z06 has been previously spotted testing alongside a Ferrari 458. Unfortunately, the prototype is heavily covered up so we don't get to see any of the new design details.

While the power output hasn't been officially confirmed, the Z06's 5.5-liter flat-plane crank V8 is expected to produce around 600 hp. This will be a welcome upgrade over the current Corvette Z06, which produces 490 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. In the C8.R race car, this unit produces around 500 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque with direct injection. We'll have to wait for the specifications to be confirmed when the new Corvette Z06 arrives in 2021.