It's finally happening: the C8 Corvette has arrived
The Corvette has long been at the top of South Africans' wishlists for American sportscars. Similar to its muscle car counterparts, the Corvette represents the best that America has to offer. Only they were almost always left-hand-drive derivatives. Well, the C8 made its way to the UK with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, so naturally it was only a matter of time before we too received the Vette.
So what exactly are we getting? Well, to start, the models brought in by the CVH Auto Group are factory-made right-hand-drive models, so it's not an aftermarket job. The brand is bringing in the current generation of Corvette called the C8, codenamed the Stingray. This mid-engined sports car produces 369kW of true American unboosted grit, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds. To clear the water for the American enthusiast out there, the ZR1 and ZR1X are considered supercars. The ones we are getting sit at the upper end of the sportscar realm.
Each model arriving in South Africa will be equipped with the Z51 Performance Package as standard, which typically costs R87,000. The Z51 package includes stickier Michelin Pilot Sport 4S ZP tyres for improved track performance and longevity, firmer body control and stiffer suspension, and a rear spoiler and front lip that provide an added 181kg of downforce. Bigger brakes are also included, alongside a limited-slip differential and a more advanced traction management system.
Alongside these additions, improved engine and brake cooling ensure you can make the most of your track days, with the benefit of a shorter gear ratio for better acceleration but lower top speed.
The big question, of course, is pricing. Well, they start at R3,700,000 locally, which makes it quite a bit more expensive than a base Porsche 911 GTS. If money were no object, it would be a tempting offer given its rarity on local roads and comparable performance to the 911. The Corvette will also be offered in both the coupe and the convertible configurations.
While we hope to see the ZR1 and ZR1X in the near future, we can rejoice in the fact that 72 years after the first Corvette was made, South Africa is finally receiving official production models – that's if you don't count the privately imported classics adorning local car collections.
.jpg)
