Digital Trends Test Drives the 2020 Corvette Stingray and Proclaims it is “Born to Dance”

With a history dating back to the 1950s, the Corvette is absolutely a representation of solid tradition. Yet with the latest, 8^th-generation 'Vette, the car sees the most drastic update in many years. The mid-engined model and plenty of new tech with a cockpit constructed around digital displays is entirely new and almost every single thing has changed regarding performance and handling. The manual transmission has even been axed for a dual-clutch number. The Digital Trends staff agreed that one thing that has not changed is its high value factor: it's priced close to a model such as the Toyota Supra, but its raw performance goes head-to-head with cars in the 6-figure range.

Chevy has contemplated the idea of a mid-engine model since the 1960s, with many concept cars and plans in the making. This is the time when many experts are saying that “it is now elevated from an awesome blue-collar sports car into a rival for European exotics”. The brains and gusto behind the new Corvette was Ed Piatek, the chief engineer for the project. He claimed that Chevy had run out of performance capability with the front-engine build, especially with how rear-wheel-drive limits traction.

After moving the engine behind the driver, more weight is sent to the rear, and those extra pounds help the rear tires with better grip. The driver is now closer to the front wheels, so the steering column can be shorter, which renders the steering more responsive. The car's movement through corners also feels more natural and is one of the reasons why a mid-engine placement is standard for Formula One and IndyCar. There are two trunks in the 2020 Stingray: one in the front, and one in the rear. Between both of them, the new 'Vette has 12.6 cubic feet of total cargo volume.

After a lengthy test drive, writer Stephen Edelstein says that this car is not as stressful to drive as many other mid-engined cars, and the wide windshield offers a perfect view of the road. He took the car for a spin on the Las Vegas Strip, and it was “no more nerve-wracking than any other car”. He was also excited about the 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. There is also a “stealth” mode that shuts down non-pertinent information for night driving, and sensible analog HVAC controls are placed on a long divider between the seats.

Make sure to ask us here at West Chevy of Knoxville about the 2LT trim: this is where you obtain blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. There is also a 360-degree camera system available, along with the digital rearview mirror previously seen in the Chevy Bolt, which streams video directly from a rear-mounted camera, doing the duty of eliminating blind spots. The 2020 Corvette also has a front-end lift system that raises the nose 40 millimeters at the press of a button, and even has memory space for over 1,000 locations!