In the throws of North America’s timeless automotive lineage, you’d be hardpressed to find a vehicle as iconic as the Chevrolet Corvette. Since 1953, the beautifully-realized coupe has enamored, mesmerized, and arrested onlookers, becoming the quintessential sports car for America’s push toward circuit supremacy. Now, engineer (and “Father of the Corvette”) Zora Arkus-Duntov’s dream of a mid-engine successor has finally come to fruition with the C8 Stingray — an intricate platform that’s spent decades at the drawing board.
It’s true that the 2020 Corvette C8 Stingray is, in fact, the first in its long-running lineage to adopt a mid-engine layout, encompassing a sleek new design, aerodynamic upgrades, and sharp-looking bodywork to set it apart from its predecessors. Underneath the vehicle’s sculpted hood, a mid-mounted 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine capable of 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque catapults the C8 from 0-60 miles-per-hour in just under three seconds. Gone are the missed-shifts and performance woes of the car’s manual transmission — instead, an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic is offered, providing owners with a seamless driving experience devoid of wasted RPMs. Aluminum and carbon components keep the Stingray at an attractive 3,366 pounds, straying from the vehicle’s once-portly design. Michelin Pilot Sport ALS tires, Brembo brakes, and an improved suspension system serve to round out the modern classic. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray will go into production later this year, with an estimated price tag of $60,000.
