Camouflaged C8 Corvettes Caught During Testing in California

A C7 Z06 recently spotted a trio of C8 Corvettes in the wild. What might the camouflage be hiding?

At this point we are all well aware of the C8 Corvette. As amazing as it is, we are always looking out for the next big thing. We have seen some spy shots before of the next high performance C8 Corvettes.

Can they be the next Z06? Perhaps the ZR1? What engine will they have? What exactly will they look like? Inquiring minds want to know. Without anything official yet out of GM, all we can do is speculate. However, every once in a while fortune smiles upon us.

On the YouTube channel prettyfast1000 we get a chance to ride behind some of the development C8 Corvettes still wearing their camouflage.

Catching a glimpse of these development cars out on the open road is rare enough. However, this YouTuber happens to be in his C7 Z06.

This particular Z06 just so happens to have a full set of bolt-on mods. The car is said to be pushing out 720 horsepower to the rear wheels. What are the odds of that Z06 stumbling upon the newest C8? We don’t know but we are lucky that the right person caught these cars.

It is highly doubtful that if a Prius driver saw these out on the road they would think to start recording.

The video clip itself is not very long and the sound of the drivers Z06 makes it difficult to pickup the sound of the cars in front. We can’t say based on this clip if the C8 cars were using forced induction or a flat-plane crank design or anything of the sort.

At least, we can’t say for certain. The C7 is just too loud.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. The cars are not being pushed very hard. According to the GPS overlay in the Z06 the cars barely crack the 60-mph mark. That doesn’t mean the clip is worthless.

If you listen very carefully there are moments when you can isolate the sound of the C8’s in front. They sound like they could be making that distinct FPC engine note. Maybe that is wishful hearing on our part. Give it a listen for yourself.

We have heard the rumors that the next Z06 is going to use a 5.5-liter flat-plane V8. The engine is expected to put out big power and rev to dizzying heights.

Now listen to that video again. Do you hear it this time? It is possible that we have the very first case of a C7 Z06 following a C8 Z06 out on the open road.

Regardless, this is an exciting development. Each time we spot these cars we learn a little more, and we get a little closer to the actual release.

What do you think? Do we have a glimpse of the next generation Z06? Or is this something else? Perhaps even the C8 hybrid model. Gasp!

Let us know your thoughts in the LS1Tech forums.

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.