2020 Corvette to Have Over the Air Updates
The C8 Corvette will come with OTA update capability out of the box, but that complicates matters for tuners.
OTA All the Way?
Over-the-air updates, famously present in Tesla vehicles, are obviously the future for all automakers. So it's really no surprise that Chevy chose to use this feature on the new C8 Corvette. This is obviously a good thing for software updates, which can now be done on the fly instead of only at the dealership. But OTA updates come with their own special set of issues as well.
Photos: Chevrolet
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More Complex
Tinkering with modern car computers has gotten harder and harder over the years as systems become more and more complex. OTA updates only further that problem, as they require more fortified security and encryption technology to protect your (and the car's) information.
Photos: Chevrolet
Hard Nut to Crack
General Motors utilizes its new “Global B” architecture in the C8, which uses a variety of computers including the E99 engine control module. Not only do these computers feature strong encryption, but also VIN-specific coding that's harder to crack. In fact, some of the modules require coding from GM in order to be modified.
Untunable?
In simple terms, all of this makes life much harder for aftermarket tuners. Some have even gone so far as to claim that the C8 will be "untunable," but they said the same thing about the C7 ZR1, and tuners managed to crack that code after a good bit of work.
Photos: Chevrolet
Jump Start
The C8's ECUs and electrical architecture aren't completely tied together, however, and can be modified separately. And the E99 ECU present in the C8 is the same unit Chevy used in the C7 ZR1, so so the aftermarket already has a jump start in figuring it out.
Photos: Chevrolet
Workaround
As tuners have already discovered, the E99 isn't able to be directly programmed like previous ECUs. However, HPTuners quickly figured out a way to reflash the ECU so that it would accept changes from their software.
Photos: Chevrolet
Whole Unit
These changes cannot be made to a stock ECU, however, because you risk bricking it and making it a paperweight. Thus, HPTuners offers complete replacement ECUs for the C7 ZR1.
Photos: Chevrolet
Costly Service
HPTuners charges $2,000 on top of the tuning cost for this service with a core exchange, or $2,500 if you opt to keep your stock ECU. Which is obviously a good idea if you ever want to be able to return your car to stock and receive updates from GM.
Photos: Chevrolet
Learn Again
Even then, you can't just swap out ECUs and call it a day. The engine immobilizer is tied to the stock ECU, so a relearn must be performed using a GM dealer tool. Independent shops equipped with Service Programming System (SPS) can also perform this service.
Photos: Chevrolet
Hard but Doable
Thus, tuning the C8 Corvette won't exactly be easy, but at least the aftermarket already has a jump start on it. And if there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's to never bet against a determined hacker!
Photos: Chevrolet
For help with service and maintenance on your car, check out the how-to section of LS1Tech.com.