There’s tons to love about the new 2020 Corvette C8, and just like anyone else reading this, we could provide a long list of things we like about Chevy’s new mid-engine beast. Meanwhile, Chevrolet has a list of reasons that its all-new C8 is better over the outgoing C7, and we now know what those are, thanks to an internal document acquired by GM Authority.
The document lists the following key innovations and features:
- First affordable mid-engine V8 supercar
- Unexpected utility for this configuration
- Great forward visibility
- Increased interior space and seat travel
- Dual Trunks – can hold 2 golf bags; ample luggage for road trips
- Removable roof panel stores in trunk
- Standard paddle-shift 8-speed DCT with Electronic Shift
- LT2 Small-Block V8 engine with dry sump oil system
- Strong Aluminum Structure with Carbon Fiber Components
Retain Strengths
- Value / Attainability
- Practicality / Space
- Features of a Daily Driver
- Power to weight ratio
- Segment leading sales
- Powerful V8
- Corvette equity
Add Exotic Car Attributes
- Exotic Supercar Proportion
- Exotic Supercar Performance
- Steering Feel = Fun to drive
- Excellent Forward Visibility
- Exotic driving experience
- Ability to package HP V8
- Attract new customers
As evidenced during last month’s 2020 Corvette debut in California, Chevy frames the C8 as a reimagining of an icon, offering a mix of affordability and exotic flavoring in surprisingly equal proportions. It’s this duality that lays at the heart of Chevy’s approach to the new C8, despite the seemingly incongruent nature of the two characteristics. It can really be summed up with Chevy’s line that the new 2020 Corvette is the “first affordable mid-engine V8 super car.”
Thanks to advanced aerodynamics and new mid-engine proportions, the 2020 Corvette offers both form and function, which combine with an advertised sub-$60,000 starting price tag to pair value and attainability with exotic super car looks and performance.
Chevy also points to the surprising practicality and utility offered by the 2020 Corvette, including great forward visibility, a good deal of cabin space and dual trunks, with the rear cargo section holding the removable roof panel without issue. Chevy also says the C8 will hold up to two golf bags, or “ample” luggage for a road trip.
And yet, the 2020 Corvette still has the performance to back its claims to supercardom. The “base” Stingray model cradles GM’s 6.2L LT2 small-block V8 engine that mates to the M1L paddle-shift eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with Electronic Precision Shift. Under the skin is an aluminum structure, while select carbon fiber components keeping the power-to-weight ratio in check. The steering feel also keeps the fun factor nice and high.
Daily drivability along with an exotic driving experience are a tricky combo, but according to Chevy, the new 2020 Corvette Stingray pulls it off. Of course, we’ll have to give it a spin for ourselves before we can sign off on a claim like that, but so far, so good.
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Comments
Chevrolet has brought exotic to the common man as prior to the C8 Corvette, the ownership of a new high performance V8 mid-engine sports coupe was only for the rich and famous; but at under $60K, the C8 Corvette is affordable for just about anyone who has a job and needs transportation to get to work (just think.. the price of a C8 Corvette is possibly the same amount for a tuneup of a $11 Million Bugatti Chiron).
Gold bags? The prefect vehicle after a Fort Knox heist.
Nah, just colostomy bags for all the old buyers, now they need to add the AED pads in the steering wheel…..
get a haircut and get a real job lol – sour grapes much?
And get out the left lane, grandpops…
the new interior should be near the top of the list.
if the c8 had a slightly better c7 interior, it would’ve been a huge disappointment.
besides the price, the interior was the biggest surprise.
While it is true that older guys often buy Corvettes, what game changer affordable car out there would not be their choice? This halo car will attract younger buyers too, simply because it is unique.
Ok, it will attract younger buyers but what about entry-level young, young family and young at heart buyers?. Yes there’s Camaro but a can of soup can only fit in the back, Cruze have a toe tag and Malibu is coming with it, then you have the softie CUVs with the male-enhacement trucks. A Chevy mainstream sedan should be fun and affordable for people can’t hook a Vette but can’t use the Camaro either.
Compared to the new Corvette’s “trunk space” the Camaro’s trunk is fucking gargantuan.
Entry level buyers all want CUVs now and you can see that because everyone is buying them and the sedans that are still out there are almost all losing market %.
