For lovers of American classics, the Corvette is a special car. The strikingly designed sports cars that rocked an entire generation is now back with a rehash which General Motors is calling the C8.
A new car on old wheels
On Thursday, General Motors took the veils off its new mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8, which takes the heroics and attitude of its original sports cars and takes it a notch higher. The eighth generation of the 66year-old Vette thrilled everyone as they moved in the presentation area in Orange County.
This time, the American favorite took cues from its European rivals and added a 495 horsepower V8 engine, dual-clutch and a sub-$60,000 price tag. The car can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds owing to its powerful V8 engine. The car’s predecessor, the C7, sold 100,000 units since 2013 in the US and production ceased this summer.
For Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds, the C8 is not just a car redesign but a ray of hope that General Motors desperately needs in a difficult time. The company has been facing pressures from all sides- be it issues related to emission standards, global trade standoffs, or a constant threat from electrification. Caldwell said,
“A Corvette is not going to help pad margins the way a Silverado would. But from an image and excitement standpoint … that halo effect the Corvette fills is unique.”
The Chevy Silverado continues to be one of the best sellers and most profitable vehicles for the Detroit-based auto manufacturer.
What’s new with the C8?
GM is moving away from its front-engine configuration in the latest Corvette, breaking the established norm since the two-seater first appeared in 1953. The mid-engine style is reminiscent of European sports car makers who opt for this style to distribute weight better. Even Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter said that the new design is a “quantum leap forward in driving dynamics.”
The smaller price tag could also be bait for younger drivers who may compare it with the Porsche 911 that comes at almost double the cost- $113,000. This could also be useful for the carmaker who has seen this specific demographic get attracted to zero-emission cars from Tesla. General Motors direct challenge to Tesla was also apparent in the fact that it chose to unveil its new car just 40 miles away from the EV manufacturer’s Southern California design center.
