Does the C8 Owner’s Manual Reveal a Future Hybrid Model?

It took over 60 years for the Corvette to go mid-engine. Could a 700 horsepower, all-wheel-drive hybrid follow a year or two later?

After decades of waiting a mid-engine Corvette is getting ever closer to landing in a showroom near you. Even though the chances are the car you see will already belong to someone else, it will still be exciting to finally see these on the ground. By all accounts, the wait for the new platform will have been worth it. However, as significant as it is moving the power plant behind the driver, there may be an even bigger change coming as soon as next year. Nothing has yet been formally announced by Chevrolet, but they may have accidentally left all C8 owners and fans a clue.

The C8 owner’s manual has been released and is available for download. As Carbuzzreports, Corvette Blogger has been reviewing the new owner’s manual and found something quite interesting on page 244, leading us to believe that there very well could be a C8 with hybrid power and all-wheel drive in the very near future.

There have been previous rumors of a hybrid C8, but this is the closest we have seen so far to anything resembling proof. Previous rumors suggested that the hybrid Corvette would have an electric motor in the frunk to provide as much as 200 horsepower to the front wheels. If that turns out to be true, we are looking at a 700 horsepower all-wheel drive Corvette that could be one of the fastest accelerating cars on the planet.

So, what exactly is in the current owner’s manual that makes us think hybrid? There is a reference to a secondary fuse block between the seats. The fuses of interest are fuses 7 and 12. Fuse 7 is for the Power Sounder Module/Pedestrian Friendly Alert Function, which has the same label in the Chevy Bolt. As we know when a vehicle is running on electric power only it is eerily quiet. Quite unlike a regular internal combustion engine-powered Corvette. This Power Sounder provides a noise to alert pedestrians to the presence of an incoming EV. Fuse 12 reveals a lithium-ion battery module. This could indicate that a future C8 could use stored power for extra jolts of performance.

The C8 is already a game-changer in the performance car market and is putting other sports car manufacturers on notice. This is before the high-powered versions such as the Z06 and ZR1 even make their debut. Now the likes of Porsche are going to also begin to worry about a hybrid Corvette that will surely have staggering performance numbers to go along with some Earth friendliness. The hybrid power plant will also help the Corvette appeal to a younger crowd which is another key initiative for this car over at Chevrolet.

While all signs point to the hybridization of the Corvette, the manufacturer has officially been mum on the subject. They may not want to tip their hand quite yet as to what may be in the pipeline. Or, perhaps they are just too busy trying to build enough 2020 Corvettes to satisfy the tens of thousands of orders placed. Either way, they have a major hit on their hands, and it seems they have even more tricks up their sleeve to dominate the streets.

Photos: Chevrolet; Corvette Blogger