Turning the Volume All the Way Up
While Hennessey Performance has been making headlines with its C8 Corvette ZR1 build, Specialty Vehicle Engineering’s take on the platform shouldn’t be overlooked. SVE has reworked the C8 Corvette E-Ray with its 2026 Stage III Yenko/SC package, pushing output to as much as 1,564 horsepower – roughly 900 more than stock.
That dramatic increase comes from an extensively reworked 6.2-liter LT2 V8 featuring upgraded internals, including a forged steel crankshaft, forged H-beam connecting rods, and forged 2618 aluminum pistons. The engine is also equipped with twin water-cooled Garrett 58 mm ceramic ball-bearing turbochargers, allowing it to generate over 1,500 horsepower on E85 fuel. That figure is roughly 300 horsepower more than even the nameplate’s most extreme factory variant, the Corvette ZR1X.
Built to Handle the Madness
The upgrades aren’t limited to the engine, which, from the factory, is paired with an electric motor and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system – something previous-generation Corvettes would never have foreseen. To support the added output, SVE installed upgraded high- and low-pressure fuel systems, along with a reinforced Stage III 8/9 dual-clutch transmission that enables the gearbox to cope with the substantial increase in power.
The New Jersey–based shop, which produced a 1,000-horsepower Chevrolet Silverado last year, also offers forged and CNC-machined lightweight wheels measuring 20 inches up front and 21 inches at the rear, as well as Yenko-badged brake calipers and an optional high-flow exhaust that the company strongly recommends. Inside, buyers can select from several badging options, including twin-turbo graphics on the floor mats and SYC-embroidered headrests.
Additional options include a chassis-mounted Z06-style rear wing, custom-color SYC logo center caps, and a clear engine bay for the Corvette E-Ray convertible, among others.
Power Like This Doesn’t Come Cheap
Production will be limited to just 50 units, though Specialty Vehicle Engineering didn’t disclose pricing. Each build is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile engine and twin-turbo assembly limited warranty, along with a 3-year/36,000-mile non-powertrain component limited warranty.
For reference, the C8 Corvette E-Ray already starts at around $108,600, meaning final pricing with the 1,564-horsepower upgrade is expected to be even more eye-watering. In Chevy’s lineup, the Corvette E-Ray slots between the base Corvette Stingray and the Corvette Z06, with a rumored Corvette Grand Sport trim for the C8 platform expected to sit above the Stingray.
About the author
Rex Sanchez
News Editor