spot_img
HomeMediaSo, what do you think of the mid-engine Corvette?

So, what do you think of the mid-engine Corvette?

-

After months of teasing images and even public appearances under camouflage, Chevrolet uncovered its mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray on July 18 in a blimp hangar in Tustin, California, where the theme was a “Corvette moon shot” featuring two former NASA astronauts.

So, we ask, what do you think of the car now that you’ve seen it? And especially if you’re among the Corvette owners and fans who have loved the car and been collectors through seven generations of front-engine performance. You can use the Comments section below to express your initial reaction to seeing the car.

The LT-2 engine will be visible through the sports car’s rear window

Speaking of the car, while it will be the first production Corvette with its engine behind the driver and passenger compartment, and will offer world-class supercar performance, General Motors president Mark Reuss promised the 2020 Stingray will have a base price of less than $60,000.

The car will have a new LT-2 version of the 6.4-liter Chevrolet small-block V8 engine rated at 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. That engine will be linked to an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and will power the Z-51 track version of the car from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in less than 3 seconds, according to Corvette executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter.

Engine rated at 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque

At the unveiling, which we watched live on the Chevrolet media website, Juechter went through many of the car’s technological innovations, and drew applause from the audience in the hangar when he said that one of the car’s features will be a way to lift the front end of the bodywork 2 inches to prevent scraping, such as occurs when entering or exiting many driveways. 

Not only can the front be raised, the system will be GPS enabled and can remember specific locations and automatically respond every time the car is in the same spot.

The reveal began with retired astronauts Dr. Mae Jemison and Scott Kelly on the stage and video of the Apollo 11 moon-landing mission, and with General Motors executive vice president Barry Engle talking about how many Mercury and Apollo astronauts owned Corvettes. 

Car gets new interior, which will be available in more colors than before

There also was an homage to Zora Arkus-Duntov, an early Corvette engineer who developed several mid-engine prototypes and who wanted the production Corvette to use that architecture.

Reuss noted that the 2020 Corvette Stingray will be “a mid-engine supercar with technology he (Arkus-Duntov) could never have imagined.”

spot_img
Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

41 COMMENTS

  1. WOW and double WOW put my name on the list to buy one right away – I have waited a very long time for one and this is the one!

    Dr John

    • The wait was finally worth it. I presently own a 1969 stingray and now 50 years later Zorro Duntov ‘s dream has finally become a reality. The only downside is that the father behind the corvette isn’t here to see this magnificent milestone.
      I’m blown away with this awesome transformation of this newly designed mid engine C8 Corvette!
      Where else in the super car industry can you purchase a mid engine super car that goes 0-60 in under 3 seconds that costs under 60k? You can’t!
      My hats off to the engineering of CHEVROLET to make this dream a reality for us Corvette fun attics.
      I’m not sure if I’m selling my fully restored 427 /1969 stingray to purchase the 2020 corvette or breaking into my retirement account but rest assured I’m in!

    • I think it looks pretty good. I hope it does well because since the Viper isn’t made anymore, that was my favorite sport car that I could afford, the Corvette is the only Sport made in America.

    • Looks like a change for the better. Can’t help but comment on how a lot of the features are a shadow of my old Fiat X 1/9s. With 50 times more power of course…

  2. Not my cup of tea. Who needs another look alike mid engine super car. GM should build it as a Cadillac and go back to the C-7 for a Corvette

  3. I am excited for the mid engine but there is something that I do not like about the new design. The edges are to sharp and I think it would have looked better with rounded edges. Is it me or do your think that the engineers are catering to more of the track drivers vs the everyday driver? I mean it is great that it can go on the track but most consumers will never even visit a track let alone take their cars on it. I am 55 years of age and perhaps they are going after the younger generation? Just my two cents.

      • @Ely Zacumin I agree, it kind of reminds me of that movie transformers. Just too much edgy going on. I did go onto Chevy’s website to see what it would look like with other colors. I think that yellow and or white make it look better and less edgy then the darker colors. I am VERY impressed with the 0-60 in less than 3 seconds and a MSRP of less than $60,000! That is quite impressive for all that this car has. A used Ferrari F430 with a F1 trans with low miles and service history will be double that! Cost of ownership as compared for service is far more less expensive for the Corvette as well. I like how they have the window to showcase the new engine and as an option you can have the engine dressed up in red. I know, very much like Ferrari but I like it! I really have to see it in person to determine how I like the exterior design, and also sit in the car to get a feel for the interior and instrumentation. You can not reserve one for $1,000 at your local Chevy dealer. I talked to my local go to salesman here and he said that his dealership is not marking up the MSRP.

    • I am 68, have owned a 2006 Z06 and 2016 Z06 and originally considered a 67 427 but vetoed that idea because I want to drive it regularly. The new ones are far superior. The 06 would blow the 67 out of the water in every way and the 16 blows the 06 out of the water. If the new one is as dramatic a difference as these two I’ll have one of them in a couple years when the Z06 version comes out.

