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Z06 Accounts For 22 Percent Of 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Purchases

The regular, run-of-the-mill Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray is, by all accounts, a great car, yet it only accounts for little more than a third of all 2019-model-year Corvette purchases made in the United States before August 1st. Despite the model having plenty of grunt, a sleek, sporty profile, and available MagneRide suspension, it turns out that a majority of American buyers would rather pay a premium for one of the C7 Corvette’s higher-spec models.

In fact, 22 percent of all ’19 Corvette purchases made before August are attributable to the 650-horsepower Z06.

That’s according to Corvette Blogger, which got the low-down on the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette’s sales breakdown from GM itself at the annual Corvettes at Carlisle event. Even more popular than the 2019 Corvette Z06 is the Grand Sport model, according to General Motors, accounting for 33 percent of the sportscar’s sales by August 1st – just 3 percent shy of the base Stingray. Even the highly-potent Corvette ZR1 very nearly made it into the double digits, racking up 9 percent of all 2019 C7 sales by August.

That’s despite production of the ZR1 only starting in March, while the rest of the 2019 Corvette lineup has been on sale since the end of January.

Model Total Share Coupe / Convertible Total Units
Stingray 35.8% 82.6% / 17.4% 5,053
Grand Sport 33.1% 83.4% / 16.6% 4,673
Z06 21.9% 85.1% / 14.9% 3,091
ZR1 9.2% 78.6% / 21.4% 1,295

It goes without saying that the typical Corvette buyer is a bit more affluent than the average US car buyer; with a base MSRP of $55,495 before destination, that’s hardly shocking. Still, the share of buyers who are willing to spend significantly more than this to graduate up into the Grand Sport, Z06, and range-topping ZR1 does come as a surprise.

By August 1st, 2018, Chevrolet had sold 14,112 total examples of the 2019 Corvette in the US. The most popular exterior color, with a take rate of 20 percent, is Arctic White, followed closely by Black (18%) and Torch Red (14%). And of the 1,295 customers who bought the new ZR1 by the same date, 95 percent sprang for the premium 3ZR trim package, while the seven-speed manual transmission enjoyed a take rate of 28 percent.

Aaron Brzozowski is a writer and motoring enthusiast from Detroit with an affinity for '80s German steel. He is not active on the Twitter these days, but you may send him a courier pigeon.

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Comments

  1. The 55% of the GS and Z06 sales is very significant. These are both upscale models that offer much more profit to the bottom line of the Corvette. Their good sales make it easier to add more options and add more investment to better refine the car.

    Selling 90% of them as Stingrays would keep things marginal profit wise but these added profit models help all of the models not just a few.

    This is a sign of a healthy brand and models.

    Reply
    1. “The 55% of the GS and Z06 sales is very significant.”

      That alone is very telling. It means that the majority of the Corvette buyer population has no problem with the car from $65K to $80K. With options, that range can only go higher, so it follows that the buying population doesn’t have any problems pushing close to $100K. Of course the ZR1 already clears that hurdle easily.

      It makes me think that the C8 versions of the GS and Z06 will also jump in price, but provided that the final product is measurably better than the C7 equivalents, the buyers won’t run away scared.

      This whole scare-tactic of some people to make the C8 look like it will forever and irrecoverably damage the Corvette buyer population is bunk. They would have a case if the Stingray models did indeed make up the vast majority of sales, then yes a 6-digit rear-mid Corvette would frighten them. But I’m not as worried about the C8 market acceptance now as as 3 years ago.

      Reply
      1. The 36% that are buying the Stingray. You can not forget them as they are still a significant part.

        But now looking at the Stingray the yes they start cheap but few are ordered base cars most are in the 60k to 70k range. I expect the basic car will not be as basic as no one buys it anyways.

        I expect an increase but not nearly as much as some. They will address the full range and we will see added content where the price goes up like active aero and suspensions.

        The base car will see a small jump. The mid levels now can already go over 100k I expect that range will be adjusted a little. The top car will jump more to play with the big boys at Mclaren, Audi, Lamborghini and low end Ferrari performance wise yet it will still be under their prices.

        Reply
  2. Z06 also accounts for 100% of crashes at the Nurburgring. LOL

    Reply
  3. I understand from my dealer 40 % of corvette sales are leases so why not go big.

    Reply
  4. I love my 2015 Z06, it’s my seventh Vette n my second Z. No problems so far I have been to Atlanta, Nebraska, San Diego n other places. I averaged 25mpg at average speed of 85mph n my tach was at 1600rpi. Great car, I wouldnt buy an Mid engine Vette going by the previews, because it not Exotic enough to be a new generation Vette, I hope they keep making the c7 body Style along with the C8 because it’s sexy n it look fast even when it’s park. one last thing the GS is an overprice Stingray. Get a real muscle car for the money in a Z06.

    Reply

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