Chevrolet Corvette 2021: mid-engine monster priced from $144,990 with Performance Pack

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General Motors Speciality Vehicles (GMSV) has announced the 2021 Corvette will go on sale in Australia with a starting price of $144,990 before on-road costs.

The mid-engine C8 Corvette will launch in the fourth quarter of this year and be sold in both coupe and convertible body styles, with three grades available at launch.

The Corvette that Australia will receive is the 2022 model which is yet to fully unveil its updated specifications, but expect it to be largely the same given the American-made supercar was only announced in 2020.

Kicking off the Corvette range in Australia is the 2LT that will demand $144,990 (before on-roads) for the coupe and $159,990 (before on-roads) for the drop-top.

Critically, the base Corvette 2LT includes the Z51 Performance Package which adds a dual-mode exhaust, larger Brembo brakes, magnetic ride control and an electronic limited-slip differential.

The Performance Package also includes upgrades for the track-focused buyers with additional cooling enhancements and aerodynamics with a rear-mounted spoiler and front splitter with the latter thankfully matched with a front-lift function.

Sitting in the middle of the range is the Corvette 3LT which offers a nicer interior but what that will include remains to be seen. The Corvette 3LT will command $160,500 (before on-roads) for the coupe and $175,500 (before on-roads) for the convertible. 

However, the entry-level 2LT Corvette is unlikely to be stripped bare inside with Chevrolet promising a range of luxury features including a heads-up display and a Bose Performance Series 14-speaker audio system.

GMSV will also offer a ‘Carbon Edition’ of the Corvette at launch which is based on the 3LT coupe and while exact details are yet to be confirmed, we know it will include upgraded wheels and brakes with a unique build plate and owner’s pack.

Naturally, all will come equipped with the 6.2-litre V8 engine nestled between the rear wheels, with the Z51 Performance Package upping the outputs to 369kW of power and 631Nm of torque.

That power is fed to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which acts as the sole transmission choice for the range, before the grunt is sent exclusively to the rear wheels.

Armed with the aforementioned limited-slip differential, the Vette will hook up on the blacktop and blast from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds before it hits a top speed of 296km/h.

For context, the base Porsche 911 Carrera makes less overall grunt (283kW/450Nm) and completes the same feat in 4.2 seconds, but at a cost of $236,300 before on roads.

GMSV is the local distributor for Chevrolet that will welcome the Corvette alongside an expanding range of Silverado models, with the plus-sized utes converted from left to right-hand-drive at Walkinshaw’s factory in Melbourne.

The decision to equip the Performance Package to the Vette as standard was due to overwhelming demand from buyers according to GMSV director Joanne Stogiannis.

“Overwhelming feedback is that our intended customers are performance enthusiasts, they want to have the ability to experience the C8 Corvette to its fullest potential,” Ms Stogiannis said.

More details for the Corvette will be announced towards the middle of the year as GMSV prepares to launch their American supercar in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Chevrolet Corvette 2021: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Corvette 2LT coupe: $144,990
• Corvette 2LT convertible: $159,990
• Corvette 3LT coupe: $160,500
• Corvette 3LT convertible: $175,500
• Corvette Carbon Edition: TBC