Renderings by: Ken Okuyama and Camilo Pardo

Much like a mythical fairy tale, we have heard for many moons now that Chevy might introduce a Corvette with a mid-engine layout.  Zora Arkus-Duntov’s, whom many consider the father of the Corvette, dream was to build a mid-engine Corvette. With confirmation from the GM head of global product development, Mark Reuss, the company is indeed currently working on the next Corvette, we are now hopeful this myth will become a reality.

Sources report that in sixty one years of Corvette evolution the impending C8 will be revolutionary as the eighth installment of the Vette. The C8 Flagship of GM, due in 2017 will supposedly be called the Zora ZR1, which will feature the mid-engined design.

Benefits of a mid-engine layout can include a car that is more balanced, which ultimately leads to better performance and overall handling. Moving the engine to mid-ship, could one day result in an all-wheel-drive Corvette with possibly an electric motor driving the front wheels. With the release of the flagship C8, the Zora ZR1, we can expect the engine to remain a small-block V8, nestled in front of the rear axle, that will be supported by a dual-clutch paddle shift transmission.

Looking at the exterior, we will likely see a move from fiberglass to more carbon-composite body panels. With the carbon-composite being stiffer, more crash-resistant, and lighter this will make for a more durable product for the engineers. However amongst many things that need to be redesigned, they will need to reprogram the robotic frame fabrication process to adapt a revamped and a re-massaged body design.

Upon the release of the Zora ZR1, the production volume will be fairly low, with roughly 1,500 units being produced, and priced at around $150,000, at best estimations. Expected to out-do the current performance of the Stingray Z51, which currently hits 60mph in 3.9 seconds and reaches 181mph in the straight-line test, the Zora ZR1 will be a new contender in the arena of high end performance automobiles, the world over.

What do you think of this impending creation, and if the budget allowed would you drop $150K on this beast for a sub-3.8 second thrill?