2020 Chevrolet Corvette a surprise to drive
List price is $58,900, a bargain for this beauty
The law of unintended consequences doesn’t usually apply to pleasant surprises, but the radically new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray comes with a beauty.
The first Corvette ever with its engine mounted behind the passengers – a midengined layout, in auto parlance – is also the quietest and smoothest in the history of the great American sports car.
Sub-3-second 0-60 mph time notwithstanding, the new Corvette isn’t just ready to run with exotic sports cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini on track and country roads. It’s also primed to match the best from Mercedes AMG for long-distance touring.
Based on a brief test, I wouldn’t hesitate to drop the Stingray into track mode and set off cross-country.
Driving impressions
Improved handling and the ability to use more power aren’t surprises in a midengined car.
But I didn’t expect the quietest and most vibration-free cabin of any Corvette I’ve driven. It’s not easy to keep engine noise out of the cabin as the engine pounds away 18 inches behind the driver’s ears. Chevy engineers pulled the trick off with traditional insulation and active noise cancellation.
Add a very stiff chassis with springs and bushings expertly tuned to lock out road noise and vibration, and you’ve got an interior that’s as peaceful as many luxury sedans.
The steering is fast and direct, even more responsive than the 2019 Vette, thanks to the car’s lighter nose, a higher ratio and new steering gear.
A new feature that will save owners countless paint chips and minor repairs allows the driver to raise the Corvette’s nose for driveways and avoid parking blocks. You can even tell GPS to remember frequently visited spots and raise the nose automatically if you forget.
The engine announces its presence when you hit the gas, of course. The Vette leaps forward and the engine roars to life. The suspension shifts smoothly at light throttle, but hammers through the gears when you nail it.
The new Corvette’s dynamics, design and comfort have the makings of a hit.
What’s new?
Virtually everything about the Corvette changed when Chevy decided to move the engine from the nose to between the passenger compartment and rear axle.
Putting the engine there means 60% of the car’s weight is over its rear axle, not coincidentally also Ferrari’s preferred ratio. It lends itself to better acceleration, since the weight presses the wheels down, putting more power to the street without spinning them.
Brace yourself for future Corvettes that are even more powerful than the 2019 ZR1’s 755 horsepower, but the current car’s 490 hp already delivers that 060 mph in less than 3 seconds.
A fast and smooth dual-clutch automatic transmission connects engine and rear wheels.
Tailored to the driver
The interior fits like it’s tailored to the driver. An 8-inch touchscreen angled toward me as I sat behind the wheel. Below it on the center console are a computer-style wrist rest, buttons and levers to select gears, a dial for drive mode and a wall of climate control buttons and switches.
The midengine layout changed the
Corvette’s basic proportions, shortening the hood and lengthening the rear deck. Overall length increased 2.5 inches. The height of the roof is virtually unchanged, up 0.1 inch to 48.6.
How much?
Prices start at $58,900, a bargain for a car with the Stingray’s looks and performance. My test car was loaded with features.
It stickered at $87,800. All prices exclude destination charges.
The 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray will go on sale late this year or early in 2020, depending on when production resumes after General Motors’ strike with the UAW is resolved. A convertible will follow a few months later.