The Drive Reports on Blistering Fast 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette Nurburgring Laps

Now that the mid-engined and very popular C8 Corvette has had time to make its way around in terms of the internet and media, there's definitely a lot to see and read! There's lot of video out there displaying the car's powerful presence on the Nurburgring track, and so it's no surprise that one of the laps was a timed, all-out speed test to publicly show everyone out there watching intently. Up to this point, lap times have not been revealed, but there's one out now claiming that the time is on par with that nailed down by the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4.

The seasoned folks on staff at Muscle Cars & Trucks reported that the C8 lap time at the Nurburgring was officially 7:28.3. When the Lamborghini tore through the corners on its own attempt, Germany's Sport Auto reported a lap of around 7:28 flat. Many experienced drivers out there who have pushed the C8 to its limits already agree that there is a large amount of untapped potential within the chassis, and so even quicker track times may be possible even without going to work on upping the power output.

What's exciting to all of us here at Jim Butler of St Louis this holiday season is that if the C8 is as fast on the famed track as an entry-level Lamborghini, it's hard to say just how dominating the Z06 and ZR1 models will prove to be. One of them will forego the cam-in-block 6.2 for the C8.R V-8, which boasts lightweight flat-plane crank and dual overhead camshafts, and can offer greater horsepower per liter. This engine is believed to crank out as much as 600 horsepower, and 620 lb-ft of torque, and it's not sure at this point whether it will be situated in the Z06 or the ZR1.

The ZR1 is supposed to also gain an electrified front axle and twin turbochargers, creating the potential for a 900 horsepower output. Just a brief thought of a Corvette with McLaren P1-level performance potential is enough to make anyone daydream about breezy palms and blazing hot Daytona asphalt. The front-engine, rear-drive C7 had a front-to-rear weight distribution of 49/51 percent, and the mid-engined C8 carries less of its total mass on the nose.

This makes for much more available traction at the rear wheels, which improves even more as the car builds speed. Compared with the automatic-transmission C7, the C8's first gear is a startling 21 percent shorter – and from just that change the new Corvette's rear wheels undergo a torque increase of more than 20 percent. When you also add in the 10 lb-ft increase of torque due to the presence of the new V8, the C8's rear wheels get to snag an additional 1350 lb-ft. These gearing changes were instrumental in the amazing 0-to-60 performance, a feat that was well-documented and beat out many other cars with heftier price tags!