Will the C8 Mid-Engine Corvette be difficult for 3rd-party tuners to modify? If you look at the direction that the automaker has taken the last couple of years with its anti-hacking processes, the answer is yes.
And according to an article from Muscle Cars and Trucks, the C8 Corvette may have some of the strongest protections of the ECU computer when production begins late this year.
There is so much we don’t know yet about next-generation Corvette, but it’s believed it will be among the first production vehicles to have GM’s new electrical system called the Digital Vehicle Platform. As one of the features of the system, GM may offer over-the-air software updates for engine performance, vehicle ride characteristics, and navigation updates. As such, the platform’s security is said to be so robust and secure that only dealers will have access.
Not only that, the C8’s ECU may recognize unauthorized attempts to gain access or changing of its code results in the system shutting down and reverting back to the factory settings. The system may also go into a “recovery mode” in which case only those with GM’s tools can reflash the ECU programming.
Muscle Cars and Trucks refers to this as “bricking” the car and turning it into a “rolling paperweight”.
We know from the recent history of the 2019 Corvette ZR1 how hard it was for tuners to gain access to its computer. The LT5’s ECM is protected by a strong encryption program that was only recently circumvented by HP Tuner’s ZR1 ECM Purchase/Exchange service.
So we won’t say that tuners will be totally locked out of modifying the C8, but it will be hard and it will be expensive!
Source:
Muscle Cars and Trucks
Related:
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GM Unveils New Digital Vehicle Platform
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Anything could be hacked.
If there is a will, there is a way.
My problem with this is similar to that of Microsloth. (In the case with Microsloth, they insist on retaining control of the computer, (with Win 10, of course), gaining access to it in any way they see fit and at any time!) Once I buy a given product, IT BELONGS TO ME TO DO WITH AND USE AS I SEE FIT! The manufacturer, of course, has the right to cancel the warranty, which they do now. As long as they notify the customer that messin’ with the car in any way would render the warranty invalid, then the owner should be permitted to modify it in any way. The bottom line is to whom does the car belong, the buyer or the manufacturer?
Montana Bob
Just more of a challenge.
I heart is breaking for the poor egomaniac tuners. Boo hoo.
Its just the result of everything becoming computer-controlled/managed. When I was abroad in Germany, only the dealer was able to perform the M4 package modifications to my 2013 BMW 335is’ plant, to include the ECU. And unfortunately, only the dealer can do routine maintanence, because they have the assets to tell the car that maintenance was done.
All in the name of ensuring that warranties are complied with, maybe even protecting IP! As long as the systems work as advertised, I am OK with this.
Don’t get me wrong. Im trading in my E92 M-Sport for the C8, and will deal with this necessary evil! But it makes me wonder if we could still do engine mods such as installing a supercharger, once kits come out for it?
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