I dig the C8 Corvette. It’s fast, it’s comfy, and it’s got a bigol’dangol’ pushrod V8 at the back. It’s also less than a new 911 and has better performance in many scenarios. To extract some flaws from what is otherwise a very perfect sports car, we’re going to nitpick a little bit. These are the things that drive me nuts about the new Corvette.
God Forbid That Backup Camera Goes Out
Chase Bierenkoven
Putting that bigol’dangol’ V8 in the wrong place has delivered some sublime handling, but it has also delivered some sublime backup cameras to a car that previously didn’t really need them. The blind spots in the new Corvette could hide the dealership you got it from. Thankfully, there’s a litany of cameras to combat the Corvette’s poor visibility. The story is a bit better out the front, but those who feel a bit nervous about parking their new sports car had better hope those cameras are the most reliable part of the car.
A Tight Cockpit Is A Double-Edged Sword
Chase Bierenkoven
Speaking of the cockpit, the ‘Vette’s is a double-edged sword. The high dash, line-of-sight controls and screens, and tight, small wheel all lend themselves to that “cockpit” feel some folks love. It’s also pretty darn tight in there as a result, or at least, it feels that way. If you’re bigger in any direction, the Corvette’s cockpit might not be for you, and its square, low wheel might also impede visibility of the dash for some truly tall occupants.
The Grand Sport X Won’t Be Everyone’s Jam
Chase Bierenkoven
The Grand Sport is widely held to be the sweet spot of the lineup by the time it rolls along late in a given Corvette life cycle. This time around is no different, with more than 500 naturally aspirated horsepower and Z06 chassis dynamics to match. For the first time, the new Grand Sport X expands the lineup, adding hybrid power by way of an electric motor on the front axle. With more than 700 horsepower, I still felt the regular Grand Sport to be the sharper, more entertaining of the two to drive. The raw power is great, but the sharper nose on the base, rear-drive Grand Sport is where I feel the mid-engined Corvette is at its best.
Fine, I’ll Say It: No Manual??
Chase Bierenkoven
A long-standing complaint about the C8 was its dismissal of the stick shift from the Corvette lineup. While Chevy’s dual-clutch is truly a world-class transmission, I’ll opine and say we “lOsT SoMeThInG” when the six-speed went away. Sometimes, the objectively faster, newer, quicker car isn’t always better. See the above on the two new Grand Sport models for further evidence. I miss the six- and seven-speed Corvettes, and I think Chevrolet will ultimately attempt to return the manual transmission to the Corvette lineup one last time. The C8 is on its way out, but with American regulations the way they are, Chevy may just get a shot at remedying this one.
About the author
Chase Bierenkoven
Senior Editor, Autoblog