C8 Corvette Z51 Officially Runs 0-60 in Record-breaking 2.9-Seconds
GM officially announces C8 performance figures, which also make it quickest-accelerating Corvette ever.
GM told us when they unveiled the all-new 2020 Corvette Z51 that it would do 0-60 in less than 3.0-seconds. But of course, we’ve heard plenty of fluff jobs in our lives. So until they were willing to make it official, we simply sat back and waited. But now, Chevrolet has kept their promise by offering us a car that’ll reach 60 mph in a blazing 2.9-seconds, when equipped with the Z51 performance package. And if you keep your right foot planted, it’ll also complete the quarter-mile in just 11.2-seconds at 121 mph.
Those numbers make the C8 Corvette the quickest-accelerating production Corvette ever. But base model buyers won’t exactly be at a major disadvantage in the acceleration department, either. Your hard-earned $60k will still buy you a car that’ll do 0-60 in 3.0-seconds flat and complete the quarter-mile in 11.2 at 123 mph. Which, in our opinion, officially crowns the base 2020 Corvette as the performance bargain of the decade. Heck, maybe the century.
You don’t exactly have to be some weekend hot shoe to achieve those impressive numbers, either. Simply put the car in Track mode, then the double press the traction control button. This puts the base car in Competitive driving mode, or Performance Traction Management for Magnetic Ride Control-equipped cars. Then all you have to do is press the brake and gas pedals all the way to the floor. Once you hit 3,500 rpm, lift off the brake and hang on.
To their credit, GM managed to extract that impressive performance from an engine that’s relatively underpowered compared to the competition. Still, the new 6.2-liter LT2 V8 is the Corvette’s most powerful base engine ever, with 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the performance exhaust. The naturally-aspirated mill was specifically engineered to offer up incredible responsiveness and power on demand.
But in our minds, the new Tremec eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is the real star of the show. The main goal with its design was to provide uninterrupted, steady torque delivery. It does just that thanks to dual concentric wet clutches, which work in tandem as they toggle between gears. Gear ratios, which are incredibly low-end biased, play a big role in the party as well. First gear comes in at 2.91, for example, taking advantage of the C8’s excellent weight distribution and traction advantages.
The base C8 Corvette comes standard with a mechanical slip differential sporting an effective final drive ratio of 4.9:1. Step up to the Z51, and you get an electronic limited slip differential with an effective final drive ratio of 5.2:1. Both were designed specifically to optimize straight-line acceleration, and share a common ring and pinion gear ratio of 3.55:1.
A lot of thought, effort, and engineering magic went into making the C8 Corvette a virtual slingshot. And this is just the beginning. As great a performer as the base model is, we can’t wait to see what the coming Z06 or ZR1 can do. For Corvette fans, the future certainly looks bright.
Photos: Chevrolet
