Inside the C8’s New Launch Control & Burnout Mode Systems

Motor Trend got a first look at the mid-engined ‘Vette’s new ‘Burnout Mode,’ and it’s as glorious as you’d expect.

Launch Control is nothing new in Corvettes. But the C8 is an entirely different new breed; as such, the feature is a little different here. Motor Trend got an exclusive first look at the mid-engined ‘Vette’s new system, along with an entirely new one. It’s known as “Burnout Mode,” and as you’d expect, it’s glorious.

As MT’s Scott Evans says: ” It used to be a good driver could consistently beat the launch control, but these days a good computer can monitor the powertrain and wheels so precisely and respond so quickly that a human just can’t do any better.” Exhibit A would be the C8. Chevy’s Performance Traction Management system is about as good as it gets out there, but it takes some next-level knowledge to get to it.

No Game Genie required for this cheat code

In a pre-production Z51, Evans walks us through the process. First, put the ‘Vette in Drive, then click the Mode knob to the left to enter into Track mode. Next, hit the traction control button twice to summon the Performance Traction Management menu on the instrument screen. Now that you’ve entered the cheat code, you can launch in any of Chevy’s drive programs.

From there, it’s all intuition. Left foot on the brake, floor the gas, and once the car is revving at 3,500-rpm, light the tires. The C8 does the rest; perfect launches first time, every time.

Oh, and speaking of lighting the tires, there’s also the new feature unofficially known as “Burnout Mode.” Here, you just put the car in Drive, pull both gear paddles towards you, floor it, then release the paddles. The result is sweet, sweet burnouts all day long. Chevy envisioned this as a way to warm up the tires before quarter-mile runs at the drag strip. But come on, you know that this is quickly going to become one of the most popular features on the C8. We’re sure that Michelin exects appreciate the extra business that this will bring them too.

Just when we thought the C8 couldn’t get any better, it does. And we haven’t even driven one yet.

Photos: Chevrolet

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James Sapienza

James Derek Sapienza has worked as a writer and editor in the world of automotive journalism since 2015.

He has a BS in History at SUNY Brockport, with a focus on American popular culture. A fan of the classics with a special interest in German cars, he is a proud owner of a 1991 W124 Mercedes. He is a frequent contributor to Mustang Forums, MBWorld, 5Series, Rennlist, and more.

Sapienza can be reached at JDS.at.IBA@gmail.com