Manoli Katakis 
Major automotive magazines have been teasing this day as when the hard numbers will be published on the mid-engined 2020 Corvette Stingray. The ones on paper that everybody seems to like to talk about. We’re talking 0-60, quarter-mile, braking and lateral-G numbers. As you can imagine, revolutionizing the Corvette to position its engine (and 61 percent of its weight) behind the driver has not only payed dividends when it comes to its looks and styling, but also in just about every other performance metric. And, yes, a hyper-fast 8-speed dual clutch transmission equally contributes to these achievements.
Per Road & Track, the 2020 Corvette Stingray delivered an incredible 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds (!) – which is a full 1.1 seconds faster than the C7 Stingray, according to the magazine’s tests. The transmission also clicks through through two gears in the process, at 30 and 55 mph, compared to the C7 which took first gear all the way to 51 mph. To further put things into perspective, the 490 horsepower C8 Corvette Stingray is quicker to 60 than the 650 horsepower C7 Corvette Z06.
Meanwhile, Motor Trend tested the C8 Corvette Stingray, and also clocked a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds, while the quarter-mile clocked in at a serious 11.1 seconds. To compare, the 750 hp C7 Corvette ZR1 finishes that same distance in 10.8 seconds, just .3 seconds faster, according to Motor Trend’s testing.
The biggest surprise? The 2020 Corvette Stingray actually performed worse than the C7 Stingray when it came to cornering load and braking distance. Per Road & Track, the C8 managed 1.03G on the skid pad, compared to the C7 Z51 grip of 1.08G. Then the 70-0 brake test yielded a best stopping distance of 149 feet, compared to the 146 feet observed out of the C7. This may have a bit to do with the 3,647 lb curb weight of the 2020 Corvette Stingray, which comes in at 203 lbs more than the C7 Stingray. Per Motor Trend, lateral G forces came in a 1.04G on the skid, less than their 1.11G number for the C7. Braking from 60-0 was 97 feet, which was also marginally longer than the C7, according to the magazine.
So, is the C8 Corvette simply another spreadsheet warrior, or will its lap times around tracks such as the Nurburgring tell a different story? We hope to have an answer soon.
