Lucas Bell 
Earlier this week, we shared a short video with our readers of some C8 Corvette prototypes out for a test drive in California’s San Jacinto Mountains. The development vehicles were spotted by a Corvette Forum user, who utilized the Performance Data Recorded in his own C7 Z06 to document the interaction. While it is not clear whether these test mules are C8 Z06 Corvette or Corvette E-Ray models, we now have a much longer video of the caravan in action.
The updated video clip once again comes from Corvette Forum user Jbsblownc5, and measures over seven minutes in length. We again join three C8 Corvette prototypes and their escort vehicle, which happens to be an Accelerate Yellow 2020 Stingray. The prototypes remain covered in gobs of black camouflage, but the wider hips and fat Michelin tires suggest these are not your typical Chevys. These cars look almost identical to the C8 Z06 models we’ve seen testing as of late, except they are missing one key feature.That of course is the center-exit exhaust, which MC&T was the first to confirm would arrive with the track-focused model.
Sources told MC&T that the early C8 Corvette Z06 prototypes were actually built with the standard Stingray exhaust however, and that changing the system over proved to be rather difficult. So while these could be a batch of early cars, this also could mean we aren’t looking at C8 Z06 prototypes at all. Based on the previous development cycle for the C8, these very well could be E-Ray prototypes. The hybrid model is expected to arrive for the 2023 model year, and is slated to wear the same widebody as the Z06. Regardless of the fact that GM will release the Z06 first, we are well within the timeframe to start seeing Corvette E-Rays on the road.
Jbsblownc5 was able to keep up with this caravan of Corvette in the canyons, despite a solid effort to build some space from the GM team. We’re sure his car’s 650 horsepower LT4 V8 played some part in that. The chase continued into town, and all the way to the test drivers’ hotel. In fact, there was a total of five C8 prototypes were resting under car covers at the lodging spot. It is clear that GM is doing some serious research out west right now, whether that be for the 2022 Corvette Z06 or the 2023 Corvette E-Ray.
Which C8 Corvette model do you think is hiding under all of that camouflage? Let us know down below.
