The Chevy Corvette Convertible is continuing to gain in popularity, as the drop-top accounted for nearly half of C8 Corvette Stingray orders in December 2021 and in January 2022, GM Authority has learned.
Specifically, 49 percent of Corvette C8 orders were for the 2022 Chevy Corvette drop-top. That’s up from 42 percent of sales in September 2021, 41 percent in April 2021 for the 2021 Chevy Corvette, and 17 percent of sales of the 2020 Chevy Corvette in June of 2020.
C8 Corvette Stingray Convertible
The Corvette’s first-ever folding hardtop roof is proving quite popular with consumers, yet GM can’t build the Corvette C8 fast to enough to meet demand since its introduction. It can be argued that the hardtop configuration delivers the best of both worlds: the one-touch drop-top experience of a true convertible plus the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) characteristics of a fixed-roof vehicle. The only downside, one could argue, is the added weight and complexity of a hardtop convertible configuration. In the case of the Corvette C8 Stingray, the Convertible weighs 101 pounds more than the Coupe. Even so, the Corvette Stingray Convertible weighs in at a very respectable 3,467 pounds.
C8 Corvette Stingray Convertible
Regardless, the 2023 Chevy Corvette will arrive in late spring 2022 as the fourth model year of the eighth-generation Corvette C8, bringing with it the new 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06, which will be available as either a hardtop coupe (with a manually-removable roof panel) or the hard-top convertible. It’ll be interesting to see if the trend for Corvette Convertible sales continues for the Z06. As GM Authority was first to report just yesterday, order books for the 2023 Corvette will open in March.
2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible
Chevy will make minor updates to the 2023 Corvette Stingray, with the most exciting news being the debut of the new 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 track beast. The heart of the new Z06 is the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, which is the highest-horsepower atmospheric V8 ever fitted to a production vehicle. With a low weight, flat-plane crankshaft, a dual-overhead cam setup, and an all-aluminum block, the LT6 produces 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, with redline set at a screaming 8,600 rpm. Output is routed to the rear wheels through Tremec’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and 5.56 final drive ratio, which is shorter than that of the Corvette C8 Stingray.
2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible
The 2023 Corvette will also introduce a new Corvette 70th anniversary edition for both the Z06 and Stingray models, celebrating 70 years of Corvette production.
According to GM Authority sources, pricing for the 2023 Corvette Z06 will be released in March, with 2023 Corvette C8 production scheduled to begin on Monday, May 9th, 2022 at the GM Bowling Green plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky – the exclusive assembly facility of the Chevy Corvette since 1981.
2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible
Meanwhile, Corvette sales continue to obliterate the premium sports cars segment in the U.S., with Chevy’s new mid-engine Corvette outselling its rivals from all over the world on a combined basis.
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Comments
2020 Corvette convertible sales were lower because the drop top was not offered initially when production started. I originally ordered the coupe, but immediately changed to the HTC when it became available during the 2020 production cycle. But whichever version you purchase, you are getting a a great automobile!
And my beautiful C8 HTC was built on Friday just ahead of my TPW of 1/31/22 !! I think the next 2 weeks waiting to actually get it will be longer than the previous 6 months but worth it. Tomg
Congratulations! Enjoy! Take care of your baby when you get it!
I love my 2021 C8 coupe, but have thought about getting an HTC if I get a Z06. What still concerns me though is the complexity. It’s really impressive when it works, but just thinking of all the motors, sensors, chips, etc it seems like there’s so much that could go wrong making it a repair headache. Heck… it took the dealer three visits to diagnose the front lift system in my C8 – and when you get right down to it that a pretty simple system.
Get a better dealer
Roger that !
what a great point about dealer ability to service it.
Unless one lives out in a small rural area, most major metropolitan areas should have a Chevrolet dealer somewhere in the area that specializes in Corvettes, and, typically, will generally have maybe a dozen, if not more Vettes in stock. Those dealers typically run full-page ads in the local newspaper featuring their stock of Corvettes. Those are the dealers that likely will have several dedicated Corvette technicians in the service department, Those are the dealers a Corvette owner should visit for service, even if it is more than five miles away from home.
I agree with your “complexity” comments. But, why would you want to cover up that engine, anyway?
Tom78737. I hear you, but I’m more fortunate than many as I already have a 2021 Z51 3LT coupe to admire the engine. In fact, there was no contest between the coupe and convertible when I ordered it for that reason. Really wanted to see the engine. I would not be selling it – which is the only reason I’m thinking (just thinking) about adding an HTC to the garage.
It is fantastic that it is a hard top convertible, a long life, good for all weather.
And that hundred pounds of added weight is nothing with all that power.
When I placed my original order, convertibles were not being built yet. By the tim I was pushed to place the order a second time for the 2021 it was available , but I stayed with
removable roof version, with glass hood showing the engine.
The engine sits real low, which explains howxthe convertible top can fit.
I like seeing the motor, but am questioning my choice. Should I get another chance to order,
it might be a convertible and drop the Z51, or best would be a convertible Z06.
Yes, aside from all the complexity of The HTC it’s a cool looking car. But in my eyes it’s not as kool as looking
at the HT where as you approach the rear of the vette. Then you realize why you ordered this machine. You come upon the rear “mounted diamond in the rough” is visible and that my friends is the sole purpose of having the HT vette.
So It’s great to have the option Ir’s what makes the world go around.
Enjoy the drive in which ever you choose. No!!!! don’t have my vette yet, as of January I am down to number 19 ((almost a year of excruciating” waiting)
Have a 2021 HTC and love it. I don’t care about seeing the engine or having gawkers leaning over the car to see it. I love the open-air experience and I live where I can use it 90% of the time. I’ve owned coupes but it’s not the same as a convertible. My C-8 Z will be a convertible too. To each their own, either way a great machine.
Looks similar to Corvette production in 1963. 49% Coupe 10,594 & 51% Convertible 10,919. As with the losing sight of the engine in the C8, you lost the split window look!
Thinking of replacing my C7 coupe with a new C8 Z06 and it will be a HTC! I had a Mercedes SLK for 8 years and my wife currently drives a BWW 3-series HTC, which she has owned for over 9 years, and neither car had a single issue with the folding hardtop, so I will have NO reservations ordering my C8 as a HTC.
I’ve heard that the 2023 Z06 production is “sold out” because of the number of folks already on the waitlist. So, unless you currently have a “reservation”, you won’t be getting one anytime soon. Enjoy your C7, probably for the next two years.
My C7 ZO6 is my third Corvette, all hard tops. While the HTC C8 is tempting I really like the glass roof on my coupe, especially during the winter. Removing it takes less than a minute and, while it’s not quite the same as a true convertible, driving topless is still delightful. BTW I’m keeping the C7 because I like the manual transmission.
I wonder if all those new buyers know about the 2-3 gallons of water that collect at the rear outside window?
Never heard that tale before. I’ve washed my car dozens of times. Next time I’ll look for that 2-3 gallons (not).
77lbs not 101
Is it me or does the convertible with the top retracted look much better from behind than the coupe ?
It’s you. 😂 I think they both look good – it’s just a matter of your personal viewpoint.