Summarize

The world wakes up to a Corvette like never before today, following Chevrolet’s reveal last night of the all-new mid-engined eighth-generation C8 Stingray. The first ever Corvette not to be front engined, the newcomer represents General Motors’ bid to give Ferrari and Porsche one on the chin.

The Bowtie promises the new 370kW 625Nm 6.2-litre V8 that sits under C8’s glass engine cover will still offer the levels of value, comfort and fun expected from a Corvette, but that it drives better than any Corvette before it. Even in this base level, C8 accelerates to 100km/h in under three seconds as it revives the Stingray badge first used on the 1963 ‘Vette.

60kW and 15Nm up on the outgoing car and also the first Corvette not to offer a manual gearbox, Stingray has an all-new paddle-shifter double-de-clutch eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with an electronic shifter to allow the driver to decouple the clutch for greater manual control. 

C8 retains Corvette’s Magnetic Ride Control to magnetically adjust suspension damping and gets an electronic limited slip differential with a performance traction management option, while a front splitter and open two-piece rear spoiler work together and optional Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber contribute fo close to 1G cornering ability.

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Inside the driver centric cockpit gets customisable dials visible through the squared-off steering, while infotainment screen angles towards the driver and car controls line up down the edge of the centre console. Expect hot Z06 and ZR1 to follow with most powerful Corvettes understood to approach the 700kW mark.