      • Agree 100%., and I’m 64 years young! I have a ’61 that I love, a 2016, and two others. This new 2020 looks FANTASTIC!!! I went to my dealer a year and a half ago, and put a deposit on this mid-engine DREAM! I can’t wait to sit down and order it!! Fantastic job CHEVY!!!

    • I’d want to drive it B4 I buy it as well…really fast…at someplace like Sonoma Raceway or Thunderhill…you know, just to make sure that it feels right…maybe take it home for a week or two for some "real world" experience…yeah that’s the ticket!!
      Seriously though, I’m more a fan of the early Vettes. This wouldn’t be my rig of choice.

  4. This removes the "American" design from the car, if I wanted a Ferrari, I would have bought one.
    It also removes any would be mechanic from tinkering with it.
    I do not think even the authorized GM dealers would know what to do with this car.
    I would much rather have an older corvette from the 60’s, at least you can readily identify with them.
    I am just thankful I will not have to try to figure out how to work on one, but,, there again, if you can afford this car, you better be asking how often does this car need a tune up or any other maintenance?

    • That’s what makes the 60’s Vette what it is! Simplicity and old school style. But let’s be honest, if people are looking for that, then they will just buy a ‘60s Vette ….unfortunately that’s not enough to sell a car these days. Reality is that the Vette has now evolved into the real supercar it’s always tried and wanted to be!

    • Mostly Boomers have driven the Corvette market for decades. This looks like something that will draw more of the younger drivers that better define the sports car/supercar market.

  5. Kinda reminds me of the 80’s Lotus but a little more sleek. The price ? They will sell MANY ?
    If you want a good job, get hired at the Vette factory. There’ll be lots of OT.

  6. I’m a Mustang guy but have always admired Corvettes. I think GM has hit a home run with the looks of this car. Time will tell if they have all the bugs out before launch and new owners are happy. The price point is unbelievable for a mid-engine car, that is for sure.

  7. As the owner of many Corvettes in my life, I love this one. It’s about time. The only thing I don’t like is no roadster yet. I don’t consider it a sports car unless the top goes down. That’s why I have an early 50’s Corvdtte.

  8. HOW can you afford NOT, to buy this ……. SUPER CAR for $60,000 ……!!!!! AMERICA’s ONLY SPORTS CAR ….. since 1953 ……!!!

  9. Absolutely stunning! I have never been much of a Corvette guy, but this vehicle is unlike anything I have ever seen an American automaker produce. Definitely has a Ferrari

  10. Absolutely love it! The sharp lines give it a more aggressive personality and the mid-engine exposes the Vette to a whole new market of mid-range supercar buyers!

    Top work for the first cut of the new generation 👍

  11. Without a clutch and significant HP, no interest. Mid-engine is a great move, but not without a manual transmission option. I’ll wait.

  12. I’ve owned 6 brand new Corvettes, starting with a C2 (’65), and then a ’67, a ’70 C3; a ’76 and an ’84 (C4) and my current C7. All have been great cars and I’m a believer. While I love the looks of the new C8, I suspect that one won’t be available at anywhere nearly MSRP (after dealers stick on their EDM (Extra Dealer Margin) "greed" factor. And once the "I’ve gotta be first" wears off with early buyers and the bugs are worked out of the car, I’ll then be a buyer….at MSRP. Until then I’ll continue to enjoy my C7 with the 7-speed stick shift! (Bummer than no stick is available in the C8).

  13. Unbelievable for Corvette – auto trans and NO option for 4-6 speed?? – totally PC. What’s next an electric power option?

  14. What a beautiful car! I prefer the look of the late 1960s models of should I say I did prefer them until I saw this! Super look and quick too! Looks like the ultimate driving machine to me! Can’t wait to see this one on the roads here in Florida! Those hot rod drivers lucky enough to own one of these beauties will blow the doors off of most everything else on the road or track. How exciting! Way to hit a Grand Slam homerun Chevrolet!!!

  15. Absolutely stunning car; beautiful design and seemingly very low price ? Now would I buy one – NOPE ! Too many lookalikes around. My Corvette was unmistakably a ‘Vette.

  16. Well,let’s see.

    Mid-engine vehicles handle much differently than the conventional layout found in all other Vettes.
    (I had a Toyota MR 2. Not fun on a slippery road.)

    No 6-gear manual available. Just a slushbox. Corporate GM telling you what you drive.
    (I believe ZF Europe already has a manual transmission that might fit in this car.)

    Really ugly car; too many hard crease lines on the body.

    IMHO no longer a Corvette!

  17. Hate everything about it….including the two-trunk layout. One half of a trunk and half of a large trunk is not the same as a real trunk. Miserable transmission. Overwrought, tryhard design. Seems like Chevrolet wants to impress 4th graders, because it looks like that’s who designed it. Nothing about this car is a Corvette. It’s a heinous European wannabe whose only selling point is a low window sticker.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -