Hennessey Performance isn’t the only company working to modify the C8 Chevrolet Corvette with ProCharger recently confirming that it too is working to upgrade the mid-engined ‘Vette. Whereas Hennessey is developing a twin-turbo kit, ProCharger is sticking to what it knows best working on a supercharger package for the sports car.
As standard, the 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine of the new Corvette delivers 495 hp and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. While the engine does share similarities to the LT1 engine of the C7 Corvette, it is unique on a handful of fronts, most notably due to the fact that it features a new high-rise intake manifold and equal-length stainless steel exhaust headers.
ProCharger’s supercharger package for the C7 Corvette was able to bump up peak grunt by more than 180 hp and if similar gains are achieved with the C8, it will be putting out upwards of 680 hp, not far behind the 710 hp offered up by the likes of the McLaren 720S and Ferrari F8 Tributo with their twin-turbo V8s.
One of the biggest challenges for tuning companies looking to upgrade the C8 is the fact that the E99 ECU it uses is encrypted and very hard to crack. We’re not aware of any company that has been able to crack into it just yet but ProCharger says its engineers and tuners are working on it. Once that’s done and the supercharger itself is installed, the company will start dyno and street testing before taking out its black C8 for track testing at Heartland Park and Sonoma Raceway.
Pricing details for the supercharging package have yet to be announced.