After the Z06 dropped, the carbon-fiber producer released its own widebody kit that’s half an inch wider.
If you’re the owner of a 2020-present Corvette Stingray, want a wider appearance, but don’t want to trade it in for a 2023 Corvette Z06, you’re in luck. Anderson Composites in City of Industry, California has come up with an all-carbon-fiber widebody kit for the Stingray. The rather intensive kit doesn’t merely include four fender flares, either.
The Anderson kit will make your Corvette over three inches wider than it is now and a half-inch wider than the Z06. As it stands, the standard Stingray and Z51 are 71.6 inches wide, while the new 2023 Z06 is 74.6 inches wide. Install the Anderson kit, and your C8 will be 74.6 inches wide in the front—just like the Z06—but it will be 75.1 inches wide at its rear haunches.
It Ain’t No Space Faring Rabbit
Rather than adding a set of fender flares that drastically take away from the flow of the C8, the Anderson kit enhances the lines while making the Stingray wider. The additional girth is molded into new body panels, including a pair that molds the rockers, door jams, and most of the B-pillar into a single panel that adds 1.75 inches of width per side. That’s required as the opening for the side-mounted radiators begins at the rear of the doors. It also enhances that opening without drawing away from its original design too much. The new front fenders are 1.5 inches wider.
The front fascia, however, is changed for better cooling and functional aerodynamics, just like the Z06. The openings for the front-mounted oil cooler and brake ducts have been enlarged to feed more air to them. Helping keep the nose planted are an integrated front splitter and canards that draw air away from the front tires along with a new belly pan that makes use of this newfound aero.
Furthermore, the front fenders also have heat extractors for the brakes, which the Z06 does not feature. More aerodynamic enhancements can also be found on the rocker panels thanks to its integrated side splitters. The rear cover is mainly designed for the new rear width, but the apron has an enhanced, integrated diffuser, again improving the air flow of the standard C8.
The Cost?
The best part about the entire kit—besides not ruining the overall look of the C8—is that all of your lights, doors, hood, and rear deck are all retained and in their OE locations. You don’t need to worry with new wiring or having to figure out a new door latch and hinge system. Even the Z51 spoiler or high wing can be used with this kit. Anderson also makes carbon fiber versions of the hood, rear hatch, roof, and the C8s trim and that means you could build a full-carbon, widebody Corvette.
However, all of that carbon and widening comes at a price. The widebody kit MSRPs at $19,999 and you must also get it installed. If you’re not a body shop worker, this might require you to outsource that labor. There will also be a fiberglass version of the kit, which will run at a lower cost but that price wasn’t mentioned in the release from Anderson Composites. You also can’t purchase the components individually, at least not at the moment. Considering how integrated each component is to the other, it may not become an option like you see with a few other widebody kits. Even so, the sound of an all-carbon, widebody Stingray Z51 is just too good to pass up. Wonder if the boss wouldn’t mind us “borrowing” the long term Corvette test car for a minute.