Sedans probably won’t be around for another 10 years when the market corrects again. For now it is CUV and “small” (read almost as fucking big as a 1980s-1990s full size) trucks.
All the people wanting a sedan are actually buying Equinox, Traverse, Spark (which is desperately trying to re-stylize to look more like a CUV), and Blazers. Hell even Tahoes and Suburbans went up in Q2 2019.
People just don’t want Sedans anymore and the market is reflecting that.
I be more clear a fun to own sedan instead of a me-too-mangina CUV. The fomestics made that decision to walk from base sedans, it’s not because nobody wants one (the Civic/Accord had an Upswing). Now the reasoning is because the CUVs bring more profit, GM will waste resources in the USDM making a sedan toe-toe with Camcorders but a “affordable Chevy” would be better that’s Alpha-based, 2.5-6.2 engines and bold style.
Lol, Trax and Equinox drivers out tonight, don’t let your feminazi wife/girlfriends know you on the phone telling dudes how “bold” you are for going 5 over the speed limit in their CUV….
They have the Miata, a fun car, which unfortunately is not a Chevy. Hopefully an executive high at Chevy up will see a need for a small, sporty car also. Probably won’t happen though.
this is what happens when you axe Pontiac for Buick… the China sales are great but where’s your G8 / Solstice replacement?
The G8 was an Australian car and the plant is closed. The Solstice was a poorly executed car and as sales failure.
For those who think they can do better, then why not apply for a job at GM and vocalize your brilliant ideas??
The car is as big of a jump as the 1963 Vette was. It is a game changer while it retained the needed qualities that define the Vette.
The only nit pic I have is on the passenger side. It is a little closed in with the door on one side and the high console on the other. It will not affect me much as I would not be on that side of the car but passengers may not like being in a tub like cell for long periods of time.
Otherwise this car is a home run and will only get faster and better as time rolls on.
The Drivers side is well laid out and it really has a good feel. The seats are great and leg room is good. Visibility is really good.
One thing I would like to see id GM offer a track car under a COPO label with the trunk removed and a shorter rear clip on the car. This car is long mostly due to the trunk. It would be interesting if they could do a short tail version for track time etc. It would be a limited model but interesting.
I don’t know why they keep bothering to make the comparison between C7 and C8.
The C7 is gone and never coming back.
They need to just market as to why you want to buy a Corvette period.
They keep claiming they wanted to attract new buyers as evidenced by a massive differentiation between the previous car.
So instead of trying to tell John Q Car Buying Public why this Corvette is better than the last one, try telling him why you would want a Corvette in the first place. In that conversation the pros of being a mid engine sports car are going to factor in right away.
No one newly entering the segment gives a shit about why its better than a car they were never going to buy in the first place. Tell them about the car you are trying to sell them now.
I believe they feel the need to promote and compare the C8 against the C7, (a radically, and highly improved product) to justify it’s existence in order to keep the current customer base, and, collect newer/younger buyers. Mostly to keep the current buyers. Especially those who were not happy with the radical change in design and mechanical configuration.
It’s a major and brave decision to completely do a 180 on years of tradition. Time will tell us if it was the correct one.
Also, it’s their new “baby”. They want to brag about it!
Lots of old farts who think hamburger is still better than filet mignon.
No more front engine V8’s, the real money makers that is what made Chevrolet a real Chevy
is Corvette and Camaro oh well. Progress ?
When I first saw the C7 convertible in person it was love at first site. Scored a 10.
Just saw the first C8 at the local dealer reveal (T-top) and, sadly, it only scored an 8.
Some first impressions:
— it will be a bear to wash since there are so many nooks and crannies to clean out.
— the LT3 interior with it’s multi-colors of white/black.aluminum was configured in
a way to look cheap and designed in a hurry. The pictures shown on the GM display
showed an LT2 interior that was much more attractive. Go figure.
— The array of pushbuttons and controls approached the levels of a small aircraft– or maybe more.
It will be an extensive learning process to figure them all out, but, of course, that’s
part of the fun. It has a big dash screen but it was not in operation.
— My biggest disappointment is that the convertible cockpit is not much different than the
T-Top cockpit. I think it will be just a slightly larger T-top configuration. Much prefer the C7 “real”
convertible styling.
I realize all these comments are negative but I still have my order in for a C8 “convertible”.
We’ll see!!