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What's new about the 2020 Corvette Stingray? Everything! The first-ever production mid-engine for the line features "supercar-level craftsmanship" and is also the fastest, most powerful entry Corvette ever -- 0 to 60 mph in under 3 sec. Purists may freak at the engine placement, but the pop-top car's developers say the traditional front-engine vehicle had reached its limits of performance. As for the design's heavy emphasis on angular lines, that could be a turnoff for long-time Corvette fans too. But the price is right, and GM says that is a big bonus.
"In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history," said GM President Mark Reuss.
Also designated the C8, The 495-hp car's exterior has a bold, futuristic design with mid-engine exotic proportions, but the car's designers say it is still unmistakably Corvette. (To us, it looks like parts of the front and the back are, at least.) It is lean and muscular, with an athletic sculptural shape that, like taking selfies these days, is all about the angles.
The new location of the LT2 engine is truly the focal point for the car's design. It's the heart of this Next Generation Corvette. The engine sits like "a jewel in a showcase," visible through a lightweight, 3.2-mm-thick glass panel on the rear hatch that, in a real designer touch, mimics the shape of the brand logo. The panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the engine compartment. (At the car's unveiling last Thursday night, all the Corvette speakers loved using that word "jewel." Note, the driver can see through the rear window -- a high-mounted camera on the rear exterior can also project the view onto the rearview mirror.)
The added attention to detail, especially for the rear dual-purpose window and the engine you can see inside, required optimizing the appearance and design of every wire, tube, bolt, and fastener.
VIDEO: 2020 Corvette -- Mid-Engine Transformation.
Corvette says the new mid-engine layout gives the 2020 Stingray:
True to its aeronautical and racing roots, the 2020 Stingray's canopy-forward stance was inspired by F22s, F35s, and other modern fighter jets and Formula One racing. Other classic Corvette signatures adapted to the Stingray include a distinctive face, a classic horizontal crease, aggressive front fenders, and familiar positioning of the dual-element headlamps.
Some additional design touchpoints include:
Corvette's structure is built around its backbone: the center tunnel. This enables a light, stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system to perform in an optimized manner. The car has a solid, connected-to-the-road feel with minimal vibrations at high speeds or on long road trips.
"Our mission was to develop a new type of sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.
Chevrolet says the tunnel-dominant approach offers many advantages, including:
The all-new Corvette Stingray is built with a smart mixed-materials strategy, enabling key features such as:
The 2020 Stingray's heart is Chevy's next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. It will produce 495 hp (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust -- the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.
"Though now placed behind the driver, the LT2 gives the same visceral experience we all expect from Corvette," said Jordan Lee, GM's global chief engineer of Small Block engines. "The LT2 has been designed to deliver excellent low-end torque and high-end power to give thrilling pedal response at any RPM."
The powertrain's low position enables a low center of gravity for optimal handling. Perhaps the biggest update is found in the lubrication and ventilation system. For the first time ever, the base Stingray will use an engine-mounted dry sump oil system and three scavenge pumps for improved track performance.
During serious track driving, oil volume remains high to avoid diminished performance. The new Stingray's lateral capability is greatly improved, so the LT2's dry sump lubrication system had to be redesigned to provide exceptional engine performance, even at lateral acceleration levels exceeding 1G in all directions.
The next-generation LT2 is paired with Chevrolet's first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed with TREMEC to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, direct connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
The new Small Block V-8 has a torque curve optimized to take advantage of the bespoke DCT's lightning-fast shifts. Engineers set the DCT up with a very low first gear to leverage the additional traction to get the car off the line quickly, and its close-ratio gears 2 through 6 keep the engine near the power peak on track. Tall seventh and eighth gears make for easy long-distance cruising with low mechanical stress and excellent fuel economy.
VIDEO: Track testing the new 2020 Corvette.
The DCT is mated to a new Electronic Transmission Range Selector. With this electric shifter there's no mechanical interface between the shift lever and the transmission. The Corvette's electric shifter incorporates two pull toggles for Reverse and Drive and push buttons for Park, Neutral, and Low/Manual. The shifter has been designed to be more attractive and compact than a standard shifter.
Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference. The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport, and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes:
The new Stingray features coil over dampers that create entirely new ride and handling characteristics. The mid-engine architecture allows for a short, straight, and stiff steering system, coupled with an updated electronic steering system, making the driver's chassis input instantaneous.
The new seating position places the car's center of gravity close to the driver's inside hip, so the car literally turns around the driver. It completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness.
Other ride and handling upgrades include:
The interior features:
One thing the new Corvette has a lot of is personalization options:
Three seat options:
Some basic dimensions:
The optional Z51 Performance Package introduces a host of new technology to the 2020 Stingray:
The entry 2020 Stingray will start under $60,000. This was big news at the car reveal! Additional pricing and packaging information will be shared at a later date.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM's Bowling Green Assembly in Kentucky in late 2019. General Motors announced back in April that it was adding a second shift and more than 400 hourly jobs at the plant to support production of the Next Generation Corvette. The addition of the second shift increases the plant's workforce to more than 1,300.
Source: Chevrolet
Published July 2019