Engine placement is a tricky thing. Front engine placement is by far and away the most common, lending added stability to front-wheel-drive cars. Rear-engined cars provide power and traction to the rear wheels, at the cost of oversteer. Mid-engined cars, though, give stability to all four corners at the cost of cabin space and the danger of spin. Corvettes are traditionally front-engined, but fans have been waiting for a mid-engined car for years, and finally, it’s happening. Coming in 2019, this ‘vette challenges received wisdom, and it’s gonna be, at the very least, very interesting.

The car’s been spotted out and about in testing regalia recently, looking very cool indeed. While it’s covered, you can still make out a changed body shape from the C7. The C8 Corvette looks to be shorter up front and longer in the back, which makes sense given its new engine configuration. There’s also a large side vent, another logical choice. Above the rear windshield, you can spot a camera, with the output likely being displayed on the rear-view mirror, as happens on the Cadillac CT6. On the whole, the new Corvette’s body shape looks a lot more European than American, with lines akin to those of an Audi R8 or Lamborghini Gallardo. It is expected to be constructed largely of aluminum and carbon fiber, with a weight of around 3500 lbs.

Engine options are all up in the air, but rumors abound. According to some sources, there will be a turbocharged V6 option available to keep costs and emissions down, in addition to the traditional small-block V8. Others believe that the most powerful C8 will actually be a hybrid. According to Car and Driver, the car will launch with an upgraded LT1 engine, with a naturally-aspirated 5.5 liter V8 that produces 600 horsepower and tops out at 9000 rpm the next rung up the ladder. Then, there will be an 800 horsepower twin-turbo version of the 5.5 liter V8. Topping the range out, will be the latter, with an added 200 horsepower electric motor in the car’s trunk, powering the front wheels and giving the car AWD. In the same report, Car and Driver also stated that the car will feature active aerodynamics, including a rear spoiler and front-lift axle.

Regardless of which engines actually end up in the final car, those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the car have given us this recording. It sounds spectacular: the car produces a deep, throaty V8 growl, with some incredibly quick upshifts, theorized to have been produced by an automatic dual-clutch Tremec. That’s the one thing that seems to be a bummer on the new Corvette: according to reports, there will be no manual option whatsoever. Regardless, I’m looking forward to learning more about the car as its release draws closer.