One of the all-time most recognizable American sports cars

史上最知名的美國跑車之一。

and notorious scene-stealers in the history of cinema.

和電影史上臭名昭著的搶鏡者。

But even as its supercharged versions,

但即使作為其增壓版本。

ZO6 and ZR1, continue to crank up the horsepower,

ZO6和ZR1，繼續加大馬力。

the Vette hasn't quite slipped its way into

Vette還沒有完全滑落到它的方式。

the same class as the high-priced, high-speed

同級別的高價位、高速度

supercars offered by automakers

超級跑車

like Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren.

如法拉利、蘭博基尼或邁凱倫。

That is, until now.

也就是說，直到現在。

For the 2020 model, Chevrolet may have

對於2020款車型，雪佛蘭可能有

finally closed the gap with one crucial design change.

最終以一個關鍵性的設計改變來縮小差距。

And it's created an entirely new car

而且它創造了一種全新的汽車

that can definitely hang in the big leagues.

這絕對可以掛在大聯盟。

Since its introduction in 1953,

自1953年問世以來。

the Chevy Corvette has undergone a number of changes,

雪佛蘭科爾維特經歷了一系列的變化。

gradually transforming from a slick street cruiser

漸漸從一輛光滑的街道巡洋艦變成了一個個光滑的街道巡洋艦。

into a high-powered race car.

變成一輛大功率的賽車。

In recent years, the car has even ventured into

近年來，該車甚至涉足了

supercar territory with its high-performance ZO6 models

憑藉其高性能的ZO6車型進入超級跑車領域

that gave luxury-sport-car owners a run for their money.

讓豪華運動車車主們大呼過癮。

For crying out loud, the 2019 ZR1

拜託，2019款ZR1

packed a 755-horsepower engine under its hood.

在其引擎蓋下裝了一臺755馬力的發動機。

However, the Corvette's current design

然而，科爾維特目前的設計是這樣的

was holding it back from performing at its full potential.

是阻礙它充分發揮潛力的因素。

So, the automaker's team went back to the drawing board

所以，汽車製造商的團隊又回到了原點。

and completely redesigned its iconic sports car.

並對其標誌性跑車進行了全新設計。

The company finally took the plunge

公司終於出手了

and gave its fans a mid-engine Corvette.

並給了它的粉絲們一箇中置引擎的科爾維特。

So, what's a mid-engine car?

那麼，什麼是中置發動機汽車？

It's actually quite simple.

其實很簡單。

It just means that instead of the engine

這只是意味著，而不是發動機

sitting at the front of the car under the hood,

坐在車頭的引擎蓋下。

it sits in the middle of the car,

它坐在車的中間。

typically in the space right behind the driver.

通常在司機身後的空間。

It's a layout found in some of the most

這是一種佈局，在一些最。

popular exotic supercars, because of how much

受歡迎的異國超級跑車，因為它是多麼的受歡迎

it can improve a vehicle's performance.

它可以提高車輛的性能。

So, how exactly does a mid-engine design

那麼，究竟如何進行中置發動機設計呢？

result in better performance?

導致更好的性能？

First of all, it improves the car's handling and braking.

首先，它能提高汽車的操控性和制動性。

When the engine is placed in the middle,

當發動機放在中間的時候。

its weight is more evenly distributed

其重量分佈更均勻

between the front and rear wheels,

前輪和後輪之間。

allowing the vehicle to change direction

允許車輛改變方向

more easily and rapidly.

更加容易和迅速。

In a rear-wheel-drive car, like the new Corvette,

在後輪驅動汽車中，比如新的科爾維特。

this added weight to the rear also increases traction

這增加了後部的重量，也增加了牽引力。

and lets the rear brakes do more of the stopping.

並讓後剎車做更多的停止。

A mid-engine design can also provide

中置發動機的設計還可以提供

a boost in acceleration.

加速的提升。

Generally speaking, adding horsepower and torque

一般來說，增加馬力和扭矩

to an engine means increasing its mass as well.

對發動機來說，也意味著增加其品質。

However, in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle,

然而，在後輪驅動車輛中。

if that hefty engine is sitting on top of your front axle,

如果那沉重的發動機是坐在你的前軸之上。

putting far less weight on the wheels

減輕車輪的重量

all your power is coming from,

你所有的力量都是來自。

there's only so much faster you can make your car go.

