new Corvette Stingray
have been revealed. The base coupe will start at $51,995 when it goes on sale in September, inclusive of US destination costs, which translates at today’s exchange rate to £33,510.
Convertible will cost $4,210 more than coupe
Three trim levels will be available, with the mid-range 2LT costing $56,205 (£36,224) and the top-spec 3LT package going for $60,000 (£38,670). The
convertible model
, meanwhile, will start at $56,995 (£36,733). All of which will make the Corvette something of a bargain compared to rivals like the SRT Viper, which costs almost twice as much, as well as European rivals like the
Porsche 911
Jaguar F-Type
“The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers,” explains Chris Perry, Chevrolet's marketing vice-president. “[It] delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000.”
Previous chats we’ve had with Chevrolet’s people have revealed that the ethos behind the Corvette’s pricing has always been ‘if you could afford the old one, you’ll be able to afford the new one.’ That’s borne out by the fact that the base Stingray will cost a mere $1,400 (£902) more than the outgoing car. And while no UK pricing has been revealed as yet, if that logic is extrapolated, it suggests that a British-market version of the new ’vette would cost somewhere in the region of £64,000. Not quite the steal it is over in the States, then, but still nearly £20,000 below the 911 Carrera S, a car which gives away 50hp to the V8-equipped Stingray. Jaguar's F-Type, meanwhile, is cheaper, but still can't quite match the American car's value for money proposition. With the new 'vette's recipe smelling rather tasty at the moment, that pricing might just be the cream on top.