The Chevrolet Corvette rocked the world for many decades now, and it shocked the world even more as the latest model, namely the C8 Corvette, has finally been released. And oh boy, how it stands out from every generation of Corvette ever released!
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, more commonly known as the C8 Corvette, packs quite a punch, mainly on the looks and power output department.
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is the first ‘Vette to finally have a mid-engine setup, making it a lot more advantageous for many car enthusiasts. Its 6.2L LT2 V8 engine produces 490hp, a significant improvement from the C7 Corvette that only can raise 455hp.
Not only that, it looks like a proper modern supercar worthy of a cameo in one of Michael Bay’s Transformers films.
Acquiring this kind of car is a dream for many enthusiasts. And as a part of the car community, it’s not a surprise that many C8 Corvette owners would find ways to improve their cars.
Even though the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is relatively new to the market, some aftermarket mods are already available for it. May it be for the looks, power, sound, or handling, you’d be surprised that most items you need are already on stock or probably already present in the car.
Check out some of the best mods you can get for the 2020 C8 Corvette down below.
#1 Ceramic Coating
As a proud owner of the latest model of the Chevrolet Corvette, you should do as much as you can to make sure that your car is well protected. One of the best ways to keep your vehicle is by having its paint covered with a ceramic layer.
As technology progressed over the years, paint technology advanced into ceramic coatings, a far more effective measure compared to solutions like waterborne basecoats and the likes. It’s basically a cost-effective invisible armor you can get for your car.
Getting a ceramic coating for your C8 Corvette will give you loads of benefits over acquiring a regular wax coat. It will give your ‘Vette an excellent enhanced gloss, UV protection, and as well as some degree of safety from harmful road grime.
It’ll also make cleaning a tad bit easier, making the maintenance of the car’s exterior more convenient.
The only downside to this ceramic coating is that it will cost you some decent money. The ceramic coating may come off at a pretty steep price, but once you’ve got it on your C8 Corvette, you’ll realize how much money you’ve probably saved just because of mere paint protection that lasts for up to 5 years tops.
Recommendations:
- Ecocoat Kenzo
#2 Lowering Kits
Whether it’s on a modified decrepit ricer or a modern freedom-loving supercar, we can all agree that fender gaps aren’t a sight for sore eyes. For the case of the Chevrolet Corvette C8, the fender gaps aren’t that bad of a deal.
But as someone who’s into modifying cars to perfection, a fender gap is a fender gap, and that’s a big no-no.
Somebody in the forums noticed that the fender gap on a C8 Corvette is around 2.5”. For some, that’s acceptable but certainly, grind the gears of other car enthusiasts.
To get rid of such an unsightly view, you can lower the car using lowering kits. Such kits often consist of lowering collars and some tools necessary to finish the job. This mod will decently drop your vehicle by around 1” or so.
However, if you want a lowered stance that comes with improved handling, you might also grab some lowering springs or coilovers. You might say: “Corvettes use transverse leaf springs; you can’t use those!”
The latest generation of the Corvettes has finally gotten rid of them in favor of coil springs. Finally, transverse leaf springs on a Chevrolet Corvette are a thing of the past!
Please do consider, however, that the car is relatively new. Expect lowering kits, springs, and coilovers to be kinda rare and expensive. Lowering springs are pretty cheaper than coilovers because it only lowers the car.
Coilovers, on the other hand, are far more costly because most coilovers exist to put the car in race mode; with better handling, cornering, and road feel.
Recommendations:
- Cicio Performance Lowering Kit
- KW Suspensions V5 Coilover Kit (Magneride, Non-Noselift)
- KW Suspensions V5 Coilover Kit (Non-Magneride, Non-Noselift)
- Paragon Performance Hyperco Lowering Springs
#3 Exhaust Systems
Love it or hate it, most car enthusiasts would agree that an exhaust system is an excellent addition to any modified car. And for a blockbuster vehicle like the Chevrolet Corvette C8, adding an aftermarket exhaust system to it seems like an impressive idea.
