Just yesterday, GM Authority brought you the first photos of the C8 Corvette Stingray in the right-hand-drive configuration. Today, we managed to catch up to the same prototype for an even better look.
The photos show the same C8 Stingray Coupe in Accelerate Yellow Metallic with body-color accents and 5-trident-spoke machined-face Sterling Silver-painted aluminum wheels, which carry RPO code Q8S). More importantly, the steering wheel on the right side of the car enables the latest Vette to be sold in certain RHD international markets such as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, straight from the factory and without any expensive and highly-complex converstions.
As GM Authority covered previously, General Motors has stated that it’s testing the Corvette C8 in the right-hand-drive configuration, and the very first right-hand-drive units will be destined for Japan.
In fact, GM Japan reportedly received 300 orders for the Corvette C8 in just 60 hours. Pricing for the Coupe is set at 11.18 million yen ($106,730 at current exchange rates, 02/12/2021) for the 2LT trim, and 14 million yen ($133,652 at current exchange rates) for the range-topping 3LT trim. Just one trim of the Corvette C8 Convertible will be sold in Japan for 15.5 million yen ($147,971 at current exchange rates).
The right-hand-drive Corvette C8 will also be sold in Australia, with GMSV (the new GM brand in the market following the departure of Holden) planning to import 200 units per year. Pricing in Australia is set at $149,990 AUD ($116,362 at current exchange rates).
Finally, the U.K. is also expected to receive the right-hand-drive Corvette C8, but exact the exact amount of units slated for the European nation is unclear at the moment.
Production of the right-hand-drive Corvette C8 will take place alongside left-hand-drive units at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. The mid-mounted, naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine is rated at 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque (with the factory performance exhaust system). It will be mated to the same eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that we’ve come to know and love.
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Comments
That is great news. So cool that they don’t waist there time building sold cars for us, after all we are just Americans who have given deposits to our local dealers.
Maybe the US Postal Service will order a bunch of them.
You’re comment was already stupid, but nice doubling down on misspelling WASTE, it really shows you’re a real winner…..
I’m actually glad they do Waste Their time building sold cars for us. Though I’m not sure I’d call it a waste of time… The mailman showing up in a Chevrolet Corvette however I completely support!
MrR, do you type on an iPad or iPhone? Spell corrector will change words on you all the time and most of the time it is not noticed, besides personal attacks on ones comment is not acceptable.
Better pictures than GM’s lol
For those of us that has bought Corvettes all our lives here in America should be given the first chance at receiving them before anyone else. Thanks for nothing GM.
Can anybody please explain to us Australians why GM closed manufacting in Australia putting hundreds of people out of work and closing down hundreds of Holden franchises using the excuse that it could no longer justify the cost of building right hand drive cars for a relatively small market yet here they are about to produce right hand drive vehicles for a niche market, not only that but they send us Camero and Chev Silverado that cost the customer upward of $10,000 AU to convert to right and drive when Ford and Dodge are landing down under already in right hand drive you can by a Mustang $20,000 cheaper than a Camero.
Go figure that one out.
Not only as I posted above any one in Australia who payed a deposit for the Corvette Is having it returned by GM
how true
GM is did it here in the USA and Canada, closed old long establish plants. The cost of labor with long ago labor agreements and old facilities makes for very small margins. And when the sales number keep dropping, financially it doesn’t make sense. Read this article, Holden was last in sales and there could be the argument due to lack of new products, but right now GM is placing huge amounts of investment dollars in EV’s. Substitute (dot) for a “.” This forum sometimes doesn’t allow links to other sites.
See budgetdirect (dot) com (dot) au/car-insurance/research/australian-car-sales-statistics(.)html
Note to some commentators: GM is still building LHD Corvettes. Chevrolet is still competent enough to walk and chew gum at the same time and isn’t only building RHD C8s. Socks first, then shoes.
Personally I didn’t like the black colored accents on the Vette. I thought that they added a cheap “add on” appearance to it. I think the body colored accents are the way to go.
that rear is absolutely atrocious. it isn’t going to age well.
Go screw your self punk
Your Self….LOL.
Its like you put on a clinic on being stupid.
Thanks for the laughs.
It was the spellcheck on my phone and I didn’t see it. Sorry, didn’t know we were in a spelling bee. I unsubscribed from GMA and getting my deposit back on my ZO6. Hope that makes you happy MrR. Sick of playing GM’s games. It was fun for awhile but everything gets old sooner or later. Hope you enjoy your C8.
Personally (not that our opinions matter much) I’m happy to see GM produce the C8 in RHD. This will finally make the Corvette a global sportscar. Some of the comments are funny regarding filling back orders. Do we even know if the production of the RHD car will have any adverse effects on the production of the LHD cars? Given the limited numbers of RHD cars being produced I highly doubt any of your “orders” will be delayed. Now, supplier issues that seems to be the bigger issue.
About a two years ago Jay Leno Garage had the Chief Engineer of the C8 and a preproduction C8 in the garage. He stated that to make a RHD would be very easy since there is nothing in the way, no engine or exhaust. With electric power assist steering, even easier.
To all the selfish ‘we should be first’ folk on here…. don’t you realise that some of us in the UK have had deposits on the C8 as long if not longer than YOU..! I have had a deposit on a C8 since October 2019 ( and i’m far from the first) and we in the UK have to wait until AT LEAST January 2022 for the first cars to arrive….. a long time…but WE have patience…….first come first served….
GM stares the dealers can no longer place new sold orders for the 2021 Corvette. I ordered mine last July 2020 does that mean I will no longer be getting a 21 and then paying the super markup of the 22, my status is still 1100. I’m confused
Why the frustration? the way the quantity of cars destined for each country is in the planning way before even the 1st vehciles are assembled in the assembly plant.
Each country puts a number of cars in a huge excel spreadsheet with the options they want by country.
then, regardless of the orders placed in the US dealers, countries that have set their numbers they will receive the vehicles.
Eventually everyone will get its Vette.