Prior to the reveal of the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, we told you not once, but twice, that the new mid-engine super car will have a hardtop convertible variant. Then, last week, Chevrolet teased the upcoming 2020 Corvette Convertible in an official video. The video showed the C8 Corvette with its roof down from various angles, and the most notable element being the different configuration of the space behind the cabin. And now, we have an up-close-and-personal view of the upcoming 2020 Corvette Convertible.
Our spy recently caught up with a prototype for the future drop-top variant of the new Corvette C8 and got a few up up-close shots of the vehicle. Even better, he managed to knock on the roof panel to confirm that it’s actually a hard top. Specifically, the fore-most roof panel and the supporting panel immediately behind it are both hard, as confirmed by our spy’s knock (see video below).
Though it’s unclear how the convertible mechanism will work at this point, it seems that part of the roof assembly will fold into and either over or under the engine cover of the new mid-engine 2020 Corvette Convertible. This leaves enough room for the air extractor that’s over the engine cover.
It also seems that the smaller, triangle-shaped flaps just behind the second, smaller panel cover up some of the articulation hardware.
What’s more, the drop-top version of the C8 will also feature an entirely different configuration for the engine cover as well as the space immediately behind the cockpit.
A set of buttresses right behind the headrests can also be clearly seen in Chevrolet’s official video. There’s also a small upright window between the seats that can probably be be brought down or up via controls inside the cabin.
Back to the outside of the roof: check out the smaller panel behind the primary roof panel houses the lens for the Rear Camera Mirror. As such, it will be interesting to see what happens to that lens when the top is dropped down, and whether the functionality of the Rear Camera Mirror is eliminated, or whether engineers found a way to repurpose another lens for that functionality.
The switch to a hardtop configuration for the 2020 Corvette Convertible is notable, as it represent a major departure from prior Corvette Convertible models, which featured a soft-top convertible configuration.
When compared to a soft-top, a hardtop convertible configuration typically delivers significantly better NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) isolation, resulting in a quieter and more refined driving experience. However, such systems add weight and are significantly more complex than typical soft-top systems. Because of this, hardtop convertible systems typically are more costly to produce for the manufacturer and to maintain for the owner.
We expect the 2020 Corvette Convertible to make its debut in the fall of 2019, and go on sale alongside the all-new 2020 Corvette Stingray Coupe, which features a removable roof panel, by the end of the year.
We’ll continue to keep our eyes peeled for more on the 2020 Corvette, so subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
That car is just gorgeous
Makes the windscreen look huge and the front hood “stubby” / too short…IMHO.
Likely color sensitive.
Wow – GM has decided to go all-in on this vette. Hard top convertible! Who on earth can compete with this car at this price point? I’m calling it: Boxster sales to 0 over the next few years followed by Porsche discontinuing the model.
Only downside is you can’t see the engine through the hard top when it’s folded.
Literally everything on this car is bespoke. What other vehicle in the entire GM lineup is designed with so many parts for such low volume? I’m guessing they’ve decided to use this production car as a halo concept as well, dumping concept budgets into it. I’m thoroughly impressed.
I saw the C8 in person, and it definitely evokes a Lamborghini vibe with all the fierce edgy creases. A lot of people comment on how “it still looks like a corvette”. Sure. The back is a straight up rectangle with 4 taillights and is nothing to write home about – it’s actually kind of ugly. The front is more C6 than C7, but with LED lights. But the side is not vette at all, and it’s the nicest part.
Looks too much like a “kit” car!!!!!!!!
Wut?
All you have to do is look at the Ferrari 488 Spyder video and see our corvette convertible. Since GM built the corvette from the Ferrari. Zora would never have done that and a hard top convertible is not a true corvette except back in the old days when the cars had a soft top still with an option hardtop. I knew from the beginning the C8 was going to be just like the Ferrari with a few different things on it and the huge price difference. Before it even came out. Ferrari’s have always been ahead of the corvette if course and truly can’t believe they built the C8 based on that car.
Ferrari ‘s and Corvettes are two different worlds apart.
But GM admitted they built the C8 against that car. Just watch the video on the Ferrari and all the convertible lovers can see it all right there.
The convertible is going to be the one to buy. You have a hard top that will disappear. Outstanding!!!! One of the down sides, you won’t be getting this one for under $60,000. If this car looks a little bit like a Ferrari, it ain’t that bad of a thing. Keep in mind all the mid-engine super cars have a sameness about them
This convertible is just hot!! To me the rear end is gorgeous! Love everything about it.
You can bet you bottom dollar that every other auto manufacturer in the would is paying close attention to this car. No doubt GM put a lot of effort into this car.
I agree. Not really sure what GM critics wanted them to do with the rear. Another very odd and confusing thing with a lot of these people w/ an issue is they always say how anything GM builds reminds them of another GM product. Well what the hell is it supposed to remind you of, somebody else? The design language is consistent. That’s actually a good thing. They have a unique design, but they’ve differentiated the styling enough that the C8 can easily be pointed out from anything else within the Chevrolet lineup. I think GM critics and fans are just nitpicking as hell.
The rear end is one of my favorite sides of the vehicle. The taillights are gorgeous and the exhaust tips grew on me a lot. They look really good. Rear end is absolutely beautiful but the front really brings it home for me.