America's Most Wanted

Look out Australia, this hot new mid-engined corvette is heading our way

- Brian Makse

The week of Apollo 11’s fiftieth anniversary dovetailed perfectly with the launch of the 2020 Corvette. Coming 50 years after the lunar landing, General Motors celebrated NASA’s achievement, with astronauts on hand as ambassadors to remind the public that rockets at the rear had powered them to the moon. Without missing a beat, Corvette showed the world that rear engine placement is highly effective for not just astronauts, but also for American sports cars.

Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter told the audience of assembled media, dealers and Corvette owners: “Our mission was to develop a new sports car that combines all of the things we do really well today with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars, all while meeting requirements from all around the globe, including right-hand drive markets.” Jaws hit floors across Australia.

That’s right, an all-new Corvette has finally been developed for us, and it will be here by late next year or early 2021. Right-hand drive models weren’t on display (this being an American event, after all), but Juechter reiterated that right-hook had been part of the new car’s plan from the beginning.

The iconic American sports car has a reputation for supercar performance at a fraction of the price of a European exotic. This eighth-generation model marks a major turning point with this, the first production mid-engined Corvette.

Visually, it has all of the Corvette hallmarks, with a striking, angular design and athletic proportions. The long bonnet has been replaced by a short, aggressive nose, and the cabin is now set forward.

Mid-engined sports cars are revered for their optimal weight distribution and effective dynamics, offering better handling, braking and acceleration than a front-engine/rear-drive configuration. They’ve been causing a stir since Sir Jack won the 1957 Formula 1 World Championship in a Cooper.