The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8 convertible. Source: ChevroletThere has been scrutiny on the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 since its debut back in July, due to its major departure from traditional Corvette design and aesthetics. Add amplified engine noise to the list of the heavily scrutinized vehicle's details.

Early this month, reports surfaced that the new C8’s engine noise is supplemented in the car cabin by the stereo system. For Corvette fans and automotive aficionados, this marked an affront to Corvette tradition.

Chevrolet defended the system as the same in the previous generation C7 and 2019 sport models, and clarified that the engine noises are augmented, not faked.

“We rely on the engine for all of the audio content, but given the passby requirements and the multiple cavities between the exhaust tips and the driver, some frequencies are lost and need to be supplemented,” Chevrolet told Motor1.

As part of the 2020 redesign, the Corvette’s beefy 6.2 liter V8 engine was moved to a mid-engine configuration, where the powerplant is located behind the passenger cabin. This means the engine exhaust no longer runs underneath the length of the vehicle, distancing passengers from a major source of engine noise and vibration. When combined with new sound insulation, design engineers felt supplementing engine noise in the cabin created a more authentic Corvette driving experience.

However, Corvette has a storied legacy and dedicated fans may feel the C8 strays too far from what made the Corvette iconic. Augmented engine noise is common on commuter vehicles, and a requirement on many electric vehicles, but rare in a sports vehicle.

Wallace Wyss, a contributor at Hemmings Motor News, cites the need for Chevrolet to rely less on the boomer demographic and more on millennial customers as the major motivation behind the C8 redesign.

Nonetheless, the C8 boasts 495 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 194 mph. There is no doubt it is the most powerful production Corvette ever.

The accompanying video appears courtesy of The Smoking Gun via YouTube. It is not affiliated with Engineering360.