[supra93]

The mid-engine Corvette is real. Yes, it's been rumored for literally decades and nothing has come of it, but this time, it's happening. We've seen a ute-based powertrain mule, we've seen them cold weather testing, and we've heard all sorts of info and rumors on what will be powering it.

We also now know what car the mid-engined Corvette is designed to compete directly with: the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

These mid-engined Corvette prototypes (there were three of them) were caught traveling through southwest Michigan with a Porsche 911 Turbo S in tow. And it's not just a guy in a Turbo S who wanted to follow some cool Corvettes around. This 911 has Michigan manufacturer plates on it, meaning that it is owned by a car manufacturer, not an individual. We're willing to bet a pretty penny that manufacturer is Chevrolet, especially considering Chevrolet has purchased 911s in the past for Corvette-related development work.

It makes sense. The Corvette is always, always, compared with the Porsche 911. Both are the premier, halo sports cars from their respective nations, have been in production for approximately the same amount of time, and have similar performance across the range. While the C7 Corvette would be closer to a Carrera S and the Z06 and Grand Sport would be more akin to a 911 GT3, the mid-engine model will go in a slightly different direction.

Benchmarking against a Turbo S implies that the Vette will be more than just a one trick pony. The Turbo S is a very nice all-around car; it's brutally quick on the track and effortlessly fast on the road. It's also $200,000, has 580-horsepower, and can hit 60 from a standstill in 2.5 seconds. Chevrolet seems to want its car to be just as capable as the Turbo S, and it will likely cost half as much.

So what else can we tell from these photos and videos?

These mid-engine Corvette prototypes spotted in Michigan are our best look yet at the upcoming American supercar. Even if the proportions have changed and the car is mid-engined, it is very obviously related to a Corvette. The nose comes to a sharp point, much like the C7, and the front end, though covered by camo, looks related to the current car. The rear end has quad, squared off exhausts, unlike the C7, these are pushed wide instead of centered. We can't tell what shape the rear lights are, but it's very unlikely that they're round.

The brakes appear to be steel rotors, though it seems likely that carbon ceramics would also be offered on an upper trim level.

While we don't know what's under the hood, we do believe that it could be a DOHC V8 codenamed LT5. It's an engine that could also appear, albeit in supercharged form, in the upcoming Corvette ZR1. The mid-engined Vette might not have forced induction, instead relying on less weight and better balance as the way it'd solidify its position as the halo Corvette.

Of course, there could be an insane version on the way, this is the just the start of a car that's been nearly 50 years in the making.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...esting-photos/