The new C8 Corvette-The big change

The Corvette was first introduced for the model year 1953 by GM and has been an icon in the motoring industry since. For 7 generations it has used the tried and tested front engine rear-wheel drive layout with few modifications for every new generation and it worked pretty well for them as the Corvette has been one of the best handling sports car with the 755bhp C7 ZR1 competing against the $500,000 limited edition Ford GT and it did so at a fraction of the price costing just under $120,000.
However the Corvette could never compete in terms of performance and desirability with its European rivals from Lamborghini, Ferrari and McLaren. There were a few reasons for that like the interior quality which was not bad however was not in the same league as its European rivals and even in the top trims was very similar to trims that would cost less then half.
The engineers at GM were now given the task to make a Corvette that could compete with the more expensive European supercars but without changing the base price of the car by a huge margin.

They came up with this-The C8 Corvette and it came with the biggest change in the history of the car, the layout changed from front engine rear-wheel drive to mid engine rear wheel drive. It is also the first Corvette to be offered with a 8 speed dual clutch transmission without a manual being an option.
It also gets a all new suspension set up and a 6.2L LT2 small block V8 engine that makes 490bhp or 495bhp depending on the options and packages selected along with 470 lb-ft of torque. This propels the C8 from 0-62mph in a staggering 2.9seconds. The C8 takes 7.6seconds to reach a 100mph from 0 and will cover the cover the quarter mile in 11.3seconds at 121mph. These major changes have had a positive effect on the handling of the car with the C8 felling a lot more modern then the previous generation cars. The interior design and quality is a big departure in the right direction from previous Corvettes.

The Corvette still gets a removal Targa top on the coupe models which gives the convertible experience without most of the drawbacks that come with a convertible like more weight and less stiffness and body control however a proper convertible is also on its way.
The biggest surprise of all of these new changes was the lack of  a major change in a crucial area-the price. The C8 Corvette starts at just under $60,000 for the base stingray which makes it a great value for money proposition as it competes with cars that cost around $200,000.
However the price of most C8 Corvettes after options will be around $85,000 which is still a great price for a car that can now match the likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari and McLaren.
This new generation now puts the Corvette in a league above previous Corvettes and in competition with supercars.