Poster-child of American muscle has big plans for its 2026 interior, including a cockpit-style ‘driver command centre’ with three screens. But it won’t be cheap
GMSV has confirmed it has updated the Chevrolet Corvette for MY26, including an overhaul of the interior and price rises of up to $21,000.
The inbound updates for the iconic muscle car focus on improving the driver experience, offering three digital screens, new software, and Google app integration.
Price increases will apply to all non-hybrid Corvette models, likely to offset forthcoming CO2 emissions penalties enforced by the Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Scheme (NVES).
Resultantly, the starting price for a ‘base model’ Corvette Stingray 2LT Coupe is now $193,990, up $7000 year-on-year, while stepping up to the 3LT Coupe will cost a whopping $222,990 – a $21,000 increase over MY25.
Optioning a soft-top for Chevrolet’s 3LT ‘Ray incurs an additional $10,000 over its hard-topped counterpart, now $232,990 — $13,500 more than last year. The hybrid-powered E-Ray remains unchanged at $292,990. All prices above are before on-road costs.
The Corvette fills a unique category in Australia as a quintessential American sports/muscle car, aimed to be a peg above the locally discontinued Camaro, ever popular Ford Mustang, and long-desired Dodge Challenger.
It finds itself rivalling prestigious, capable, and luxurious rivals from Europe, including the $318,000 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, $380,000 BMW M8 Competition, and $383,700 Mercedes-AMG SL63 roadster.
All Corvette models, including the hybrid E-Ray, will remain mechanically, physically, and dimensionally identical to their 2025 counterparts.
Corvette Stingray models feature a 6.2-litre ‘LT2’ V8, which produces 369kW/637Nm and sends power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The E-Ray adds a 119kW/169Nm electric motor and 1.9kWh lithium-ion battery to this system, producing a combined output of 488kW/806Nm.
Most poignant of the Corvette’s MY26 updates is a new three-screen layout integrated into the dashboard, which blends a 14-inch digital instrument cluster with a 12.7-inch infotainment screen (right) and 6.6-inch ‘critical driving information screen’ (left).
The result is an almost fighter-jet style command centre of screens, all of which are angled towards the driver. GMSV says all three screens ‘feature sharper colours, improved agility, and expanded functionality.’
Beyond the three-screen cockpit party-piece, the MY26 Corvette additionally gains a larger volume knob, new drive mode selector, and a dedicated switch near the driver’s right hand, which brings up a ‘Performance Traction Management’ (PTM) menu.
Within PTM, which is displayed on the small 6.6-inch display, users can adjust levels of stability control, traction control, and ABS.
Other additions include a wireless phone charger underneath the infotainment screen and ‘updated cup holders’ (we get it, it’s American), as well as two revised pieces of software: Enhanced Performance Data Recorder (EPDR) and Chevrolet Connected Services (CCS).
EPDR offers side-by-side video analysis and performance driving coaching based on real world data, says Chev. This information is displayed on the driver screen, or on the Corvette “Performance App”.
CCS is a Google-powered system for the infotainment screen, which integrates Google Maps and Google Assistant into the standard Chevrolet system. CCS will be offered free as part of an eight-year trial to celebrate its first appearance in the Australian market.
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