Just a few months after making its debut, the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray now gains a convertible variant with a power-folding roof, which costs US$7,500 more than the regular coupe (with a manually removeable roof) that starts from US$59,995.
Mechanically, the new variant is identical to the coupe, as it is still powered by a mid-mounted LT2 6.2 litre naturally-aspirated V8 with 495 hp and 637 Nm of torque. The eight-speed dual clutch transmission is also standard here to drive the rear wheels but the company did not disclose any performance figures, though it will likely not deviate much from the coupe.
To accommodate the two-piece roof, the entire rear deck has been redesigned to incorporate rollover protection cowls and a power-adjustable glass air deflector, while the glass engine cover has been replaced with a vented bonnet instead.
According to the American carmaker, the roof can be operated at speeds of up to 48 km/h, and with six electric motors, will retract or deploy in 16 seconds. An interesting point to note is the convertible offers the same amount of storage space the as coupe, even with the top down. As standard, customers will get a body-coloured roof, with the option of a Carbon Flash metallic finish.
Beyond these design changes, the rest of the convertible looks identical the coupe, right down to the spoiler used at the rear, which is part of the Z51 Performance Package. Other non-visual revisions include a retuning of the car’s chassis, springs and dampers to ensure nearly identical performance as the coupe.
Those interested will have to wait a little while, as production of the convertible is only slated to begin in the late first quarter of 2020 at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly, after coupe production starts later this year. A right-hand drive version of the convertible will also be offered in selected markets at a later date.
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