What will be new for Next Year's Corvette? Slash Gear Outlines Changes

The 2021 Chevy Corvette C8 is getting ready to make its way to many dealerships like ours right here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson, and the word is that several highly-requested tweaks have taken place. The Slash Gear blog provided coverage this past week about the expected changes, as the 2021 Corvette Coupe and Convertible will see adjustments to some of the options and trims. It is fair to say that Chevy as a whole surprised many with the launch of the 2020 Corvette C8 and finally produced a mid-engined model after decades of speculation.

Even though this is a high-powered machine that doles out 460 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, the modest price was a real winning factor with journalists and car experts alike, as well as decent offerings on a standard trim. Now that it's time for a new model year, it does seem like Chevy is not straying too terribly far from what has already worked so well. The biggest change is in regards to the Magnetic Ride Control suspension. Until this year, if you've wanted this ingenious system, you needed to opt for the Z51 package.

It puts to use magnetorheological fluid which can be altered according to a magnetic field, to make changes to the suspension from soft through to firm. This year the suspension system will be offered as a standalone option, so you can opt to withhold the Brembo brakes, performance exhaust and rear axle ratio, electronic limited-slip differential, heavy-duty cooling system, and performance Michelin tires. Another change of major interest to buyers is the wireless CarPlay support. It will now be standard across the 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT trims, and means that you can now connect directly with your iPhone and use the Apple interface without needing a dangling USB cable.

For the last year's model, wireless charging was only standard on the 2LT trim and above. On the outside, there are a few new color choices: the Blade Silver Metallic and Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat are no longer available and have been currently replaced by Red Mist Tintcoat and Silver Flare. The “Stingray R” package will add special graphics and matching wheel caps, and there will be a new assortment of full-length rain stripes available. There is the addition of a center hood “Stinger Stripe” option, available in Edge Yellow, Edge Red, Midnight Silver, or Carbon Flash.

The 3LT trim will now flaunt a Strike Yellow color scheme with Sky Cool gray inserts, and the other will use Jet Black with Sky Gray inserts. More carbon fiber accessories are coming, and the LPO High Wing and Door Intake Trim will be available in Visible Carbon Fiber. At the beginning of March, Chevy attended the Work Truck Expo and one of the displays featured this 2020 Corvette Stingray doled up as the Gray C8.R. It does make sense for the Chevy to focus on a “C8.R replica” as owners have always been passionate about the race team, and many would like to dress up their Corvettes to appear like those on the professional track.

Hotcars.com Stacks the Camaro up Against the Corvette

The Hotcars.com staff were definitely correct when they asserted on their blog this past week that anyone anywhere who loves cars is familiar with Chevy's two greats: the Camaro and the Corvette. The pair differs greatly from each other in terms of appearance, performance, and character, as well as their target audience. Here are some fine points about both that will help anyone on their way to see us at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson for the holidays to make their decision.

The Idea: The Corvette , by all means, an all and out sports car: with clean lines, a low-riding nose, and other qualities that have it constantly hugging the road. Those who want the Corvette are true fans of the American sports car and are consumed with a need for speed. The Camaro has always been a muscle car, and while eye-popping and masculine, it does not have some of the “topped out” sensations that a 'Vette offers.

Current Models: During 66 years of production, there has never been a mid-engined Corvette,  and so this year's particular model is off-the-charts different and new. It has the best balance and road handling that it ever has, and plenty of added space as well. The current model Camaro is a conventional front-engined build with a muscular front and grille and is going to wow fans that love consistency and a slightly retro feel.

The Power: The base 2020 Camaro is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, cranking out 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This maxes out at all the way upwards of 650 horsepower dependent on trim level, assuring that the Camaro has zero similarities to a snail. Inside this year's Corvette is the 6.2-liter V8 that generates 490 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, but it's not always JUST about power: this is the very first Corvette that can do 0 to 60 mph in a flat 2.9 seconds! 

The Competition: The closest rivals to the Corvette come in the forms of the Acura NSX, Audi R8, Nissan GT – R, and the Porsche 911. None of these cars are American, and they are all far pricier. The Camaro is a solid rival for the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, the case of the Detroit Three itself. All of these are tied much closer together in the price range factor, and you simply have to hash out which features do and don't add up for your needs.

Tech Features: It's safe to say for this year that the Corvette leads the way as far as tech innovations. Aside from the first in the mid-engined department, there's a self-raising nose that can be programmed by GPS, and can store 1,000 locations. If you've narrowed everything down to the point where you know the Camaro is your final choice, the Available Technology Package includes the Chevy infotainment system with an 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen and Bose premium audio system.

