Okay, we know that the world is straining into the future to try and gather gold nuggets of information about the up-coming C8, mid-engine monster that even GM has now, admitted actually DOES exist. But, that doesn’t mean that all pertinent information is only relegated to future press releases or spy photos.
2014 Corvette Full Sightings: Engineering from The Work Inc on Vimeo.
Case in point is this video we’ve unearthed where Corvette’s Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter and his team talk about what it took to make the then-next-gen Corvette a solid performer. Many new technologies found their way into the build, making the C7 Corvette’s chassis stiffer than any previous models. But, because it wasn’t something as apparent as moving the entire engine to the stern of the vessel, it gets lost as a Corvette 6.5 build.
Starting From Scratch
We’ve always said that it’s easy to critique a current object, but immensely more difficult to start from scratch and build something never seen before. Most Corvette generations have done this, with some more successful than others. Whether the benefits of performance are found in the engine’s power, the chassis handling or other capabilities that are the focus of the day, in the end, improvements join together to make a better Corvette.
Case in point is the C7’s chassis. Made from lighter materials in an enhancing recipe of both alloys and composites, the current car’s chassis affords enhanced rigidity while also removing unwanted weight. This video helps illustrate, and put faces and names, to some of the ways in which Corvette’s creators have worked hard from a clean sheet to build such a highly capable car.
Okay, we admit that it’s not Elvis and Bigfoot driving a C8, but it is quite interesting to see some of the processes used in making the C7’s chassis. If you’re a DIY type like us, you’ll likely gather a few nuggets from a quick view of the video. If you never wondered what it took to build a better Corvette and could care less about what happens under the shiny surfaces of the car, then don’t worry, we’ll have more C8 goodness soon enough. For the rest, enjoy the video.
