Manoli Katakis 
On July 18, 2019, inside the confines of a massive dirigible hanger in California, the world bared witness to an iconic American sports car, reimagined. The mid-engine Corvette was finally revealed, 60 years after Zora Arkus-Duntov originally began experimenting with the mid-rear engine layout for superior performance, compared to the conventional front-engine setup. The C8 Corvette represents a giant leap forward for mass-produced vehicles in any market. After all, there is absolutely no other new product out there that offers eight cylinders, two seats, rear wheel drive, and an exotic mid-rear engine layout for anything close to $60,000. In this regard, the 2020 Corvette Stingray is truly in a class of one.
Fast forward a year later, and it’s been a turbulent launch for the C8 Corvette. There’s no denying that the UAW Strike, COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain hiccups, and various quality issues have affected the mid-engine Stingray’s inaugural year. Nevertheless, the incredible demand for the new Corvette remains steadfast, even as customers have been bumped to the 2021 model year.
For those that could actually acquire a 2020 Corvette Stingray, it means that it’s a future collectable. And even more rare is the 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible. This is because the production cycle of the 2020 model year is riding on a timeline of just seven months, beginning in late March/early April. The 2021 Corvette changeover is expected to begin in November.
Further down the line, the 2022 Corvette Z06 is expected to delivery shock and awe with a flat-plane crank LT6 V8 engine, a center mounted exhaust, carbon fiber wheels, huge Michelin tires, a larger wing, and an active aerodynamics. In a couple years’ time, hybrid all-wheel drive variants are expected to emerge. Expected to be called the Corvette Zora, this American hypercar will likely deliver performance that rivals the million-plus-dollar McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918 for a small fraction of the price.
In short, the story of the mid-engine Corvette is just getting started.