The Racing: The Camaro is the winner of the 1971 and 1973 Australian Touring Car Championships, and was also featured as the official car of the International Race of Champions. The Camaro ZL2 has nabbed numerous Daytona 500 titles, and next year will be Chevy's racer for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup. The Corvette has been a Le Mans winner as well as at the 24 Hours of Daytona – plus it has been the Indianapolis pace car 15 times. Both of these cars are known for victory on the track: we feel the Camaro's Daytona 500 Titles may slightly nudge it to the lead in this department, but as with anything, it can come down to personal preference when it's all said and done!

Car and Driver Conveys Their Astonishment and Adoration for the New C8's Top Speed, Low Price

This summer right here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson and across the entire nation, many intense ripples of excitement were felt as the release of the long-awaited C8 finally took place. Since the day of the unveiling, the many press and internet sources for everything auto-related have been eagerly covering every aspect of the new Stingray's performance and prowess. The Car and Driver staff was fascinated with a press release that originated from Chevy over the past month and claimed that while the C8 Corvette starts at under $60,000, the top speed is an astounding 194 mph.

Even though it seems strange off the bat, that top speed only applies to the entry-level 2020 Corvette. Models that are equipped with Chevy's optional Z51 performance package have a lower top speed, because the aerodynamic components included provide more downforce. Even if the Z51 kit does not boost the bottom line in the speed department, it is still going to stop shorter, grip harder, and be able to change direction more readily, and also brandishes additional engine and systems cooling for standing up to the intense wear and tear of the track.

The Z51 C8 Corvette is also the version that nails down the 3.0-second zero to sixty mph time, and all of a sudden, Car and Driver changes their stance for an instant during the article, claiming that since there really is no autobahn in the United States, top speed is not as important a metric as others. We have to admit we admire their sense of deduction: it is correct that the perks of the Z51 package need the buyer to closely pay attention and not just think of nailing down the best top speed stats out there.

The all-new mid-engine sports car is so much more than Next Generation: it has been completely redesigned from the ground up to deliver the optimum in thrills on every single drive. Only one single part has been carried over from the last generation, and the amazing all-new LT2 V8 engine is clearly visible through a rear hatch window. The Available Engine Appearance Package adds ultra-cool fiber components as well as LED lights to illuminate the engine, and stepping up to the 2LT trim adds available GT2 seats in Napa leather.

You can very intensely hone in and tailor your look with a choice of wheels wrapped in standard all-season tires. These very light 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels make for a greatly improved ride and reduced noise, and there are two available designs. When people sit in the new C8 for the first time, they lament that each button is exactly where it needs to be for sensible use, and with three seat combinations to choose from, there's definitely going to be one to be ideal for you!

Made All-American in Bowling Green: The Chevy Corvette Celebrates a Patriotic Production Milestone

During this All-American week when fireworks, ballpark franks, and family picnics are the name of the game, many conversations are turning to goods that are American made. All of us here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson understand that within the economic climate, some manufacturers have really had to cut corners on cost and outsourcing. This makes us prouder than ever regarding the Chevy Corvette and its hub of creation: the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant. Widely known as one of the greatest American sports cars of all time, the Corvette has had a stronghold with many as a staple of greatness off and on the track for decades.

The Corvette has been built exclusively at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky since 1981, as the 1.7 million square-ft facility has been witness to numerous important moments in auto building history. On July 2^nd, 1992, this plant was the scene of the 1 millionth Chevy Corvette and in June of 2003, the facility commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the Corvette with a special edition release. Buyers can even choose to pick up their brand new 'Vette at the National Corvette Museum, which is located just over a mile from this plant.

One of the qualities that really makes this vehicle stand out as all-accessible within its American made traits is the way in which the facility's Performance Build Center involves the customer. Earlier on in during the lifespan of the Corvette C7, buyers could choose to work with an on-site builder to put together their very own LTV V8 engine. These days, Kentucky is not only the current base for the brand but a location that is heavily rooted in its future as well. Just three months ago, it was officially announced that 400 jobs would be added as well as a second shift to the facility to provide support for the production of the upcoming 2020 mid-engined Corvette C8, slated to debut July 18.

GM Authority will be present during the reveal to cover it live, documenting the appearance of this American-born legend as it launches on out to an all-new 8^th generation. Bowling Green Assembly is the only plant in the world that builds Corvettes, and the facility has seen more than 1 million roll off its assembly line since 1981. It proudly boasts the largest solar array of any auto builder in the state, and the team here is present at various customer events during the year to gain feedback and personal insight on the product they are so proud to create every day. Today, Bowling Green even has a new paint process that incorporates dry scrubber technology, LED lighting, and a limestone system to make an unbelievably stunning paint job while going easy on the planet's precious resources at the same time!

2019 Corvette Grand Sport Driver's Series Featured on Motor Authority

This weekend at the preview event for the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Chevy is slated to announce a special-edition Corvette, where our brand's experienced racing team is on deck to compete. The Motor Authority blog covered the announcement, relaying to the public that there will be four cars to choose from within the brand new Corvette Grand Sport Drivers Series. The image at the top shown here is a screenshot of the four cars taken from the app, which was first posted two days ago by Corvette Blogger, who also had a few photos of the cars parked right outside the Chevy Experience Center at the Daytona track.

