Today is a historic day for General Motors and Chevrolet. After 66 years in production, the 2020 Corvette Stingray became the first production mid-engine model.
The launch took place earlier today in Orange County, California.
Teaser videos released prior to the launch hinted at a connection with the Apollo 11 Moon mission, but we didn’t expect to see former astronauts Dr. Mae Jemison and Captain Scott Kelly opening the night with a 10-minute talk about the space…and Corvettes.
“Like a rocket, the Corvette you’re about to see has the engine in the back.” – Captain Scott Kelly
We’ve been following every bit of news about the new Corvette for more than half an year, deciphering every leak, rumor or spy photo that surfaced the web.
Now that the car is officially revealed, we’re going to tell you everything about it.
The exterior hides no surprises
Chevrolet has been driving camouflaged prototypes for quite a while now and the healthy amount of spy photos and fan footage gave us a pretty good expectation of what the final car will look like.
The wrap is gone and we can finally talk about the real design of the car.
Of course, it’s recognizably a Corvette. However, the mid-engine layout changes the proportions significantly.
The C7 model had a long front end and a roofline swooping directly to the rear bumper. In the C8, the roofline is much more gracious and elegant – like a Ferrari. The V8 engine is beautifully framed by almost a heart-shaped clear screen.
With the engine now behind the driver, the C8 has the cabin moved 16.5 inches forward with the windscreen sitting on top of the front wheels.
Since there is nothing to stick out too high, designers were able to reduce the height of the bonnet and dashboard to give the driver much better visibility of the road.
The sporting athletic nature of the Corvette is emphasized by the strong lines traveling front to back and angular chamfered features that make it look truly vicious.
You get the feeling that it’s so fast the body has creased and deformed from the air resistance – kind of like pulling a wrapper tightly over a present.
Like any self-respecting mid-engine car, the 2020 Corvette has massive side intakes that start from the doors and blend into the strong muscular rear quarter panels – so you don’t forget where the power’s at.
The scoops are so aggressive, we thought they are not going to end up in the production car. And yes, the claw-like top section is part of the door with the latches tucked underneath.
Inside everything is focused on the driver
Designers took inspiration from fighter planes in the way everything is wrapped around the driver seat.
The screes, the center console, the controls – everything is pointed at the driver and positioned in such a way that you can intuitively reach for the button you need, without taking your eyes off the road.
The vertical climate control column is gorgeous. Together with the center console, they form a wall between the driver and passenger. It’s almost like Chevrolet designers wanted to make a single-seat car, but added a second one just because they had left-over space.
Of course, everything is made from premium materials – leather, suede, aluminum for the buttons and carbon fiber available on higher trim levels.
We already talked about the steering wheel, but finished in red stitching and 12 o’clock indicator, it looks way better than the previous picture we saw.
This is not a GT car, but it has plenty of cargo space. Between the front luggage compartment and the trunk, there is 12.6 cubic feet of volume to store anything you like – the detachable roof, a pair of golf sets or anything else you need to take with you.
But enough about the design. It’s time to talk about what makes this car the best Corvette ever.
Opening a new chapter in performance
C7 reached the limits of performance with a front-engine configuration.
Legendary Chevrolet engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov knew all along that the Corvette’s true potential is a mid-engine layout. With the CERV prototypes, he proved that placing the engine between the cabin and the rear axle provides optimal weight distribution, balance, and performance.
A mid-engine configuration allows for a stiffer and more direct steering configuration. As a result, the 2020 Corvette C8 handles 50% stiffer than it’s front-engine predecessor.
The layout puts the center of gravity underneath the cabin. Thus, the car will rotate around the driver, dramatically changing the feel and perception of the dynamics.
Underpinning the gorgeous body is an aluminum chassis. Chevrolet used innovative high-pressure die casting technology to minimize the number of joints and put material where it needs to go maximizing stiffness and rigidity and minimizing weight.
On higher trim levels like the Z51, you’d get the newest generation of Chevrolet’s Magnetic Ride Control. The system will read the conditions of the road every millisecond and adjust the dampers every 10-15 milliseconds conforming perfectly to the pavement underneath.
Like any true Corvette, this one’s heart is a rumbling V8
In contrast to forced induction engines and hybrid systems making their way into every modern performance vehicle, the Corvette will be keeping it old school…at least until the supercharged version comes out.
2020 Corvette Stingray is taking the 6.2-liter, naturally aspirated V8 engine to a whole new level. Equipped with a performance exhaust, or in its Z51 trim, the Small Block LT2 engine generates 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.
The engine is the first to use an integrated dry-sump lubrication system, forcibly evacuating oil from the engine and maintaining flow at the critical locations. Thus the engine can work under extreme loads and temperatures as you’re mercilessly pushing the car around the track.
A low profile oil pan allows the engine to sit even lower into the vehicle, lowering the center of gravity even further.
Another first is the dual-clutch transaxle. The 2020 Stingray comes with an 8-speed DCT only and Chevrolet claims it brings the best out of the manual and automatic transmissions available on their previous models.
Unlike previous reports, it is not going to be the ZF 8-speed which will go into the 2020 Porsche 911. It’s a bespoke, custom-designed gearbox.
The gearbox features an aggressive 1st gear, making full use of the increased traction of the mid-engine configuration and producing maximum acceleration.
Gears 2 through 6 are spaced closer together to enable greater control on the track and keep the engine operating at its optimal power band. For highway cruizing, you’ve got tall 7th and 8th gears, improving efficiency and reducing noise.
It’s lightning-quick – accelerating from 0 to 60 mph under 3 seconds. To put it in perspective, the 2020 Stingray Z51 is hundreds of a second slower than the 2019 Corvette ZR1 with 755 horsepower under the hood.
Just imagine how fast the top tier model will be when goes out.
2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the attainable supercar
During the reveal, GM president Mark Reuss announced the starting price of the new Corvette will be less than $60,000.
A mid-engine car with a naturally aspirated V8, 495 horsepower and 3-second 0-60 acceleration – for $60,000. Give yourself a couple of moments for that to sink in. It’s absolutely phenomenal.
The year-long wait and dozens of teasers were worth it. This is the best Corvette ever and we can’t wait to see it in action.