E.T.D. Corvettes

Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles takes time out at the National Corvette Museum's 25th Anniversary to talk with Sons of Speed about the all-new, mid-engine 2020 Corvette. We cover the C8's development timeline (and how the C7 was almost a totally different car), the materials used in the C8 (including the different roof panels), a convertible C8, DCT v. manual transmissions (and the advantages of DCT), museum delivery with the high wing spoiler (and its benefits over the standard Z51 spoiler), the PDR enhancements, and more!

Zymurgy

Please, somebody give me the cliff notes.

ben1272

Something like this:

- car has been in the works since 2005 (more or less)

- tried to remain true to Corvette practicality and history while still being in exotic supercar territory (dual trunks, stowable roof panel)

- new DCT is awesome......drive it before you form your opinion, you are going to love it, it is fun to drive and the car belches fire.

- PDR is awesome, and gives a lot of capability, plus acts as a deterrent to poor driving in valet mode.

I think I got everything.

Zymurgy

Thanks you!

Tripjammer

So the C8 does shoot flames? WOW!

ben1272

errr.....well......there was a CGI video clip of the C8 shooting flames as he described what the DCT allows when put in sport mode.....I kind of inferred that it shoots flames......

Jedi-Jurist

I will happily test this out as soon as possible

themonk

it's funny, at 8:41 when the car is on track you see on the LH side of the cluster an overlay of the track that they're on but at 16:39 when buddy mentions how a sketch of a mock up of the dash there's a track overlay and then asks Harlen if that will make it to production, Harlen says no, there are no plans for it to be.

sammyv

Thanks for the post!

HARVEY T.GLUCK

Great presentation as always by Harlan— the guy knows his stuff about the every facet of each and every Corvette.. His knowledge is unbelievable...H

Jedi-Jurist

That video was also an early CG promo that was used to show the higher ups what the C8 was all about, so it probably borrowed from that same sketch. They showed the CG video at the 25th Anniversary.

Phil1098

One tidbit he talked about was that the car has a removable panel in the trunk to access the air filter housing. I didn't see any seams on the pics of the trunks, but that is good news that you don't have to remove the entire trunk tub with removable top holding mounts etc. just to get to the air filter.

onyx_z71

Just don't ask him a question that you couldn't find the answer to in a typical sales brochure. I've met and talked to him a couple times and learned to never ask a question that is remotely related to the development and/or engineering of the car. He reminds me of a sports fan who could rattle off stats on a player or team all night long, but not really understand how the game itself is played. Nothing against him personally, but I've realized he is a marketing man first and foremost.

john m

The man has a degree in mechanical engineering and holds multiple patents, I’m certain he knows completely how the game is played. It’s an issue of how ‘the game’ is played at GM that dictates his answers to your questions.

ColdPIzza

Exactly. Not to mention that most of those features that you enjoy are mainly due to his direct involvement and influence. PDR, for example, was Harlan's baby.

Once you learn not to press him with questions about future product that you shouldn't be asking him in the first place you will find that he'll tell you more than you've ever thought to question about how the game is played.