One of the
industry professionals we have had our eye on here for quite some time at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse is Kirk
Bennion. Allocating his well-earned expertise to the Corvette design studio
since 1986, he is himself a very avid race driver, and understands the very
important role of aerodynamics in a Corvette's overall track performance. He
and his incredibly hard-working team are responsible for the exterior design of
the mid-engine C8
Corvette, sporting a grave difference from the shape and overall handling
behavior of the front-engine C7 architecture.
In a very candid
interview with the Super Chevy Network, he was first told that it was known the
C7 was a hard act follow, and asked about which challenge was the biggest
aerodynamic hurdle during the long journey. The work that took place while
incorporating low drag and manipulating downforce was a big factor, and getting
the two heat exchangers in the front and two in the rear of the car to function
properly posed a sizable challenge. When the heat exchangers were finally
loaded, it was of grave importance to make sure that they were in proper
locations in order to maximize the airflow while not disturbing the overall
flow and design of the car.
A lot of time was
taken to determine where to position the heat exchangers, and building up the
inlets to provide a maximum cooling effect. The job of routing the plumbing was
not too terrible, as the center tunnel in the C8 was free to enable proper
routing. From the time the C6 Z06 was released, there were constant requests
from customers regarding the hydraulic lift system. With frontal curb damage
being a huge issue, this lift system played a huge part in making the car more
user-friendly.
When a driver
approaches a speed bump or any other kind of hazard in their way, they simply
press a button to activate the system. Their location is sent via GPS to a
satellite, and then stored in digital cloud memory for future access. The next
time the driver approaches the scene of the bumpy crime, the front lift system
activates automatically. Up to 1,000 locations can be stored, and the front
shocks are fitted with a very small hydraulic pump that takes its cue from an
electronic switch when signaled to raise the car.
It's no secret
that speed is one of this car's awesome assets, and aerodynamics play a big
role in maintaining stability. Aircraft design has influence here, and the body
ridges help direct the airflow into the cooling inlets. Two of the reasons the
car stays stable at all times are downforce and cooling, as well as the task of
not keeping a bunch of air under the car to perpetuate lift. One of the reasons
why this car turned out to be such a success is that anyone can sense at first
sight that “all of the fat has been taken out”, and the design remains taught
and ready for the first signs of head-to-head action off the line!
