A Decade Apart: 2016 C7 & 2026 C8 Corvette Ceramic Coating in Cedar Park

It's not often we have two generations of Corvette sitting side by side in our Cedar Park shop—especially when they're exactly ten model years apart.

This 2016 C7 Corvette and 2026 C8 Corvette came to Blue Ocean Auto Spa at the same time for similar treatment: paint enhancement followed by XPEL FUSION PLUS PREMIUM V2 ceramic coating.

The result made for a great photo. But what happened before those finished photos is the more important part of this project.



A ceramic coating can only perform over the surface underneath it. That's why we put so much emphasis on preparation before the coating ever touches the paint.

Starting With a Controlled Indoor Decontamination Wash

Both Corvettes began with a decontamination wash in our indoor wash bay.

Working indoors isn't just about keeping the cars out of the Texas sun. It gives us a more controlled environment for the decontamination process.

Decontamination chemicals need adequate working time to do their job. Direct sunlight and hot exterior panels can cause products to dry much faster than intended. Working inside our climate-controlled shop gives us greater control over the process and allows us to thoroughly prepare the surface for the steps that follow.



That preparation matters when the ultimate goal is a clean surface ready for polishing and ceramic coating.

Paint Enhancement Before Ceramic Coating

Ceramic coating isn't a substitute for correcting defects already present in the finish.

After decontamination, we addressed minor scratches and imperfections in the paint with machine polishing.

The goal wasn't simply to make these Corvettes glossy enough for a photograph. We wanted to improve the finish before locking in the appearance with the ceramic coating.

Our lighting plays an important role here.



The reflections produced by professional shop lighting make paint defects much easier to identify than they may be under ordinary ambient lighting. On highly reflective blue paint, that controlled inspection environment gives us a much better look at the condition of the surface while we're working.

Why Lighting Matters During Ceramic-Coating Application, Too

Professional lighting continues to matter after polishing is complete.

During ceramic-coating application, we need to be able to see the coating as it flashes on the surface and then perform a thorough wipe-off. Good lighting helps us inspect the panels closely rather than relying on what might look acceptable under dim or inconsistent shop lighting.

Both Corvettes received XPEL FUSION PLUS PREMIUM V2 after their paint preparation was completed.

This combination of surface preparation, controlled working conditions and careful inspection is why we view ceramic coating as a process—not simply a product applied to a vehicle.

C7 vs. C8: Ten Years of Corvette Evolution in One Shop

Having these two cars together also gave us an unusual look at how much Corvette design changed over exactly ten model years.

The 2016 C7 retains the long-hood proportions of a traditional front-engine Corvette. Parked beside it, the 2026 C8's mid-engine proportions and dramatically different body shape show just how significant that generational change was.

Yet despite their differences, the objective for their finishes was essentially the same.

Prepare the paint properly. Improve the minor defects that can be corrected. Create the best surface we reasonably can before applying the coating. Then carefully apply and inspect the ceramic coating under controlled conditions.



The overhead photo of the two completed cars tells the rest of the story.

Two Corvettes. Two very different generations. Ten model years apart.

And both leaving Blue Ocean Auto Spa with freshly enhanced paint protected by XPEL FUSION PLUS PREMIUM V2 ceramic coating.

Ceramic Coating in Cedar Park, TX

If you're considering ceramic coating for a Corvette—or another vehicle—the coating itself is only part of what you're paying for.

How the vehicle is washed, decontaminated, inspected and polished beforehand can be just as important to the finished appearance.



At Blue Ocean Auto Spa in Cedar Park, our ceramic-coating process is performed indoors under controlled conditions with professional lighting throughout the preparation and application process.