2021 Corvette Z51 Performance Package Gets Price Increase

General Motors officially debuted the 2021 Corvette earlier this month, confirming a few updates and changes over the initial 2020 model-year vehicle. Among the changes is a price bump for the popular Z51 Performance Package, which now costs $5,995, a $995 increase.

The price increase does not include any changes to the package’s contents. As before, the 2021 Corvette Z51 Performance Package is offered on all models and trims, and comes with the following features:

  • Z51 performance suspension
  • Performance exhaust
  • Performance rear axle ratio
  • Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD)
  • Z51 rear spoiler
  • Front splitter
  • 245/35ZR19 front and 305/30ZR20 rear high-performance tires
  • Heavy-duty cooling system

Critically, the Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension (RPO code FE2) previously only offered with the Z51 Performance Package is now available as a standalone option across all trim levels, which is great news for those buyers who simply want the suspension without all the other components of the package.

The new 2021 Corvette also brings a shakeup with regard to available exterior colors and styling options, interior colors and accessories, and more. Check out our complete coverage of everything new and different about the 2021 Corvette for more information.

Back in May, it was reported that production of the 2021 Corvette was pushed back to November, with some lingering 2020 model-year orders pushed back to the 2021 model year. We’ll have a follow-up post on how the package price increase will affect customers with a 2020 Corvette Z51 order that has been delayed to the 2021 model year, so stay tuned.

As a reminder, the 2021 Corvette is powered by the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 engine, which connects to the M1L eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission co-developed with Tremec. The vehicle is built on the mid-engine Y2 platform, with production taking place exclusively at the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Jonathan Lopez

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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  • GM should honor the price of anyone who has been bumped to a 2021 through no fault of their own.

    • Agree..100% on that, especially in the midst of this Pandemic where it has currently become a challenge for most Auto Manufactures to sustain good sales numbers for most of the vehicles that they currently offer to the customers.

  • Agree on honoring the 2020 price! I put in my order in December for a convertible with the lift and Z51. I was informed that they would not be able to produce it! Now it is $1500 more!

    • If you did not withdraw your deposit (and that is critical in this) you deserve the car at the 2020 price. If GM refused, that would be chintzy and would not promote good will. GM could find a way to write that loss off as part of the cost of doing business, good will and advertising. I'm not even a CPA and I have figured that out. The very little additional money they'd make would be lost in just a couple of sales to people not pleased with their decision. Business is a complex thing. A few hundred people could either sell GM Stock or not buy new GM stock and the profit from being "cheap," would be wiped out along with some of their earnings per share.

  • Bang for the buck, the Z51 package whether at $5K or $995 more is still worth the money given it affords an electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD), 245/35ZR19 front and 305/30ZR20 rear high-performance tires and a Heavy-duty cooling system as these three subsystems would be worth the money alone if available on other cars.

  • One would think the Corvette C8.R capturing another 1-2 victory at Road America would be more interesting.

  • Hopping I get mine this month . At the end f this month will be one year since I ordered it and been without a Corvette . Traded in my 2016 to get a better price on it at that time . It had the Z51 package plus a few more things added to it . But considering everything going on , not worried about it .

    • You have a good attitude. I know if I wanted a c8 real badly and knew then what I know now, I would have ordered from one of the top five Corvette dealers in America. Better price and better chance of getting the car I actually would have wanted. Somehow, out of the blue I came away with a great Corvette and great options package just by staying all over the Internet all the time and then acting as fast as my telephone and old legs could carry me, when a person optioned a C8 and then decided that they did not want this one at this time. Diverse in several options from a convertible I'd ordered, I've none-the-less fallen in love with the interior color (which is different from the one I personally ordered; the color (also different); racing stripes (different); exterior color (different); High Wing Spoiler (different); no VIN Plaque (different); 5VM ground effects kit in carbon fiber; body color accents (different); engine dress up carbon fiber kit (different); Trident gray machine face wheels (different) and LT2 Trim (different from LT3 trim level, originally ordered); carbon fiber/body color roof panel (different from original body color panel; carbon flash painted outside rear view mirrors, were the same; Boomerang body color, also different than gloss boomerang on original; and Racing Seats (different that the LT2 seats on the original order; regular LT2 leather (different than the Napa Leather on the original. That is a lot of differences to tolerate from my own order which I let go in favor of the couple I actually bought instead of the Stingray convertible. AF

  • I put a deposit on a C8 clear back in sept 15
    Was finally called to place my order and put the down payment, it has been 11 months since I put the deposit and 6 months since I put the down payment and still not car, no even and idea of whether I am getting a 2020 or 2021
    I have called GM every month with my order # and it’s always the same answer they received the order accepted but they don’t have a production date or any further information
    It is frustrating as hell I sold my vette a couple of months ago and here I am paying 85 K’s for a car that seems to never get here

  • GM should not increase prices period. I could not order a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 4x4 Standard Bed with the color Red Quartz because they would not allow it so I got to wait on 2021 to get that color. I can be reached at 678 778-6908. I called GM several times but they never provided an answer.

  • The Corvette was reported in the article as a mid engine. Well Corvettes are technically mid engines before the C8. The new C8 now being rear engine. The vetted engine sits behind the front wheels, and that is mid engine even though it's still up front. Seen this tid bit of info on Motorweek a few days ago

  • I think that every one that ordered a 2020 Corvette before the shut down, GM should honor their 2020 order price (base price & options). For those that ordered after the shot down, then it’s a different story.

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