Motor Authority Covers Mid-Engined C8 Corvette Convertible Version Coming Soon

This past week the Motor Authority crew conveyed in an article just how excited they were when the C8 coupe debuted in the flesh: this summer in California it finally arrived at a revealing ceremony that took place in some of the largest hangers in the nation. Those who received the treasured “golden tickets” as their invitation were treated to the show of a lifetime, and now there is another date regarding the Corvette for fans to mark on their calendar.

Last Friday during an interview with Motor 1, Corvette Assembly Plant Manager Kai Spande let slip that it is expected to see the Corvette convertible “in the October timeframe”. At least this steers us a bit in the right direction as to when to expect the droptop's coming. Everyone here at West Chevy of Knoxville knows that sometimes automakers choose to hold back different variants of a new sports car to keep the interest peaked, and it thankfully does not seem like this will be the case here. If this is the case, we should see the open-air model rolling excitedly into showrooms by early 2020, just in time for the promise of spring weather right around the corner.

Engine options for the Corvette convertible haven't been fully disclosed, but they are expected to be similar to the coupe's. That should most likely mean the potential of a 490-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 in the base form, or a 495-hp version of the same engine with the optional Z51 performance package. An 8-speed dual-clutch automatic is expected to be standard across the board. As happened with previous generations of Corvette, the C8 convertible is also expected to stoke the inspiration for high-performance models like the ZR1 and Z06.

The retractable hardtop roof can fold into a compartment just behind the passenger cabin. The C8 convertible model won't sport the clear engine cover that the coupe does, because the roof takes up space directly on top of the engine when it's pulled down for fresh air. Much attention has been given on the newswires and blogs regarding the zero to 60 time, which resides at less than 3 seconds when equipped with the Z51 Performance Package.

It is true that the C8 had to make some concessions in terms of overall interior and cargo space, but because the engine is now in the rear, Chevy has done a superb job with the graduation to this new generation. Even with these differences, the C8 remains an amazingly fast, yet still practical daily sports car, and will surely be thought of as a game-changing and iconic landmark in auto history for the future.