只有這麼多的速度，你可以讓你的車去。

This is exactly what happened to Chevrolet

這正是發生在雪佛蘭身上的事情。

with its monstrous Corvette ZR1 that,

與其畸形的科爾維特ZR1，。

despite its beast of an engine,

儘管它的發動機是野獸。

wasn't performing much better than

表現不比

its previous-generation models.

其上一代車型。

The solution?

解決辦法？

Finally slide that engine back

最後把發動機滑回來

and see what this baby can do.

看看這個寶貝能做什麼。

But a mid-engine Corvette wasn't

但中置發動機的科爾維特並不在其中

some brand-new, foreign concept.

一些全新的，外國的概念。

In fact, Chevy had been testing it since the 1960s

其實，雪佛蘭從上世紀60年代就開始測試了。

with its series of Chevrolet experimental-research vehicles.

與其系列雪佛蘭實驗研究車。

However, these prototypes remained concept cars

然而，這些原型車仍然是概念車

because of issues with engine cooling,

因為發動機冷卻的問題。

their limited passenger and luggage space,

其有限的乘客和行李空間。

and an overall unbearable loudness.

和整體難以忍受的響聲。

Fast-forward to 2019, and advancements in engineering

快進到2019年，工程上的進步。

have finally given us a mid-engine Corvette

終於給我們帶來了中置引擎的科爾維特。

that many have already labeled a supercar

很多人已經將它定義為超跑

due to its comparable design and performance

由於其設計和性能相當

to a number of exotics.

到一些外來物種。

So, what does this mean for those luxury automakers

那麼，這對那些豪華汽車製造商意味著什麼呢？

selling high-performance cars

賣高性能跑車

for hundreds of thousands of dollars?

幾十萬美金？

It could spell trouble.

這可能會帶來麻煩。

Let's take a look at Ferrari.

我們來看看法拉利。

One of the Italian company's popular choices is the 458,

458是意大利公司的熱門選擇之一。

a mid-engine supercar produced from 2010 to 2015.

2010年至2015年生產的一款中置引擎超級跑車。

As holder of the last naturally aspirated V8 engine

作為最後一款自然吸氣V8發動機的持有者，我們的目標是：為中國市場提供最先進的V8發動機。

Ferrari produced, the car remains a favorite.

法拉利生產的車，依然是人們的最愛。

Particularly with purists who despise

特別是對那些鄙視的純粹主義者來說

its turbocharged successors.

其渦輪增壓的後續產品。

Now, a quick look, and you'll see that

現在，快速看一下，你會發現。

the new Corvette's base model

新的科爾維特基本款

and Ferrari 458 are extremely similar,

和法拉利458極為相似。

both mechanically and performance-wise.

無論是在機械上還是在性能上。

The real difference? Price.

真正的區別是什麼？價格。

At its release, the 2015 458

在發佈時，2015款458

started at a cost of about $240,000.

開始時的費用約為24萬美元。

The 2020 Corvette?

2020年的科爾維特？

Try just under $60,000.

試著在6萬塊錢以下。

While the next-generation Corvette

雖然新一代科爾維特

appears to be a Ferrari cousin

貌似是法拉利的堂兄弟

with the lavish addition of modern tech

充滿現代科技感

throughout the interior,

整個室內。

there are still plenty of questions about the car

車上還有很多問題

that will only be answered when it hits showrooms

這隻有當它進入展廳時才會有答案。

at the end of this year.

在今年年底，。

But whether you're a traditionalist unhappy about

但無論你是一個傳統主義者，不滿意於

the Corvette's complete reconstruction

科爾維特的全面重建

or can't wait to get your hands on an exotic supercar

或迫不及待地想擁有一輛異國情調的超級跑車。

for a fraction of the price,

價格的一小部分。

there's no arguing that the leap of faith

信念的飛躍是不爭的事實。

Chevrolet has taken with its legendary Vette

雪佛蘭以其傳奇的Vette

is the most radical change to happen

是要發生的最徹底的變化

in the American car industry in a long, long time.

在美國汽車行業很長很長的一段時間裡。