Chevrolet is going all-in with the upcoming 2020 C8 Corvette, fitting the halo car with Bose's most powerful audio system to date.
The American carmaker announced that the eighth-generation Stingray Corvette will feature the Bose Performance system as a way to set the "new standard for sports car sound." The speaker system boasts of state-of-the-art signal processing and tuning capable of delivering the loudest yet clearest audio experience.
Adding the Bose Performance Series to the C8 Stingray continues the long-standing partnership between Chevrolet and consumer electronics manufacturer that began with the fourth-generation Corvette in 1984.
"The new Corvette Stingray is phenomenal, and it delivers a special kind of experience that doesn't happen very often. So, getting every detail just right is critically important — and that includes audio," said Bose Chief Audio Engineer Tobe Barksdale.
Barksdale pointed out that the next-generation Corvette is already capable of delivering a unique sound, courtesy of its V8 engine. The music from the C8's custom-engineered Bose Performance system will bring a "moving emotion" to the mix that fans expect from such a legendary car.
Bose's Mega-Powerful Audio
The C8 Corvette audio system will feature a dash panel fitted with several 2.5-inch and 3.25-inch neodymium speakers. It will also have 4-inch neodymium wide-range speakers and 1-inch neodymium tweeters hidden behind a metal cover.
Meanwhile, the rear side of the cabin will have 3.25-inch neodymium drivers and 5.25-inch neodymium wide-range speakers, some of which will be tucked away between the passenger seats. These will be covered in a metal surface that has the iconic Corvette logo emblazoned on it.
Giving the compact C8 a powerful Bose Performance Series was not easy for audio engineers. Larger vehicles would often have dedicated bass boxes to handle the blasts of music from such a monster audio system.
However, Chevrolet's team found the solution by placing 10-inch Bose Nd woofers in the inner spaces of each car door to take advantage of the cabin's low frequencies. Instead of covering the bass speakers with the typical metal grille, they will be placed behind padded surfaces to protect passengers' legs from powerful sound blasts while driving. The designers believe this will also help increase the sound system's durability in the long run.
Audio engineers also had to factor in the C8 Corvette's removable hardtop and tendency for rapid acceleration in developing an acoustic environment for the car. They solved this by adding a digital amplifier with customizable equalization channels to give the Stingray's cabin with high-quality music.
C8 Corvette's Release
While Chevrolet has yet to announce an official roll out date for the C8, it is likely that the new Corvette will hit the market by the end of the year. Observers expect the mid-engine sports car to cost around $62,000.
