Chevrolet
- Chevy revealed the production version of its eighth-generation Corvette, bearing the famous Stingray designation.
- The C8 Corvette has a new, mid-engine design and will go into production for the 2020 model year at a base price of $60,000.
- The mid-engine design has been long-rumored and is a way to keep the Corvette nameplate relevant after over six decades.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Since 1953, Corvettes have had their engines in front of the driver. But that all changed on Thursday night in Southern California, when Chevy revealed the production version of the eighth-generation Vette, carrying the legendary Stingray nameplate.
The C8 Corvette, as we have long known, would find its V8 engine moved from under the long hood up front to a compartment between the driver and the rear wheels. This mid-engine design is considered optimal for balanced sport-car handling and is de rigueur on supercars from Ferrari and Lamborghini. The epic new Ford GT that won the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans also has a mid-engine design.
It wasn't as if the old C7 design wasn't successful. The racing version of the Corvette also won Le Mans and, more than any other Vette, convinced enthusiasts that the two-seater was a proper American supercar. The C7 Stingray was Business Insider's first-ever Car of the Year, in 2014.
But the writing was on the wall. Chevy needed to do something different to keep the Corvette relevant and competitive. Rumors about a mid-engine Vette have circulated for years, but this time around, General Motors finally took the plunge.
"Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and boundary-pushing at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle reached its limits of performance, necessitating the new layout," GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement.
"In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our focus on details and performance across the board."
Here's a closer look at the newest Corvette, which goes on sale later this year for a sort of staggering base price of $60,000:
Corvette enthusiast Mark Reuss, GM's product czar, revealed the all-new Vette at a giant aircraft hanger in Southern California.ChevroletThe eighth-generation Vette replaces the C7 design, the highest and most powerful expression of which was the 755-horsepower ZR1.Matthew DeBord/BI
Look how far we've come from the original Corvette, launched in 1953.GM
We saw the C8 Vette in camouflage cruising around Midtown Manhattan earlier this year.Chevrolet
The outgoing Vette has an incredible racing pedigree. Corvette Racing finished 1-2 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2016 and has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the top sports-car class.Corvette Racing
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- The US government is cautioning Americans that if they visit Peru they could be at risk of violent crime and 'organized criminal groups'
- An airline is getting slammed for asking a nursing mom to cover up. Here are the breastfeeding policies on 11 major airlines
- The station-wagon apocalypse continues as VW discontinues US models — but here's a look back at all the great VW wagons of the past
FOLLOW US: On Facebook for more car and transportation content!
