Manoli Katakis 
Muscle Cars & Trucks takes pride in its accuracy, and when it comes to C8 Corvette coverage, you’re hard pressed to find more exclusive stories on key product details anywhere else. So far, we were the first to report on the C8’s ECU cybersecurity that will likely leave performance tuners out in the cold, that the upcoming C8 Corvette Z06 won’t have turbos, and we thoroughly dissected why an early dyno run with the C8 was incorrect, only later to be proven right. More importantly, as early as December 2019, MC&T was the first to report on the C8 Corvette Nürburgring time.
Our ‘Ring time is legit, yet Chevrolet confirmed a slower, “unofficial time” in February. The brand publicly claimed that the 2020 Corvette Stingray danced around the New Burger King Ring in a 7:29.9 around the near 13-mile race track. That’s just 1.6 seconds off the 7:28.30 that we first reported. We nevertheless stand by our time, and we have also come to learn why Chevrolet went with a marginally slower number than what we originally reported.
It’s because the 2020 Corvette Stingray was testing on the ‘Ring with different calibrations at the time. And between then and now, the C8’s powerful software has been adjusted for improved NVH, smoother slow speed/city driving, with the tradeoff being fractions of performance skimmed from the top. It’s understood that GM targeted a more conservative calibration that would deliver a smoother overall driving experience, versus using tricks such as boosted transmission shifts. In fact, the new Corvette has seen several re-calibrations since its official reveal and early access to longstanding automotive magazines.
Don’t just take our word for it. Road & Track has already detailed how the C8’s Tremec eight-speed dual clutch transmission was going to get updated before it reached customers, and that was published back in November of 2019. And just what does it mean for those that put their hard earned money into ordering one? Not much, really. When asked for comment, Chevrolet otherwise stands by the performance numbers, and that customers will see the a 2.9 second 0-60, as advertised.
2020 Corvette Stingray deliveries began last week, and aftermarket companies have spared no time tearing into them. But we’ll be waiting a while before any of them can figure out how to tune the engine without any help from General Motors itself.
