CORVETTE AN AUTO ACTION ROAD & TRACK DRIVE BY BRUCE NEWTON
There’s a new Chevrolet V8 supercar that just launched in Australia that we should all be excited about.
And it’s not the Gen3 Camaro.
It’s the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray that has recently started rolling out of GM Special Vehicle dealerships and into the hands of a few hundred very lucky local owners.
It’s just kind of weird to drive a car that looks like a Ferrari and sounds like a NASCAR.
IT HAS BEEN A TIME TO COME
This is the car that was first promised for Australia – without actually being named – under the Holden umbrella in 2015. Now is so long ago that it predates the brief and abortive Walkinshaw Group’s attempt to rebuild the right-hand drive Camaro road car. It also predates the sad closure of the Holden brand.
So while race teams are getting a Camaro facsimile for 2023, bettors are getting the real Corvette and a bargain in 2022.
After all, when was the last time someone tried an all-new, genuinely exotic mid-engine V8 supercar (of the road-going variety) that didn’t cost $350,000 — or more?
When it comes to presence, the Vette’s body ranks with just about every Exotic you want to mention, as you can see in the photo gallery below.
Pick up a print or digital version of the latest issue of Auto Action for Bruce Newtons drive impression of the new GM Supercar.
https://issuu.com/store/publishers/me8674/issues/aa1835_digital_issue
Images AJ Pearson Pics and Chevrolet Media
More information from the General Motors media around the new C8 Corvette Stingray.
Going from a front-engine to a mid-engine means a big deal for GM Performance’s flagship vehicle and we’ve got some quotes from some of the key players on the Chevrolet team who helped make it happen. Both men have played significant roles in the history of General Motors and Holden over the past few years.
“The Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and pushing boundaries at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle has reached its performance limits, requiring a new layout,” said GM President Mark Reuss.
“In terms of comfort and fun, it still feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our attention to detail and performance at all levels.” He went on to say.
The new mid-engine layout gives the new Corvette a massive improvement in chassis dynamics which results in significantly more performance added by:
- Improved weight distribution, with the rear weight bias improving straight-line and track performance.
- Better responsiveness and feeling of control thanks to the positioning of the driver closer to the front axle, almost above the front wheels.
- Fastest 0-60 time of any entry-level Corvette
- A view of the road similar to that of a racing car thanks to the lower positioning of the hood, the dashboard and the steering wheel. Excellent forward sightlines throughout the vehicle for driver and passenger.
- An enhancement to the Corvette’s traditional utility strengths, with two trunk spaces, ideal for luggage or two sets of golf clubs
The new Corvette design draws inspiration from racing and aeronautical design.
There’s no doubt that the exterior of the 2020 Corvettes has a bold, futuristic expression with exotic mid-engine sports car proportions, but it’s still unmistakably Corvette and GM.
“As America’s most iconic performance nameplate, redesigning the Corvette Stingray from the ground up presented the team with a historic opportunity, something Chevrolet designers have wanted for more than 60 years,” said Michael Simcoe, vice president of global design, General Motors.
“It’s now America’s finest, a newcomer to the mid-engine sports car class. We know the Corvette can stand its ground with the best the world has to offer.” Simcoe proudly expressed .
The General Motors press release went on to say: The new engine location is really the focal point of the car’s design. It is the heart of this new generation of Corvette and it sits like a jewel in a display case, visible through the large rear hatch window.
GM says the new Corvette offers a level of supercar craftsmanship, is built using premium materials and attention to detail are areas considered essential in the design of every component. of the Stingray.
Extra attention to detail has optimized the appearance of every thread, tube, bolt and fastener, similar to those found in modern track and off-road motorcycle design, takes the Corvette in a new direction for modern times.
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Engine
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
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