Chevrolet Corvette confirmed for Australia

Holden has confirmed the eighth-generation C8 Corvette will be sold in Australia as a fully-fledged right-hand drive model straight from the US factory.

Unveiled in the US on Friday, the new mid-engined flagship will remain plated as a Chevrolet in Australia, Holden officials have confirmed, and will fulfil Holden's pledge to offer a rear-drive V8 sportscar by 2020.

carsales.com.au understands the Corvette is timed to arrive in showrooms late 2020 or early 2021, though no more details are known on price, specification or whether all Holden dealers will have access to the prized flagship.

“Like anyone with a hint of petrol in their veins, we were glued to our screens watching the reveal of the new Corvette,” said Dave Buttner, chairman and managing director of Holden.

Pricing for the new 2020 Corvette in the USA starts at under $US60,000 and while that equates to $A85,000 in Australia, things like luxury car tax will see that price rise to well over $A100,000.

“The news that Corvette will now be built in right-hand-drive for the first time ever – and will be exported to Australia – is hugely exciting for our team at Holden and any Australian who loves high performance cars.

“With our long history in motor-racing, performance vehicles are an indelible part of the Holden brand. Our team is totally revved up to build on Holden’s performance legacy with the most technologically advanced Corvette ever built.

“We look forward to taking on the European and Japanese performance vehicles with some highly sophisticated American muscle.”

The 2020 Chevy Corvette Stringray is powered by a new LT2 engine, a 6.2-litre mid-mounted V8 engine that makes maximum a 370kW or 495hp at around 6000rpm and 640Nm of torque (470lb.ft) at around 4600rpm.

The high-output mid-mounted V8 donk drives the rear wheels through a clever new twin-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. There’s also an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential.

The new Corvette is the first-ever production version in mid-engine configuration. It is also the fastest, most powerful entry-level Corvette, purportedly offering new standards of performance, technology and craftsmanship.

“Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and boundary-pushing at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle reached its limits of performance, necessitating the new layout,” said GM president Mark Reuss.

“In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette, but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our focus on details and performance across the board.”

Full details of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette reveal