Ever dream of owning one of those classic mid-engine supercars like a Ferrari or Lamborghini? Typically cars of that ilk have a price point that means the closest most of us could ever come to owning one is having a poster image of it on the wall in the workshop. GM, however, has just created a mid-engine model it thinks will rival any foreign supercar. And it’s — get ready for it — the 2020 Corvette Stingray. It hits the market with a base sticker price that comes in lower than a high-spec 4X4 pickup.
The 1LT version will start at $US69,998, the 2LT trim package will start at $US79,898 and the top-level 3LT trim package on the 2020 Corvette Stingray will start at $US85,398, including the destination freight charge. Those are still relatively big numbers, but they aren’t the six-figure price tags sported by the big names in the industry.
“Most people thought when we moved the Corvette to mid-engine it would no longer be attainable,” said Brian Sweeney, Chevrolet U.S. vice-president, in the press announcement.
Since its first introduction in 1953, the Corvette has been popular. But a decade after its debut, the Stingray version was launched in 1963, and arguably that started the ’Vette on its path as a performance car and really fuelled demand for it. No wonder then, GM has brought back the Stingray moniker for its redesigned 2020, mid-engine edition.
Behind the mid-mounted 6.2 litre, 490 horsepower small-block V-8 is an eight speed, dual clutch transmission with racing-style paddle shifters.
For those who are salivating at the idea of parking a mid-engine performance car in their garage, GM is encouraging potential buyers to visit the 2020 Corvette reveal page at Chevrolet.ca. A dedicated “concierge team” will provide prospective 2020 Corvette customers with answers about the vehicle and the buying and ownership process.
To say that’s a little different process than buying a run-of-the-mill Silverado may be an understatement.
GM’s concierge team, which is based at GM Canada headquarters in Oshawa, Ont., can be reached by calling 1-800-263-3777. Customers can also live chat with a Corvette concierge online by visiting Chevrolet.com.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green assembly plant in late 2019.
Finally, though, GM will leave it up to each of us to find our own jumpsuit-clad Adrienne Barbeau lookalike to ride in the passenger seat. (Remember that classic supercar poster — or was that from the ’70s movie “Gumball Rally”?)