Pro drivers Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, and Tommy Milner chose the color combinations for the series, and each individual model comes with a commemorative plaque and equipment. Due to being based on the Corvette Grand Sport, the cars are expected to have a 6.2-liter V8 good for 460 horsepower, and 465 lb-ft of torque under the hood. All of us on staff here at O'Rielly Chevy would also probably expect the cars to come with the Performance Data Recorder featuring the Cosworth Toolbox Function: it adds yaw rate, intake and ambient air temperatures, individual suspension displacements, and individual wheel speeds to be monitored and adjusted, as well as the Z07 package with carbon-ceramic brake rotors and Michelin Pilot Sports Cup 2 tires.

We all hope that this is not the last special edition that is based on the current C7 Corvette, as it could be one of the final products of its kind, due to the fact that the C8 Corvette with a mid-engined layout is coming later this year. With heart-racing features such as technical presentations by Mobil 1 and Michelin themselves, the Corvette Corral agenda is going to be particularly awesome this year during the Daytona event. There will be a presentation by the National Corvette Museum, driver autograph sessions, and the Michelin raffle to boot.

A millisecond of time can absolutely make or break a race, and these 'Vettes make the 0 to 60 mark in a blistering 3.60 seconds. These packages are limited to the coupe, and can be added to the 1LT or 2LT models or to the top-rung 3LT, where carbon-fiber interior is added as well. The staff at Motor Trend claimed excitedly that this option is “a great way to get a tasteful Corvette model in your possession.” Tommy Milner's edition is our absolute favorite, and has Elkhart Lake Blue as the hue with red fender hash marks. Sporting ultra-cool jet black interior, it also offers red seat belts, body-color mirror caps, and silver body stripes. The upholstery is leather on the 1LTS, and is suede on the upper trims. Check out this writeup as well for more of the details, and tell us which is your favorite!

Camaro and Corvette ZR1 Top “21 Quickest Production Cars Motortrend Tested in 2018” List

Every year when car performance lists of various sorts come out, here at O'Rielly Chevy of Tucson we are sure that our vehicles will make the list. It is always certain that year after year, our sedans and sports cars will make waves and dominate against the various forms of competition out there. Every year the folks on staff at Motor Trend take on the duty of testing more than 200 car, truck, and SUV varieties to properly evaluate every new vehicle there is on the market. From budget-priced compacts to the most luxurious high-end vehicles, they were on the hunt last year to find the quickest out there, based completely on the 0-60 MPH drive time.

One of the initial surprises came from the Dodge club: we fully recognize that the 2018 Challenger SRT Hellcat Wide Body is one fine vehicle, in literally all ways. But it placed 20^th on the list, as a 3.9-second 0-60 time ultimately keeps it held back a bit on the list. What's mind-blowing is the difference one second can make: engineers and designers have been trying for decades to create the ultimate pony and track-commanding car that can blast through this particular endurance test, while still providing other features within the realms of tech and safety.

The most powerful Porsche 911 ever sold to the public snagged the number one spot: the amazing and incredibly powerful 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS nailed down a track time for the 0-60 mph trot that was simply astounding: a lightening-fast 2.6 seconds. Our prized Corvette ZR1 snagged the 4^th place spot on this list of fearlessly fast contenders, coming in at a 3.0-second 0 to 60 mph gallop. The well-seasoned staff at Car and Driver proclaimed recently that “We went 183.3 MPH in the new Corvette ZR1 at the Texas Mile, and not once did we feel guilty.” With greatly noticeable power and chassis improvements over the Z06, you'll notice very minimal drawback downforce during speed runs, as well as enjoy the capability for the incoming Corvette to be perfect for daily drives.

Up a bit higher in the list is the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1: it pulls off the 0-60 sprint in just 3.5 seconds, situated in a comfy slot just above the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R. The quarter-mile time for the ZL1 sits at 11.5 seconds, and the automatic transmission it sports is the one to nab if you are looking to achieve rocket-fast speed while in a straight line. This is the always exciting, well-priced car that is a true legend in its own rite, which Car and Driver stated has “a glorious engine sound.” The supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 is good for 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and half of the chassis performance is derived from aluminum-bodied spool-valve dampers.

The rear subframe and multilink suspension are now insulated with aluminum pucks, and the rear anti-roll bar can be adjusted to three different positions. Make sure to check out the available navigation system and carbon-fiber interior trim, two of the extras that up the level of excitement in a vehicle that already has a massive presence in the no-holds-barred racing category!

Corvette Online Showcases New Options for Color on the 2019 Corvette ZR1

Click here to view the interior colors

Every year when Chevy releases the new options for the Corvette, there are many reasons to be excited, especially if you have your sights set on the new ZR1. It is now easier than ever to customize the interior to suit your tastes, and the good folks at the Corvette Online blog showcased this week the new color options that will be available on the upcoming model. While the exterior of your car is the first thing that onlookers see when you glide (or blast) past them, the interior is what you are going to be staring at when you are en route every day.

The ZR1 now has six options to pick from: you can opt for the classics such as gray, jet black, or Kalahari, which is a subtle khaki color, or you can choose to up the ante with another new color such as Adrenaline Red, which is the perfect visual essence of what many picture when they think of the 'Vette's timeless allure. The darker Spice Red, or Jet Black interior with orange stitching are also on tap to give your brand-new ZR1 a different type of flair. You also have the ability to choose the seat trim materials that will give your ZR1 an ultimate custom look.

If leather is the look that suits you, the ZR1 comes with three custom trim options for the interior and seating. There is the perforated Mulan variety, perforated Napa leather, or leather with microfiber inserts. You have not experienced a truly soft and show-worthy quality until you have experienced Napa: it is one fine choice for the car; if you are a fan of the way lovely leather boots feel, the Mulan variety may be up your alley. Once you have chosen the perfect interior and trim, the final step is deciding on an exterior that matches. There are ten options on the upcoming model to choose from, and you can select something that matches, compliments, or has a totally different contrast from the interior color you've picked.

The ten colors offered with the ZR1 this year are

-Black

-Shadow Gray Metallic

-Blade Silver Metallic

-Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat

-Torch Red

-Sebring Orange Tintcoat

-Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat

-Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic

-Arctic White

If any of these colors don't happen to appeal to you right away, there are still some incredible options! Check out any local options here in Tucson for a custom vehicle wrap: this can help you protect the paint beneath, which raises the trade-in or resale value of the car. The fierce 6.2-liter V8 pushes a startling 755 horsepower to the rear wheels, and went from zero to 60 in just 3.1 seconds during Car and Driver's official speed tests. The official testing staff from said magazine put the new 'Vette through rigorous punishment at the Texas Mile, topping out at 183.3 MPH, and “not once feeling guilty.” Check out the available goods on the new 'Vette here at O'rielly soon and decide whether or not the targa or convertible body style is right for you. Port-and direct-fuel-injection system combine, and cylinder deactivation is not in existence anymore, along with Eco and Weather drive modes.

A Nod to the Sightings At Nurburgring: The New-For-2018 ZR1

Testing cars and seeing if they really have what it takes to measure up requires many hours, and a collective effort of very hard work. Diagnostics, safety issues, and the way the machinery used can withstand intended acceleration are all components of the formula that need to be considered. When it comes to how it behaves on the road, there is one place on the planet that is legendary, and tends to be spoken about both in very excited and hushed tones. Nurburgring is located in a lush area of Germany, situated close to legendary castles, and was the original home of the German Grand Prix after World War One.

Completed in the spring of 1927, the original track consisted of 174 bends, and was a true proving grounds where numerous racers displayed their talent. It was right here in 1961 that Phil Hall became the first ever to complete a lap of the Nordschleife track in under 9 minutes, and if every inch of track here could talk, it would clue you in to some of the most exciting moments in racing history. Over the past few weeks there has been a very exciting vehicle that has been spotted zipping around this legendary spectacle, and it's gonna seriously excite every customer and employee right here at O'Rielly. The 2018 ZR1 Corvette has been spotted here doing its magical thing, in light camouflage and with abundant promise of just how awesome it will be.

The rear wing is the first element that many will notice: it is definitely on the larger side, and is a bit like what is seen on the Dodge Viper ACR. We suspect that it is here to provide a heightened amount of downforce, an element that you'll notice right away when really putting this new Corvette to the test. The front air dam has lots of wide-open intakes, which will be needed for sure to cool down the powerful V8 that resides under the hood. It is suspected that the Corvette's incredibly souped 6.2-liter will be the engine of choice, and that this final entry in a line of stellar cars will be a milestone of sheer performance ability and enthralling fun to drive.

The 'Vette that was sighted at Nurburgring was sporting the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, which are known for being incredibly lightweight, and having the use of some very big brakes to boot. The last model that came out in this category was capable of producing 638 horsepower from a very supercharged 6.2-liter LS9. Most of our contacts in the motor industry are telling us that the 2018 ZR1 will be shown to the public for the first time at an IMSA race, or the Corvette Museum itself, in Bowling Green Kentucky. This storybook location is a prime example of a place that anyone would love to test drive the new Corvette: collectors and racing enthusiasts alike will no doubt be ecstatic to see just how great this new vehicle is going to be. We have all loved spending decades following the legacy of a legend, and expect this 2018 release to be nothing short of spellbinding.