Roadblocks Gone, 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Kicks Off Production
Delayed by a prolonged UAW strike late last year, General Motors announced Monday that that series production of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 has begun. The very first mid-engine Stingray intended for the passenger market has left the retooled assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with many more to follow.
Everything you’ve seen up to this point was technically a pre-production model, though there shouldn’t be any big changes forcing you to cancel your order. It’s still powered by a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 (495 hp, 470 lb-ft) and should run to 60 mph in under 3 seconds if you launch it carefully. Even if you aren’t enamored with the styling and prefer the front-engined C7, the C8 represents both a performance bargain and a major technological leap for the model. GM has teased mid-engined Corvettes for decades; now they’re real.
Done in black-on-black, the first production C8 (top of the page) is as tricked out as it gets until the pricier variants manifest. It’s the 3LT trim, with every available option selected. It’s also spoken for. The car was purchased last month for $3 million at a Barrett-Jackson auction. Since car number one had not yet been assembled, a red C8 prototype appeared on stage in its stead.
Chevrolet says initial deliveries should start up later this month or in early March, depending upon location. However, you could end up waiting much longer to get your hands on one — even if you’ve already placed an order. The strike delay didn’t just postpone the C8’s launch, it pushed back the whole first year of production.
Dealer allocations have reportedly been scaled back for 2020, likely leaving some customers to wait until the 2021 model year arrives in September. Check with your dealership if you already have an order on the books. There’s a chance you may have to wait until Chevy starts assembling the next batch.
[Image: General Motors]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Getting rid of those groves on the hood would go a long way in improving the design. There are just too many converging lines on the hood. It distracts from the overall design.
The good news is that like all modern Honduhs and Toyoduhs, the C8 will look best when totalled.