I love the fact that I have the opportunity to review cars as cool as the new Corvette Stingray.  Hey, someone’s got to do it!  It is fantastic to see the latest model now made available to us down under in Australia.  Its official name is the GMSV Corvette Stingray.  Why GMSV?  This stands for General Motors Speciality Vehicles, which is a new GM venture for both Australia and New Zealand.  The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has always been one of my favourite supercars ever since I was old enough to be on all fours pushing a matchbox car along the floor.  It is definitely my favourite American car of all time. 

So, what’s the attraction?  I love the Stingray’s design and performance – though I might buck the trend and mention that I am more of a fan of the younger Corvette Stingrays (after the mid-eighties) rather than earlier ones – just because I like the way that they slimmed down and had that special low, wide stance of a special supercar, which, of course, they are.  Then there is all that power and muscle brimming, just waiting to be unleashed.  A Corvette Stingray is not your average car on four wheels.  These are built for speed and for driving excitement. 

The 2024 GMSV Corvette Stingray is capable of completing the 0–100 km/h sprint in 2.9 seconds.  Given free rein, the new Stingray can chase down 300 km/h very quickly and will peak at 312 km/h.  GM used the latest 6.2-litre LT2 V8 motor, which is capable of putting out a maximum power of 369 kW and as much as 673 Nm of torque.  Instantly, at the ignition the V8, the thrill of the engine’s roar sends tingles down your spine, and that’s even before being pinned back in your seat as the Stingray accelerates down the long straight.  Seriously, the Stingray’s speed can be likened to my first experience of racing my older brother around a racetrack in a go-kart.  That same youthful excitement of seeing the road and points of reference rush up to meet you and fly past behind in an ever-increasing blur is what the joy of supercars, like this one, are all about.  The new Stingray’s V8 bellow adds to the raw driving experience. 

You really are seated down low in the new Stingray.  The tarmac isn’t that far from the seat of your pants, and the bucket seats are snug and supportive.  A soft suede-leatherette material covers the two seats, and it is also used over other parts of the cabin’s surfaces.  I love the way that when you sit inside the new Chevrolet Corvette’s driver’s seat, you get a real sense of being the reason why the car was designed for.  Every part of the cockpit is focused on the driver.  The steering wheel fits perfectly in your hands, the digital driver’s display is really sharp and clear; then even the infotainment screen is angled intentionally towards the driver so that it is so simple to read and manipulate as the need requires.  Twin cup holders are in the centre console, within easy reach of both the driver and front passenger – although driving the Stingray will give you as much buzz as a double-shot espresso.  There is a little more effort involved for the front passenger to change any settings on the touchscreen, as it does swing in full favour of the driver’s attention. 

In 2024, the new Corvette Stingray has been fitted with the latest 12-inch diagonal reconfigurable digital instrument display screen for the driver.  This system incorporates all the driver’s information and special features that they need in three distinct themes.  Wireless phone charging and seamless connection is another nice new addition that comes with the new Corvette.  The Simplified Bluetooth technology boasts NFC pairing, and you simply place your compatible phone above the volume button to pair it – boom, done! 

You would think that the mid-engine LT2V8 would be all the soundtrack you’d ever need for enjoying the Corvette’s dynamic driving experience.  But it is surprising just how nicely you can settle the car down to motorway speeds and enjoy the sounds of the latest premium Bose 14-speaker audio system.  All your favourite music can be punched across the airwaves as the new GMSV Corvette happily burbles along at 110 km/h speed limits, covering the ground surprisingly smoothly and effortlessly.  Of course, needing to pass slower traffic in the 2024 Stingray has you smiling ear to ear.  Few cars can match this car’s passing acceleration. 

As far as practicality goes.  Well, I can’t think of any other supercar I would want to be driving, so I’m pretty biased here.  The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette has cupholders, as mentioned above, a nice climate control system, electric windows, and 357 litres of luggage space.  The luggage space is spread across two areas, so you’ll find a boot at the front (frunk) and a boot at the rear of the car.  The Coupe’s targa top can be removed and placed in the rear boot space.  The new Corvette also boasts a special front lift kit with a memory function.  This Front Lift System can raise the front end of your vehicle up to provide you with approximately two inches of increased ground clearance for entering driveways or manoeuvring over speed humps.  This system can be activated at speeds of up to 38 km/h.

With a claimed average fuel consumption of 13.5 litres/100 km, for a V8-powered supercar, that’s actually pretty decent, and I’d take that any day.  The Corvette is fitted with a sizable 70-litre fuel tank.  And on the safety front, some new safety features include forward collision alert with low-speed automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist with lane departure warning, front pedestrian braking, and an auto high beam assist function.

Other standard equipment for the new car includes a very useful head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, heated and ventilated seats, and even a performance data recorder (for track day). The 2024 GMSV Corvette Stingray from Chevrolet has plenty of models, and 2LT or 3LT trim lines are available.

The new ‘Vette’ also comes available as an EV, so the 2024 Corvette Stingray E might press you buttons even more than the V8.  There are also convertible and Coupe styles.  The Z51 Performance Package offers, as standard kit on all of the Australian models, an electronic limited slip differential, Brembo brakes, the performance suspension, a performance exhaust, a performance rear axle ratio, unique front and rear splitters, and a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres – which deliver sensational grip and directional stability. 

I also reckon that the 2024 Corvette Stingray makes a comeback in real exotic appeal.  Now available in a set of fresh new colours, including Cacti Green, Riptide Blue and Sea Wolf Grey, with Carbon Flash now a regular across all model grades, there is no doubt about the ability of this car to pull the looks of bystanders!

The new GMSV Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models include the:

• Corvette C8 Stingray 2LT Coupe
• Corvette C8 Stingray 2LT Convertible
• Corvette C8 Stingray 3LT Coupe
• Corvette C8 Stingray 3LT Convertible
• Corvette Z06 3LZ Coupe
• Corvette E-Ray

For any more information on the new Chevrolet GMSV Corvette Stingray, for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Chevrolet GMSV dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!