Chevrolet’s 2020 Corvette C8 will probably attract new buyers to the nameplate when it launches later this year, and beyond.
At the recent debut of the new mid-engine sports car, GM Authority asked GM president Mark Reuss if he believed the vehicle would help it nab conquest buyers. With a big grin, Reuss replied with a single word: “probably.”
It’s logical to think the 2020 Corvette C8 would attract a different type of buyer than the front-engine cars that preceded it. Its low starting price allows it to massively undercut other mid-engine offerings like the Audi R8, Acura NSX and McLaren 540C, while still offering familiar amounts of performance. For that reason, we could see buyers who are interested in vehicles like the Alfa Romeo 4C, Porsche 718 (neé Cayman/Boxster) or Jaguar F-Type giving a serious look at the new mid-engine ‘Vette.
GM could woo more buyers when it launches expected performance model variants of the vehicle, as well. With the automaker expected to employ an all-new, twin-turbocharged DOHC V8 engine, dubbed LT7, in at least one of these models (probably the Z06), we could see new types of buyers becoming interested in the vehicle still.
And besides immediate sales for the Corvette, the nameplate can also very well have those famed “halo car” benefits for Chevrolet as a brand.
But while that’s great, Chevy probably stands to lose some traditional Corvette buyers, who liked the car just the way it was – with a long front hood, cab-rearward design, and a manual transmission option. The 2020 Corvette C8 will not offer any one of these.
There also might be budget-minded enthusiasts turned off by the potential costs of upkeep on such a radically-different product. It remains to be seen how tunable the car will be, as well, which could keep wrenchers away from the C8.
Let us know what types of buyers you think the 2020 Corvette C8 will attract in the comments down below, and be sure to 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
Similar things were said when the first cars hit the streets. It’s generational. Two (2) or three (3) from now the buyers will not remember the car being front engine. It will be a point of nostalgia. People will see one pull up next to them at the gas station and will say, “Wow, that sure is a nice model. I had one, once. They don’t make ’em as good like that anymore. But I can do 0-100 in under two (2) seconds. That old jalopy has nothin’ on that.”
This is an interesting question. A lot of premium buyers are very brand-focused. If you’re buying your car to be a cool kid at the local C&C or winery meetup, Chevrolet may not have the required status factor. However, if you’re looking for performance, and you’re in this price range, it seems like it would blow away most competitors. Namely, the cars mentioned in the article, plus the high-dollar versions of the three muscle cars, as well as the M and AMG cars.
Another interesting aspect will be celebrity adoption. I doubt we see the Kardashians driving one, but you never know.
Since McLaren is with a Chevy Indycar team, and Alonso is a McLaren guy, it would be great PR for him to have one. A video of him driving the new Corvette around Road America, Laguna Seca, or a street circuit would do wonders for the car’s image.
I’m sure Chevy can’t wait to get a guy that couldn’t qualify for Indy!
I don’t think it will attract the Porsche or BMW crowd etc.
It still has an out of date pushrod engine
The only thing that’s out of date here is your thinking on the matter.
Well that certainly can be your opinion, but it still is TBD.
The first Corvette V8;engine was 1955 ,push rod tech, so there you are.
I thought it was a state of the art cam in block Engine.
First of all, the C8 Corvette blows away any cars that Porsche, MB and BMW have in their arsenal on looks alone. Yes, I know looks are subjective, but whenever you see any of these cars on the road old or new, the Corvette is the one that stands out and captures your attention right away.
Second, unless you’re buying a 760 bhp Mustang for say $80,000.00, there is no other performance bargain under 110k and with under 550 bhp that can match the new C8.
Now, with regards to class. The Corvette have always been classified as a low budget
supercar, not a non-classy sports car.
So fellas, the C8 will be an ass kicker, a head turner and a dream chaser from the get go.
I was seriously considering ordering/buying a 2020 911S Cabriolet at about $136M + tax and tags. I have owned different sports cars in the past mostly Porsches and have driven Corvettes. The handling of the prior Corvettes on a wet road was terrible. It was like you didn’t know if the back end would stay on the road.
Additionally, the Nissan Z had absolutely no business being driven in snow. ” If I see snow I won’t go!” should be the tag line for my Z when I lived in New Jersey.
This new 2020 Corvette Stingray truly represents a breakthrough sports car for many reasons besides its low entry price coupled with its beautiful design and its standard content. If I was Corvette/GM management a track version should be developed and sent in the near future to the Nurenberg track in Germany and probably deliver a superior lap time to Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Ferrari. General Motors/Corvette have the money and people to accomplish this challenge. The results would shake up the luxury sports car class worldwide and results in sales plus prestige for the Corvette brand. Make it happen!
Most BMW and Porsche buyers are elitist snobs, who would NEVER buy an American nameplate car. That’s fine with me, because it made blowing their doors off with my C-6 ZO6 all the more satisfying. I’m waiting for the C-8 ZO6, and praying that they will offer a manual transmission!
Take it from a guy that loves his Porsche……I WILL be getting a new Corvette and I need to trade a car to get one! And as far as being a Chevrolet product …it actually makes me want it more. I want an American authentic sports car. Sick of high maintenance, undependable cars….Porsche not quite as bad as BMW…BMW not dependable at all.
Nothing I ever owned in my life has held up as well as my Silverado did….and that’s also a Chevrolet.
I have owned 12 Corvettes including at least one of every generation, all manuals. I welcome the change to mid engine and am also okay with the DCT.
I have owned a total of 13 front engine Corvettes. I haven’t bought one since 2014 waiting for the promised mid engine Vette. The front engine Vettes were great but they are the past. Driving a Ferrari (mid engine) was an eye opener to me and I trust the new C8 will equal or exceed this experience.
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