Manoli Katakis 
Originally, Callaway Cars wasn’t expected to show off its take on the C8 Corvette until Chevrolet debuted the 2023 Z06. Well, it appears the recent teasers were enough, as the GM-exclusive upfitter has announced its plan to reveal the Callaway C8 Corvette Launch Edition this week at the 2021 Corvettes at Carlisle gathering in Pennsylvania, happening from Thursday, August 26 through Saturday, August 28.
Callaway C8 Corvette Launch Edition: What To Expect
With the announcement came a few CAD teaser renderings of the Callaway C8 Corvette. With them, we see a massive rear wing similar to the Callaway Competition C7 GT3 race car, a D-shaped exhaust fitted to the center like the new Z06, along with a unique set of wheels and rocker panels to finish the look. At first glance, it doesn’t appear to be a widebody design, but we’ll know for sure later week.
Owner and founder Reeves Callaway has gone on record in saying that the C8 Corvette Stingrays that the company has acquired for prototyping are all undergoing “some form of positive manifold pressure,” suggesting the application of turbochargers or a supercharger. Considering that the 6.2L LT2 V8 in the C8 Corvette Stingray is the same engine architecture as other Gen.V Small Block engines like the LT1 and LT4 found in the Camaro and C7, it doesn’t take a wild guess to assume that a supercharged V8 is probably in at least one of those Callaway C8 Corvettes undergoing testing.
However, as we’ve exhaustively reported, such modifications would require accessing the engine control unit of the C8 Corvette in order to properly tune things like air/fuel ratios, spark and timing. Without integrated tuning, it’s unlikely Callaway would offer the package. Therefore, we’re left wondering: did Callaway get special access to the C8 Corvette ECU? We’ll know for sure in the coming days.
Callaway products are positioned in a way that don’t directly compete with any of factory offerings from General Motors. A look at the Callaway portfolio implies just that. Chevrolet does not make a supercharged Silverado, but Callaway will build you one. Nor does Chevrolet offer a supercharged V6 in the Colorado. But Callaway will build you one. Chevrolet also never offered a Corvette shooting brake, but Callaway will also build you one in the form of the AeroWagen.
