2020 Convertible Corvette Released

Chevrolet has shown the world its 2020 C8 Corvette Convertible with a retractable hardtop. This supercar is the first Corvette to offer a retractable hardtop, and it’s creating a lot of buzz in the automotive world.

Chevy’s most recent innovation was made possible by a mid-engine design that frees up additional space in both the front and the rear of the vehicle. 

The C8 Corvette continues the Stingray name, which Chevrolet revived for their seventh-generation model. The new Corvette comes with massive improvements, even compared to the previous edition.

Its throaty growl has been refined even further, the performance continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and the automaker has found a way to make the convertible look even better than the coupe.

2020 Corvette Features

The 2020 Corvette, with or without the retractable hardtop, is a supercar for the ages. It has everything people love about Chevy sports cars: sharp looks, roaring sounds, and a 6.2-liter V8 engine that feeds power to an eight-speed transmission.

One of the biggest differences is that this particular V8, which produces 465 pound-feet of torque and 490 horsepower, is now mounted in the middle of the car. By strapping nearly 500 horses into a mid-engine design, Chevrolet created more than superior performance– they also made room for a retractable hardtop.

Mid-Engine Corvette Performance

There have been rumors about a mid-engine Corvette for about 50 years now. Italian supercars had already shown that kind of design, and Chevrolet has been maxing out the potential of vehicles with a traditional front-engine layout and rear-wheel drive.

Those generations of Corvettes with engines in the front didn’t exactly leave much to be desired, but America’s premier sports car is expected to challenge the status quo. The team at Chevy continues to do that with the mid-engine C8.

Mid-engine layouts offer key advantages when it comes to performance, especially in vehicles that are already exceptionally powerful.

The 2020 Corvette Improved Handling 

With the weight of the engine positioned toward the center of the vehicle, pressure is distributed more evenly across all tires. Centering the weight provides better balance and traction, allowing the car to accelerate more quickly and be especially nimble when cornering.

The entire driving experience becomes more fluid, and performance is more responsive to even the slightest course corrections. By balancing the center of gravity between the front and rear axles, a vehicle gets improved capabilities to turn quickly without sliding.

The 2020 Corvette has Superior Traction

Handling around corners and rapid acceleration isn’t the only areas improved by increased traction. Since more of the vehicle’s weight rests over its rear tires, it’s also less likely to enter a skid while braking.  Drivers will feel their anti-lock braking system (ABS) work more responsively thanks to the efficient weight distribution.

The 2020 Corvette has More Stability 

Every vehicle is intended to be as stable as possible, and this is particularly critical for sports cars like the powerful new Corvette. The engine is the heaviest component of the vehicle, especially when you’re talking about a massive V8 like you’ll find in the Chevy C8.

Situating a vehicle’s engine toward the middle gives the car a powerful anchor to keep things rooted as safely as possible, even during high-speed maneuvers.

The 2020 Corvette has Enhanced Comfort 

Most people aren’t thinking about long road trips when they envision themselves behind the wheel of America’s latest convertible supercar.

Eventually, though, drivers and passengers will be thankful for a smooth ride. Since the weight of the car is distributed efficiently across the suspension, the 2020 Corvette will be more prepared for imperfections like bumps in the road.

First Chevrolet Corvette with Retractable Roof

One of the most exciting things about the newest Chevy Corvette is that it’s innovative in so many ways. It’s the first standard model to go from zero to 60 mph in under three seconds.

It’s also the first with a dual-clutch transmission and the first mid-engine Corvette. For many drivers, the most exciting thing of all is that the 2020 Corvette is available with a retractable hardtop.

Normally, people expect to find hardtop convertibles of this caliber from Italian carmakers with quarter-million-dollar price tags. In a constant effort to offer more value, Chevrolet has introduced this feature to its very own supercar.

Soft-top Corvette convertibles have been around since the early 1950s, and removable hardtops came not long after. Current Stingray coupes are available with removable sections in their roofs. All of those options, like just about every Corvette we’ve seen, are impressive, but this is a step above.

The newest Corvette convertible with a retractable hardtop was recently unveiled in Cape Canaveral, Florida, which is appropriate for a vehicle that brings space-age tech to the masses.

In fact, the tonneau cover, nacelles, and pylons that cover the retractable hardtop look like they’d fit in just as well on an airplane. With one touch of a button, the folding mechanism rises, the roof folds to rest over the rear deck, and the rear of the vehicle folds shut. It all happens in about 16 seconds, and drivers can safely take the top down at speeds of up to 30mph.

Since the space in the rear deck is normally occupied by a glass display over the engine compartment in the hardtop coupe, the roof can retract without compromising the vehicle’s storage space.

