}
I am late to the game. Pretty much everyone has already weighed in on the C8 Corvette. Good news, though. The powers conspiring to keep me out of Chevy’s mid-engine Corvette have magically disappeared; isn’t life grand!
Features that Make the 8th-gen Corvette Special
Engine Position in the C8
Obviously, engine position ranks high. Unlike every Corvette prior, the C8 has its engine behind the co*ckpit, improving rotational inertia and dynamic weight distribution for zazzier performance. As for power, the 6.2-liter V8 produces an ample 490 horsepower (490 hp, 465 lb-ft). Add 5 to both the horsepower and torque figures with the optional performance exhaust.
V8 Output
The V8’s output is routed to the rearwheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. And with the Z51 package’s shorter final drive ratio, the Corvette will zap from static to 60 in under 3 seconds. That final drive ratio also gives the Z51 a top speed of 184 miles per hour. If that’s somehow not fast enough for you, the standard car will do 194.
Cargo Space in the C8
Despite slotting an engine in the center, the Corvette is still weirdly practical. Between its front and rear trunks, there are 12.6 cubic feet available. I’m told the Vette will hold two golf bags. I don’t golf, but for those who do, congrats.
Price of the Corvette C8
Lastly, the C8’s value proposition is absurd. The base price is just $58,900 for the coupe. Tack on another $7,500 for a convertible like our tester. If you’re curious, this exact car has about $17-grand worth of options. Total price: $83,475 plus destination charges.
Funny story, I attended the Corvette reveal event, and when they announced the base price, I literally gasped. So, the C8 is powerful, its engine lives where Lamborghini put theirs, and the base price is gasp-inducingly low. That is a strong premise.
What does Mike Danger think? “I’m not going to lie; I love this car. I love the convertible version of this car. My dad used to have an ’84 Corvette, but this isn’t the ’84. Not by any means”, says Mike.
Cons of the C8 Corvette
It is not surprising, but Mike likes the C8 Corvette. And rightly so. However,I should intervene with some criticism. Though the interior fitment and material quality are leaps and bounds beyond previous Corvettes, this linear button arrangement is a travesty. Yeah, I’ll stand by that.
Having to scan 16-inches of controls while hurtling down the freeway is just plain silly. More positively, though, the cabin offers lots of room, even for Mike, who is 6 feet 4 inches.
Test Driving the C8 Corvette
Kelley Blue Book co-host Lyn Woodward took the car for a ride; here are her thoughts:
“So, this is my first time sitting in the Corvette C8. The first impression I get is how absolutely planted the C8 feels on the road. It has got a mid-engine setup. The way that the car rotates around that center point really feels solid. It really feels secure and gives the drive a nice sense of balance.”
Horsepower
“This Corvette has about 500 horsepower under the hood…495, to be exact. And off the line, honestly, you get up quick. I really like how the engine sounds. It sounds even better when you’ve got the convertible. It’s not as good as the Lexus LC500 Convertible, but this one still has a nice little growl to it.
The Corvette C8 will put a huge smile on your face without making a huge dent in your wallet. Finally, the sports car for the people is in the hands of the people.” Yeah, I might have guessed that Lyn would like the C8, too.”
What to Know When Buying a Corvette C8
It’s not likely you’ll find a base Corvette on a dealer lot, but if you did, it would include a limited-slip differential, smart key access, a range of drive modes, and an 8-inch infotainment system.
Higher trims add things like Bose premium audio, fancier interior appointments, these $1,500 GT2 bucket seats, seat heating and ventilation, an adaptive suspension, a front curb camera, and a front nose lift. Based on the Corvette’s ride height, that nose lift is $1,500 well spent.
Z51 Performance Package
For maximum Corvette enjoyment, the Z51 performance package is a must. It adds an electronic, limited-slip differential, a performance exhaust, improved engine cooling, plus upgraded brakes, suspension, and Michelin Pilot summer tires for a not outrageous $5,000.
The Corvette C8 Convertible and the Hardtop
Our car sports the $7,500 retractable hardtop, which can be lowered in about 16 seconds at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The Corvette convertible also includes a retractable rear window for top-up ventilation or top-down wind management.
I like that the hardtop takes up zero cargo space versus the coupe, but it does cover the engine, and, from the driver’s seat, the open-air view is essentially the same as when you remove the coupe’s roof panel. That said, wind management with the top down is outstanding. I’d happily drive like this from LA to Texas.
Observations After Driving the C8
- The square steering wheel should offer improved gauge viewability, but for my ideal position, it still cuts off the top of the display.
- The brake by wire pedal feels wonderful underfoot and is easy to manage— no braking complaints here.
- You cannot buy a manual transmission,but if you want to rev the engine at random passersby, pulling both paddle shifters for short-term neutral.
- Speaking of the dual-clutch transmission, it delivers awesome fast shifts in motion, but it lacks the velvety smoothness of a traditional automatic at parking lot creep speeds. And yes, ‘creep speed’ is the only speed I drive.
- Fuel economy remains a weird strong suit for the Corvette. (15 city/27 hwy)
Oh, and this is a weird one; the turn signal is barely audible. So, if you see a C8 with a persistently active turn signal, the driver is probably just rocking Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Why Choose a C8 Over Top-tier Performance Cars?
If you are shopping fortop-tier performance cars, you might entertain the Audi R8, Acura NSX, Porsche 911, or something truly exotic from Lamborghini or Ferrari. And hey, if you’ve got the money, go for it.
Though my pragmatic side struggles with opportunity cost, buy a Corvette instead, and you could apply 10s or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to other purposes like retirement planning, travel, whenever that is a thing again, or outrageous tips for the foodservice industry.
Not to get too highfaluting with this review, but the C8 Corvette provides a nice metaphor for life. I’ve heard some folks lament the Corvette’s new character. “It’s too dignified. It’s forgotten where it came from.” – that kind of thing. But I’m not one to chastise personal development.
Change is inevitable and often wonderful. More than that, Chevy has done something special by lowering the bar of access for elite supercar ownership. To me, power is fun, but it is more fun when you share it.
Related Corvette News
- Price Bump Means No More Corvettes Under $60k
- Best Sports Car Resale Value: 2021 Chevrolet Corvette
- Report: GM Working on Electric Corvette Crossover
2021 Corvette FAQ
Price: How Much Does the 2021 Chevy Corvette C8 Cost?
The C8 comes in three trims – 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT. You can choose the vehicle as a coupe or a convertible.
- The MSRP for the 1LT Coupe starts at $60,995 and Convertible starts at $68,495.
- The 2LT Coupe starts at $68,295 and the Convertible starts at $75,295
- The 3LT Coupe starts at $72,945 and the Convertible starts at $79,945.
With premium color choices, optional packages, and interior and exterior options, the price of the new C8 can exceed $100,000, but you don’t need to spend that much to get a beautiful car.
What is a Corvette Z51?
The Z51 is an available package. On The 2021 Corvette, the package starts at $5,995 and includes:
- Z51 performance Brembo® brakes
- Z51 performance suspension
- Performance exhaust
- Performance rear axle ratio
- Electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD)
- Z51-specific front splitter and rear spoiler
- Michelin® Pilot® Sport 4S 245/35ZR19 front and 305/30ZR20 rear, high performance,
- run-flat, summer-only tires1
- Heavy-duty cooling system
- This package is required for track use
How fast is the 2021 Corvette Stingray?
Chevrolet says the top track speed is 194 MPH and the car goes 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.
How many interior color options are there for the 2021 Corvette?
There are 22 different options to choose from.
