Muscle cars aren't just a fashion statement within the American culture, they're a way of life. A day won't go by where you won't see a Mustang fly down the freeway, or a Charger casually picking the kids up from school. There's one particular muscle car, however, that's been progressing just that little bit quicker than the others.
The Corvette has always been the superior muscle car, leaving Mustangs, Chargers, and even its very own Camaro sibling in the dust. 'Vettes are continuously improving, pushing the limits of what a muscle car and even a sports car can do!
10 The Corvette Z06 Is A Supercar Slayer
The C8 was a spectacle to behold within the muscle car industry. Besides the Ford GT, which wasn't exactly a readily available consumer car, no other muscle car had a mid-mounted motor. In 2020, Chevrolet had reached the limits of performance with their front engine layouts, and thus, decided to move the motor behind the driver for better weight distribution to maximize numbers.
Chevrolet then took the C8 platform to the next level with the Z06, pushing 670 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 V8. That's 30 horsepower more than produced by the Lamborghini Huracán STO, the flagship raging bull track day hero.
9 Corvettes Have A History Dating Back To 1953
The year is 1953, GM's Motorama concept show is currently ongoing in New York, and GM debuts the concept "dream car." It instantly caught the attention of attendees, and less than a year later, the C1 Corvette was rolling off the production line.
The Corvette was an instant success, even being driven by astronauts thanks to Chevrolet's incentive to exclusively lease them for $1 a year. Eight generations later, the Corvette is more sought-after than ever!
8 Lightning McQueen Is Loosely Based On A Corvette
The very reason many of us are gearheads today is Pixar's CARS released in 2006 starring the very American stock car, Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson).
Many don't know this, but McQueen was actually supposed to be a Corvette. The team decided to make Lightning a fictional car, but you can certainly still see C6 lines on the top and side views. Kachow!
7 The Corvette Is A Successful Motorsports Contender
Ever heard of Le Mans? You know, that crazy 24-hour race around the iconic circuit? What about the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship around the United States? Let's not forget good old Daytona!
The Corvette has a great history of racing. Completing most of their races, and winning nearly 30 events, the Corvette is no force to be reckoned with. They've been on the track from as early as the 60s, and will continue to race with Chevrolet's latest C8.R!
6 The Corvette Is Arguably The Most Visually Appealing American Car On Sale Today
"Mommy look! Here comes a Ferrari!"
Little Timmy, that in fact is not a Ferrari, but rather the eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette! The moving of the engine from the front to the middle of the car gave it sleek, supercar lines. Mix that with the Corvette's legendary sharp, air-piercing edges and quad-taillight setup, and you have quite the treat for the eyes.
5 America's Ferrari Has Arrived
So, yes, it does resemble a Ferrari quite a bit. That's not to say they copied the Italians per se, but the sporty lines of a mid-engined supercar are easily mistakable.
What's even more Ferrari-like, however, is the new short-throw flat-plane crank in the Z06. This upgrade boasts not only a weight loss of 30 pounds but results in a high-pitched screaming sound that closely resembles that of a Ferrari 488.
4 Corvettes Come In A Multitude Of Different Variants
When buying a Corvette, you're certainly spoilt for choice. From a great selection of colors and interior schemes, the Corvette has a solution to meet the needs of any style. Aside from the colors, there are a bunch of different models too. You can get yourself the "base" model Stingray, or even opt for the supercar-killing Z06. For the more eco-conscious, Chevrolet also offers the hybrid E-Ray (and yes, it still has a V8, don't worry).
Recently, rumors surrounding the future of the Corvette have been surfacing, with some saying that Corvette may soon become a standalone brand, as AMG is with Mercedes-Benz. This could mean the arrival of Corvette sedans and SUVs, which might be quite a treat for fans with families.
3 The Interior Makes You Feel As If You're Piloting A Jet
Thanks to inspiration from fighter jets, the C8 offers cockpit experience like no other. From the unique flat-bottomed and topped steering wheel to the infotainment systems and buttons pointing directly at the driver, you'll feel like you're flying high through the skies.
There's a good reason for this design - Chevrolet wants the Corvette to be entirely driver-focused, thus directing all controls directly to the driver within an arms-length.
2 The Corvette Is Relatively Affordable
This isn't to say the Corvette is priced similarly to an economy hatchback, but compared to cars boasting similar performance, the Corvette is a bargain. With a starting price of just over $60,000, the Corvette is priced similarly to an Audi RS3!
This is just a recommended price, but with dealer mark-ups, we've seen some similar Corvettes even costing $90,000!
1 The C8 Corvette Puts A Focus On Aerodynamic Efficiency
With more performance, a more efficient layout, better handling, and an all-around more impressive car than the generations that came before it, the Corvette is an entirely improved package.
Arguably one of the biggest improvements involves the GM's aerodynamic efficiency. The new Z06 sports a new splitter and optional wing, which according to GM engineers, increases downforce. Even the shape of the hood contributes to overall airflow, sending air toward the motor for cooling and downforce.
The Corvette is a technological masterpiece, leaving all other muscle cars, and even some supercars, in its rearview!