10 Things You Need to Know About the 2020 Corvette Stingray

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray front angle ・ Photo by Chevrolet

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the next generation of this iconic performance car, and it’s markedly different than the one it replaces. This is the first mid-engine Corvette ever produced, and it gets significant changes from performance to styling. The most noticeable of these changes is its mid-engine layout, which makes it look more like a supercar without losing its classic Corvette appearance.

A new engine makes this Corvette the most powerful ever with the fastest 0-60 mph time in the car’s history. It matches that speed with better weight distribution to improve handling and a more racecar-like view of the road. Here are 10 things to know about the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette.

1. It’s the first production mid-engine Corvette.

This is the first production mid-engine Corvette ever. It’s something that Zora Arkus-Duntov, known as the Father of the Corvette, long advocated for but couldn’t bring to fruition in his lifetime. A combination of factors from cost to the major design changes involved kept it as nothing more than an idea, but that all changes for the 2020 model year.

Most cars have an engine located under the hood way up front. That works just fine, but it doesn’t allow for the best weight distribution. While that may not matter much for a daily driver intended to get you to work and nothing more, it matters a lot in a performance car. That’s why supercars often have engines that sit just behind the front seats. This makes a more balanced car — and a more balanced car handles better on the track, which is where many Corvette drivers spend some time.

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2. You can choose between a coupe and a hardtop convertible.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is available as either a coupe or a convertible. Those who want to enjoy the open air will have the option of a retractable convertible hardtop, the Corvette's first. It’s designed not to hamper the vehicle’s cargo capacity or its performance.

The retractable hardtop model weighs only 77 pounds more than the fixed-roof coupe, so you can put the top down and head out to the track if you’re so inclined. The two-piece hardtop can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph with the help of six electric motors for improved reliability in extreme temperatures. You can choose from either a body-color finish or a Carbon Flash convertible top for a bit of contrast.

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3. There’s a powerful new engine.

Chevrolet put a new engine in the 2020 Corvette called the LT2. This 6.2-liter V8 engine boasts 495 horsepower with 470 lb-ft of torque and is the only naturally aspirated V8 in its segment. Those numbers mark an increase of 35 horsepower and 5 lb-ft of torque over the outgoing LT1 engine.

This new engine also gets special treatment from anyone who happens to walk by and ogle your Corvette. Rather than being hidden beneath the sheet metal, the 2020 Corvette engine is proudly on display beneath a rear glass hatch. Since everyone can see the engine, Chevrolet made sure it’s worth looking at. It also paid special attention to ensuring the components perform well besides looking good.

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4. Its design helps improve the drive experience.

That more powerful engine is matched by design improvements that help make the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette drive better. Whether you’re on the track or out on the road, it’ll be easier and more fun to be behind the wheel.

This new generation of the Corvette has a unique center tunnel structure, which makes the car lighter and stiffer, so the suspension system offers better performance. It also improves lateral grip and reduces vibration so that longer road trips are less taxing. The design even makes it easier to get in and out of the Corvette by removing large rocker panels that can be troubling to step over, especially for shorter passengers.

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5. Handling gets a major upgrade.

This is a performance car at heart, so it received upgrades all around to improve overall handling. These include coil-over dampers that create better ride characteristics. The new steering system is short, straight, and stiff thanks to the mid-engine design, and it's updated to make the car’s response to driver inputs quicker. Even the seating position helps by reducing the car’s overall center of gravity.

The steering ratio is improved and the new eBoost brakes are more precise to increase stopping power and control. Nothing was overlooked, not even the tires, which are Michelin all-season performance tires that can handle cornering at almost 1G. There’s also a front splitter and two-piece rear spoiler that together add up to 400 pounds of downforce and improve grip while cornering. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette offers handling and performance that are unlike its predecessors'.

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6. The manual transmission is no more.

The number of people who know how to drive a manual transmission is dwindling, so the number of cars that offer one is also on the decline. Although the Corvette is a performance car, which is traditionally the one place you can still find a manual, this year it ditches that option. Instead, the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette comes with a new eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. This is a first for Chevrolet and it’s specially designed to deliver the feel of a manual with the ease of an automatic.

Today’s dual-clutch transmissions are quite fast, so it’s unlikely most drivers could do better shifting on their own. Those who simply cannot abide by the thought of not having a manual have the option of putting the Corvette into manual mode at the touch of a button and using steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

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7. Seating received special attention.

Since not every Corvette driver will drive the same way, Chevrolet designed three different seating options. Each accommodates a different style of driving, so no matter how you plan to use your Corvette, you can be sure it will be a comfortable experience. The base GT1 seat has sporty styling that puts the priority on comfort while still offering plenty of support for performance driving. It has two-way lumbar support and wing adjustment with Mulan leather trims.

The GT2 has a race-inspired look with dual-density foam for maximum comfort on longer trips. There’s carbon-fiber accents, Nappa leather inserts, Mulan leather bolsters, and both heating and ventilation. Finally, there’s the Competition Sport seat for the track-focused Corvette owner. These seats add heavier bolstering, full Nappa leather seating surfaces with carbon-fiber accents, and a performance textile inspired by Kevlar vests for maximum durability.

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8. Corvette history spans astronauts to fighter jets.

The Chevrolet Corvette was once known as the car driven by astronauts. This was thanks to a program that allowed men like Neil Armstrong to lease them on the cheap. It’s fitting that the latest Corvette takes its inspiration from fighter jets.

You can see this in the canopy-forward stance that’s reminiscent of F22s and F35s. This is the same look you’ll find in many a modern fighter jet and on Formula One racecars. The entire cockpit of the Corvette has moved forward 16.5 inches to accommodate the mid-engine design, making its fighter-jet styling a natural fit. It gives the Corvette the look of a fast car, which matches up with its improved performance.

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9. Options galore let you personalize your Corvette.

Not everyone owns a Corvette, so simply parking one on your driveway makes it special. Those who want to be sure their Corvette looks extra special have plenty of options for personalizing their vehicle and making it unique. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette has the most personalization options ever offered on the car, starting with 12 exterior color choices. These include three all-new colors: Rapid Blue, Zeus Bronze, and Accelerate Yellow.

Options continue inside the car with a choice of six color themes and six seat belt colors. Finally, there are two optional stitch packages with a choice of Yellow or Red to give the luxurious interior an extra pop of color. Each Corvette owner can pick and choose from these design and color options to create a truly unique version of the Corvette.

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10. It doesn’t cost as much as you think.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette looks like a supercar, and supercars are expensive. While the Corvette isn’t exactly a budget-minded choice, it comes in with a surprisingly affordable starting price. The base 1LT starts at $59,995. That isn’t a stripped-down model either. It has the new LT2 engine, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and leather seats that are eight-way power-adjustable.

Next up is the 2LT at $67,295, which adds heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, available GT2 seats, and a front curb-view camera. At the top of the 2020 Corvette lineup is the 3LT at $71,945. This luxurious trim adds a custom leather-wrapped instrument panel, suede-microfiber upper interior trim, and standard GT2 seats. The Corvette is a performance car bargain offering a powerful mid-engine V8 at far less than many of its rivals.

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