There’s a special vent in this part of the car with the convertible option to feed additional air into the engine. Since Chevrolet’s designers accounted for both storage and performance, all you sacrifice for topless driving is an unobstructed view of the engine behind your passenger compartment.

Ample Storage Space in Chevy Corvette Convertible

Going with the mid-engine approach and other thoughtful design features gave the masterminds at Chevy more room to work within this new Corvette.

The engine is located between the front and rear axles, and behind the passenger compartment, but without taking too much space away from the trunk. The rear cargo space will hold plenty of cargo, as much as two golf bags, even while the roof is down.

Lift the hood, and you won’t be greeted by the beastly V8 engine you’d expect to see in a Corvette. Thanks to the mid-engine design, you’ll only reveal even more storage in the very front of the vehicle.

Here in the front, you can expect to fit a small suitcase (think airline carry-on bag) in addition to a laptop case. Between these two large storage spaces, this Corvette offers plenty of cargo space for both the driver and passenger. Convertibles bring their own unique set of storage problems, though.

Locking Center Console

If you ask convertible drivers, one of the biggest oversights in their vehicles’ storage is that the cabin is lacking a locking department. Since the car is open, all the belongings are exposed.

This isn’t a big deal when you park your vehicle for the night, but what if you’re just running into a rest stop or coffee shop for a quick break? Sure, one push of a button will have your roof back up in a matter of seconds, but it’s great to show off the top-down look.

Corvettes with convertible tops or removable roof sections have been missing quick, lockable storage for multiple generations now, but no longer.

The C8 Corvette convertible offers a discrete compartment in the center console, equipped with an electronic lock. Use the car’s state-of-the-art digital display to engage and disengage the lock.

Just like that, you can leave your Corvette convertible with the top down while you grab lunch, and there’s no need to worry about whether your new sunglasses will be there when you return.

2020 Corvette Price

The convertible option of the new 2020 Corvette comes with a $7,500 price tag. You get what you pay for, and drivers can still expect this car to provide peak performance even with the top down.

After all, the entire folding hardtop mechanism only adds about 80 pounds of weight to the vehicle. The C8 Corvette is available starting at $59,995 as a hardtop, which means you’re looking at $67,495 if you want to feel the wind in your hair.

Considering the other cars that can deliver anything close to this kind of experience, that’s an excellent price. You can run that price up in a hurry if you start moving up trim levels or adding other upgrades.

Expect to pay a little bit extra for features like upgraded shocks, carbon fiber effects, a nose lift, or racing stripes. If you have a taste for all the most expensive optional features, you may even start to see the total price creep up toward six figures. 

2020 Corvette Release Date

The C8 first made its debut in July 2019. The C8 convertible was unveiled several weeks later. The 2020 Corvette Stingray will hit production lines in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at the tail end of 2019.

Production of the 2020 Corvette convertible will begin toward the tail end of the first quarter of 2020. Chevrolet has already allowed drivers to start placing pre-order requests, and people are jumping at the opportunity. 

When you place a pre-order, you can select your packages, options, and other features to customize the vehicle and get a more precise estimate of the price.

Michael Simcoe, GM’s Vice President of Global Design, has stated that pre-orders have already caught up with plans for the first year’s production numbers. We’re not sure exactly how many C8s Chevrolet intends to build for the 2020 year, but the car will almost definitely sell out.

Given the high demand for this new Corvette, it’s a good thing Chevrolet intends to increase its throughput in Bowling Green. They have announced that their Kentucky plant, where the Corvette has been produced for nearly four decades, will receive a second shift and over 400 additional employees to help with the C8.

The additional production power is intended to help build as many vehicles as possible without speeding up the process to any extent that could threaten quality.

New 2020 Corvette in Phoenix, AZ

When you’re ready to see the new and improved Corvette, the Valley Chevy dealers will be the first to show you. We serve the Phoenix Metro area and the entire Valley of the Sun– find us in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Avondale, Peoria, Surprise, and Coolidge.

Our committed staff go above and beyond to provide excellent customer service no matter which vehicle you’re looking at, whether it’s used, a Certified Chevrolet vehicle, or even the new 2020 Corvette.

At Valley Chevy, we work hard to get the newest Chevy vehicles in as soon as possible, so find a location near you to start the journey that ends with you in a 2020 Corvette convertible.

Joe has been closely associated with the automotive industry for the past 10 years. He worked closely with dealerships at his previous job with the Charlotte Observer, who had a partnership with Cars.com. At his current role, he is actively involved in promoting the Chevy brand in the Phoenix-Metro area along with Valley Chevy.