What the car is and where it came from
The C8 is the eighth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette and the first with the engine behind the passengers. The previous seven generations, since 1953, used a front mid-engine design. GM began developing it around 2016. The coupe debuted on 18 July 2019, and production began on 3 February 2020 after a delay caused by the 2019 General Motors strike. It is also the first Corvette offered in right-hand drive since 1953, for Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the UK.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The Stingray has a 6.2 L LT2 V8 rated at 490 hp and 465 lb-ft, with dry sump lubrication, and 495 hp with the optional sport exhaust. Power goes through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission made by Tremec; no manual is offered. The architecture is all-new aluminum, with forged aluminum double wishbones at both axles and coilover springs in place of the old rear mono-leaf. Magnetic Selective Ride Control is optional, and the Z51 package adds a firmer suspension and larger brakes.
What it gets right
The passenger cell sits 16.5 inches farther forward, and the cockpit is built around the driver: a 12 in digital screen replaces the instrument cluster, there is a hexagonal steering wheel, and a Z button calls up customized performance settings. Chevrolet quotes 2.9 seconds to 60 mph with the Z51 package.
What it does not
There is no manual gearbox, a gap shared only with the 1953 and 1954 C1 and the 1982 C3. Cargo space, split between a rear trunk and a front compartment, totals 13 cubic feet, 2 less than the C7.
What it changed
Later versions followed. The Z06 brought a 5.5 L LT6 flat-plane crank V8 with 670 hp. The E-Ray added a hybrid system and the first all-wheel drive on a Corvette. The ZR1 uses a 5.5 L twin-turbocharged LT7 with 1,064 hp. The racing C8.R won the 2020 and 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championships.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for drivers who want a Corvette in its first rear mid-engine shape and accept an automatic gearbox. It is not for those who must shift for themselves or need the C7’s luggage room.
Is it worth your time
Yes. It is the first change of layout in the Corvette’s history, and the all-new aluminum architecture goes with it.