Most enthusiasts want this mod for the sound, while others like one because it boosts the engine’s performance.
Regardless of your reason, we can undoubtedly agree that exhaust systems should be one of the first significant modifications you should get for your C8 Corvette. Don’t get us wrong, the latest generation of the ‘Vette sounds terrific, but honestly, it could use a bit of an improvement.
Luckily for you, most aftermarket exhausts out there, particularly the cat-backs, provide a noticeable improvement both in the engine efficiency and the auditory department of your car.
Not to mention other sweet benefits you’d get, like weight reduction, superb material, and sweet-looking exhaust tips.
A good exhaust can be pretty expensive, but the gains you can receive from it are undeniably worth it.
Recommendations:
- aFe MACH Force-XP Catback Exhaust System
- ARMYTRIX Stainless Steel Valvetronic Exhaust System
- Soul Performance Sport Exhaust
#4 Brake Pads
Owning a supercar like the Chevrolet Corvette C8 does have its perks, but it also entails grave perils. Such an adrenaline-inducing vehicle must be handled like a boss, or else you’re risking your own safety.
A 490hp-wielding car, when driven to its limits, can cause a fatal accident. Because of this, you’d need a more capable set of brake pads that has enough stopping power to halt the C8 Corvette whenever you want.
You must keep yourself safe from road accidents, especially while riding something fast and powerful. Many law firms concerned with automotive injuries reported clients who’ve sustained trauma to the spine and neck.
This is a crucial factor to take into account when it comes to keeping you and your passenger safe. Luckily for you, a new set of aftermarket brake pads will do just that.
Aside from safety, the vehicle’s OEM brake pads are notorious for being dust-prone as hell. OEM pads are made to exemplify performance, silence, and wear resistance, but they’re also prone to messing up a performance vehicle’s beautiful wheels.
To keep you safe from high-speed driving and keep your wheel off from dust, you must upgrade your brake pads.
Recommendations:
- Hawk Performance High Performance Street 5.0 Brake Pad (Front and Rear)
- Pagid Racing Brake Pads (Front and Rear)
#5 Radiator Screens
When you think of car modifications, the first thoughts that’ll come to mind are exhausts, intakes, headers, superchargers, and the likes. These significant upgrades undeniably make a ton of difference, but there’s one underrated mod amongst the C8 Corvette community that most car enthusiasts are eager to fix: radiator screens.
Radiator screens, grille inlet screens, or whatever you want to call it are one of the most crucial parts of a C8 Corvette that needs to be addressed. The car has these wide-open grilles up the front.
To most C8 Corvette owner’s surprise, it lets debris damage the wide-open components such as the air conditioner and the radiators located behind them.
GM claims that the damage done to the vehicle’s AC is purely cosmetic, but owners wouldn’t take that BS and turn to available aftermarket grilles to cover them up.
According to GM, what people see is just cosmetic, and it does not negatively affect the vehicle’s overall performance.
However, these wide-open grilles are still eyesores for many Chevrolet Corvette C8 owners. It’s improbable that GM will address this issue anytime soon, so you might as well solve the problem yourself.
You can do so by getting your hands on some grille screens to cover up those gawking inlets and protect your car’s innards.
Of course, you can go for a DIY approach, but a garden variety solution might do you more harm than good. There’s a lot of C8 Corvette grille screens available right now in most auto shops online, and it’ll be in your best interest to get some.
But if you want to cut down some costs, as said earlier, you can do it yourself. Hey, if it works, it works!
Recommendations:
Since the Chevrolet Corvette C8 is relatively new, there aren’t many upgrades available for it. But then again, if you consider it, there isn’t even any problem to solve regarding this car (except, of course, the apparently terrible understeer and the grille screen issue).
Overall, GM did quite a great job with this vehicle, allowing many car enthusiasts to enjoy a supercar without much fuss and at a very reasonable price.