Watch Out: Florida Highway Patrol Adds C8 Corvette To Its Fleet

Florida Highway Patrol has a new crime fighting tool, a C8 Corvette. Wearing the famous black and brown, completely with official badging and letting, the 2023 Chevy Corvette isn’t just a showpiece that’s just used for public relations work. Instead, the mid-engine sports car will be patrolling the highways in Florida.

Police catch a fleeing Dodge Charger thanks to a pothole.

Before critics start spouting off how FHP is abusing taxpayer dollars, the law enforcement agency made it know with the C8’s reveal that it was seized from a drug trafficker. An operation involving FHP and the DEA resulted in the mid-engine sport car’s capture.

Rather than sell it at auction, the law enforcement agency opted to keep and repurpose the ride. We don’t expect everyone will like that decision, especially people who think they can outrun any cop.

As we learn from YouTuber Nick OFF Duty, the C8 Corvette for now is housed out of Fort Myers in Southwest Florida. In fact, the video he dropped on YouTube marked the first time the secretive project was revealed to the public.

The first mid-engine car ever used by FHP, it can do 0-60 mph in a claimed 2.9 seconds plus hit a top speed of 194 mph. While that makes it great for pursuits, don’t expect to see it ever perform a PIT maneuver since it lacks a push bar.

While the interior retains the red leather seats and other niceties, FHP has outfitted it with the computer, portable printer for citations, and a light controller. The exterior has lights mounted on the front fascia, sides, and rear, including with the third brake light changing colors for different operations.

Even though the C8 Corvette will be patrolling and pulling over violators on Florida roads, FHP also plans to use it in public outreach programs like parades, recruitment, etc. After all, a lot of people will want to get a closer look at a police car like this, just not from their rearview mirror.

Images via Florida Highway Patrol