2020 Corvette Stingray's Earth-Shaking Engineering: The Science of Zero to Sixty in Three Seconds

Due to the mid-engined layout alone, many car professionals knew that the 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray was going to offer mind-blowing performance and aggressive acceleration in standalone form. Even fans we had kept close touch with here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis that had been in the loop for years regarding development were astonished by its 0-60 mph time. When equipped with the Z51 package and performance exhaust, this 495-horsepower mid-engined marvel gets there in a mind-blowing 2.92 seconds. To gain the proper perspective on the matter you have to realize that today's 755-hp Corvette ZR1 can accomplish this, but the price tag is nearly double.

Engineering expert Jason Fenske dedicated a full episode of Engineering Explained to provide the inside scoop on just how Chevy got there, and at such a lower cost factor. A car needs a pretty massive amount of power to achieve a 0-60 mph time, and the 6.2-liter V8 situated in the middle completes the horsepower task. Next, the car needs a transmission that shifts quickly, and the C8 Corvette tackles this problem with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic. It shifts lightening-fast and has rations that keep the engine properly within its power band, but the most prominent advantage of the DCT is that power delivery between gears doesn't halt, and the car is always acceleration with the throttle at fever pitch.

Tires are another huge factor when it comes to track times that smoke and sizzle with a frenzy, and this is where the calculator is busted out. The frictional coefficient of the tires that are mounted on the new Corvette, Michelin PS45 rubber, at a rate of 1.336 gs. This helps solve the puzzle of the force equation, being the absolute top of the rim for maximum force that the car can accelerate. Force is the result of the frictional coefficient of the tires multiplied by the weight pushing down on the tires.

Under the guise of a 40/60 front/rear weight distribution, a center of gravity similar to that of the C8's, and taking into consideration factors regarding the car's new wheelbase, there's a solution for the quickest possible acceleration time. That figure sits at 2.76 seconds with a max acceleration of .99 Gs. The outgoing base Corvette model sits at 3.31 seconds, with the max acceleration at .826 Gs. Jason also claims here that the quickest possible acceleration with stickier tires is an astounding 2.5 seconds, which could be accomplished with a future Z06 or ZR1.

The 2020 Corvette's brand-new layout could also pave the way for a braking distance even shorter than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS's 87 feet from 60 down to 0 mph. There is something to be said for a car that is so entirely all-American, laced with raw power, and is as visually stunning as the new mid-engined 'Vette. We have to admit that it's almost unthinkable to ponder what would have happened if the go-ahead for this design would have occurred years ago: track enthusiasts and would have been at the edge of their seat, and heavily devoted to the cause. There's been a lot to be excited about this summer regarding the C8: this is one display of engineering expertise and prime patience level that is off-the-charts and stunningly poised to make a memorable mark in automotive history!