Review: How the Chevrolet Corvette has become America’s supercar

What is it?

America’s supercar. It’s old news that Chevrolet flipped the script on the Corvette, moving the engine from the front to the middle, but that doesn’t mean the ‘Vette is old news in Australia. General Motor Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has released the 2024 model year Stingray with some notable upgrades.

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For starters, the Z51 Performance Package is standard across both the 2LT and 3LT variants, in keeping with the high-end positioning of the model in Australia; where it’s competing with everything from Euro sports coupes like the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 all the way up to supercars likes the Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Huracan.

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The key changes for 2024 include new colours (including the Riptide Blue you see on our test car), full length stripe designs, new alloy wheel design and new Z51 spoiler design. There’s also several new safety features including forward collision alert, lane keeping assistance, follow distance indicator and intelligent auto high beam.

So how does this updated Corvette hold up after the initial ‘wow factor’ has worn off after a few years on sale? Read on…

Does it have any racing pedigree?

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fixture on racing circuits around the world

The Corvette is built on its racing heritage and that’s no different for this eighth-generation. In fact, this first mid-engined model was developed in tandem with the GT racing variants. In fact, the upcoming Corvette Z06 will draw quite heavily on Chevy’s recent racing success, so we can’t wait for that one to touch down in Australia sometime in the near-future.

What’s under the bonnet?

The engine may be in the middle now, but Chevrolet didn’t completely throw out the formula for Corvette success, so there’s still a V8 under the bonnet. Specifically it’s Chevrolet’s LT2 V8 engine, a 6.2-litre unit that makes 369kW of power and 637Nm of torque. A performance exhaust fitted as standard and it’s fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and electronic limited slip differential.

It makes for a potent performance car, maybe not quite Ferrari/McLaren/Lamborghini levels of performance, but certainly quick enough. In fact, a big part of the appeal of the ‘Vette over some of its more highly strung European rivals, is the big V8 is happy to cruise along at the speed limit at minimal revs and making a minimum of fuss. It actually makes the Corvette a very liveable supercar, without the kind of stress and carry-on that’s often associated with these types of cars, particularly in day-to-day conditions.

How does it handle?

Having said how easy going the Corvette is in everyday conditions, make no mistake, this is a seriously quick and capable car when the time comes. Obviously we never got the previous, front-engine ‘Vettes in Australia so we don’t have a reference point, but this Stingray feels incredibly sharp and direct when you throw it into corners.

That’s no doubt helped by the Z51 Package, which brings a unique suspension tune, Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres (measuring 19-inches at the front and 20-inches at the rear). The tyres provide fantastic grip and give you immense confidence as a driver, allowing you to really push the Corvette to its limits.

The steering is well-sorted, fast, direct and nicely weighted, while the brakes felt strong throughout and offered a good pedal feel.
Overall, this is a well-honed and great-handling sports car that borders on supercar levels of driving pleasure at times.

Where would you most like to drive it?

We’re still yet to hit the track in the C8 Corvette, so somewhere with a challenging layout, like Sydney Motorsport Park or The Bend, would be ideal. It would be interesting to see how the Stingray expresses itself when truly unleashed.

What’s the interior like?

There’s a reason the Corvette doesn’t cost as much as a Ferrari or Lamborghini, and a big part of it is the level of design, fit and finish in the cabin. That’s not meant to be a harsh criticism of Chevrolet, merely a way to explain that what you’re getting with the Corvette is performance first, appearance second.

This is still, after all, a Chevrolet – not a Cadillac or any other specific premium brand. So there are some cheap-looking materials used in places and the switchgear lacks a high-quality feel.

But the VERY driver focused design of the dashboard, with the cabin sweeping around the driver and almost cocconning you, does look good and speaks to the intent of the car.

There are some nice touches too, like the Alcantara-wrapped rectangular steering wheel, the contrasting, body-coloured stitching and trim highlights and the new Driver Mode Selector animations; which are incredibly detailed and take up to five-seconds to display whenever you change between normal, Sport and Track modes.

How much does the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray cost?

The Stingray is priced from $175,000 for the 2LT variant, which is a significant jump from the original $144,990 it cost just two years ago. However, given the tight supply and high demand, you may need to pay a premium as GMSV dealers look to cash-in.

Would I buy one?

Absolutely, this is a hard car not to love. It’s a combination of old fashioned American muscle car with elements of a European supercar. It looks a million bucks sitting still and turns heads wherever it goes.

But, at its core, it’s a fantastic car to drive. It’s easy to live with (for a mid-engine sports car) but can turn into an engaging and very rapid sports car whenever you need it. At least for this author, the ‘wow factor’ is most definitely still alive with this ‘Vette.