Top Secret C8 Corvette Information Exposed

There isn't that much that we already know about the C8 Corvette, known as the "mid-engine Corvette," aside from the fact that it'll break tradition by housing its engine in the car's center like its nickname implies. But the car could also break other Corvette conventions. Rumor has it that Chevrolet may decide to ditch the pushrod V8 and instead give the C8 a 4.2-liter V8 with overhead cams, which sounds curiously similar to the Cadillac CT6-V's Blackwing V8.

And while we have to wait until the C8's July 18th reveal to find out for sure, a new patent filing by General Motors may have just revealed details about the C8 Corvette's drivetrain. The patent was discovered by MidEngineCorvetteForum and details an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that General Motors has been working on.

Interestingly enough, the transmission's development began a few years ago, with the first patent filings for the gearbox submitted on November 13th, 2015. But The General went ahead and updated the filing on June 4th, 2019, giving us the best clue we have that this gearbox could be meant for the C8 Corvette. It is, however, important to note that the patent doesn't actually specify which GM vehicle the dual-clutch is for.

While giving the Corvette a fast-shifting dual clutch transmission would certainly help give Chevy's "poor man's sports car" an edge against the competition, it's also perfectly plausible to expect GM to give the new Corvette the Camaro ZL1's 10-speed automatic. The C8 could just as easily carry over a revamped version of the C7's 6.2-liter pushrod V8, rumored to be called the LT2, and mate it to similar seven- and eight-speed gearboxes as the current car gets.