Better Year Ahead? The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, Maintaining Its Base Pricing, Sure Hope So

The seemingly cursed mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette, aka the C8, probably spends its nights dreaming of clear skies and a vaccine. Early development problems, a lengthy strike, a deferred production start, then a pandemic-prompted production shutdown all conspired to make for a hellish entry into the world for the new-generation 2020 ‘Vette.

For 2021, the entry-level Stingray model doesn’t try anything wild, maintaining its entry price while adding a few things buyers might like… and one thing no one asked for.

On Wednesday, General Motors confirmed an earlier report as to the Stingray’s price. The coupe stays at its 2020 MSRP of $59,995 (including destination), while the convertible starts at $67,495.

That drop-top was missing in action earlier this year as GM’s Bowling Green assembly plant struggled to fill orders of the coupe. Ultimately, it couldn’t fill them all. The two-month production shutdown and phased restart meant that, as of the middle of June, the plant was still operating on a single shift, with a company spokesperson admitting that many 2020 orders would have to be rolled over into 2021.

Chevy managed to build and deliver 2,459 C8s in the second quarter of 2020 — a 57-percent drop from the same period a year prior.

For 2021, the volume Stingray adds changes mostly in the paint department, though the optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension can now be had without ordering the Z51 Performance Package. Occupants will discover standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, though some drivers might come to the sudden realization that they can’t shift out of park when unbuckled — the defining feature of GM’s Buckle To Drive system.

As well, there’s a new track digital tachometer and a Driver mode on-screen visualization.

Elsewhere, buyers gain the option of a Sky Cool Gray/Yellow Strike interior color, plus the addition of Silver Flair Metallic and Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat to the paint roster. For ’21, the Stingray also adds a full-length dual racing stripe package (blue, orange, red, and yellow), plus the availability of a Stinger stripe in the following combinations: Carbon Flash/Edge Red, Carbon Flash/Edge Yellow, and Carbon Flash/Midnight Silver.

Powertrain-wise, nothing changes. The Stingray’s beating heart remains a 6.2-liter LT2 V8, paired with a standard eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.

[Images: General Motors]