The C8 Corvette is an impressive car that has posted remarkable numbers since its launch. In fact, the car may be the best example of the breed yet in its ability to give drivers insane performance at a shockingly reasonable price. But it’s not without its faults.
That’s the conclusion that Chris Harris had after his first time behind the wheel of the latest Corvette. The Top Gear host has nothing but praise for the driving dynamics of the legendary sports-car-cum-supercar, but has other things to say about the design.
“The elephant in the room is that the new Corvette Stingray doesn’t look quite right,” Harris says in a new video for Collecting Cars. “I described it as looking like two cars that are different, welded together in the middle.”
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He seems to like the front end, but complains that the long doors and the dull rear quarter panel make it look awkward. However, he understands that the decision was made to allow American owners to put two golf bags in the trunk.
“It means that it’s quite a confusing looking car,” he explains. “Which is why it’s so good that it’s so good to drive, because when you’re in it, you don’t have to look at it.”
Indeed, on track at Willow Springs, he says Americans are really lucky to have such easy access to the Corvette. He describes the front end as super pointy, and says that it feels sophisticated, and even European, albeit with a big V8 to give it some American charm.
“How have they done it for the money?” he asks. “Naught to 60 in 2.9 seconds, over 190 mph, and a chassis that, in many ways, beats a Porsche 911, because it’s inherently better-suited to going around corners. Mid-engine is the layout, isn’t it?”
Now that new Corvette variants are on their way, watching Harris drive the standard C8 for the first time is a nice reminder of how good of a basis they all have to build on.