How Does the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stack Up Against the Chevy Corvette Indy Concept?
Chevrolet has been thinking of building a mid-engined Corvette since before I was a twinkle in my daddy’s eye. Now, that dream has finally been realized with the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette. However, there was a long string of concepts and failed attempts to get us where we are today. The most notable of which was the 1986 Chevy Corvette Indy concept.
That concept actually got a lot closer than I thought it would to the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, with things like a high-power V8 engine and a glass engine cover.
The Chevy Corvette Indy concept made the C8 what it is today
Obviously, those things are just a start. Hell, even the stuff that didn’t make it into the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette does make an appearance in other modern cars. For example, the Chevy Corvette Indy concept has 4-wheel steering. While that’s not in the new C8, it is in a host of other modern cars like the crab walking Hummer EV.
Of course, the stuff that did make it into the new ‘Vette is an impressively visonary display from GM’s engineers. They’re like the Simpsons writers of cars. Seriously, who could’ve called that push-button start would be widely used in new cars, much less the new Corvette. Then there’s the powerplant.
The new C8 ‘Vette pushes GM into European exotic supercar territory
The 2022 Corvette makes 495 hp from its V8. The Indy, however, is rumored to make over 600 via a 2.9 liter Indycar-derived twin-turbo V8. While a Corvette with some spinny boy turbos isn’t completely out of the question, the new ‘Vette remains naturally aspirated for now. Regardless, that push to make more power from less motor is exactly what got the C8 Corvette to where it is today.
“Where it is today” meaning the C8 Corvette is well within the territory of more established European sports cars like the Lotus Emira and Aston Martin Vantage. And that’s just the Brits. The Corvette has long been the face of bargain American performance, out to beat its snooty expensive European rivals. All that can be traced back to ‘Vettes of yesteryear, including the Chevy Corvette Indy.
Are 2022 Corvettes available?
Unfortunately, the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette is a little too popular. Right now, you’d have better luck actually getting hit by lightning twice than paying MSRP for a C8. If you can find one, it’ll likely be marked up well above sticker price by the seller. But that doesn’t change that the 2022 Corvette is a hell of a car, and the Corvette Indy concept helped get it there.
