Right-hand drive Chevrolet Corvette revealed

GM Specialty Vehicles has released first images of the right-hand drive Chevrolet Corvette that will finally become available in Australia late next year.

The three images come via GMSV’s Instagram page, where it most recently also posted an image of the mid-engined C8 Corvette with the Z51 Performance Package that we understand will be standard in Australia.

As we’ve reported, development of the right-hand drive Corvette is currently underway ahead of the first factory RHD ’Vette’s release in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, India and South Africa in the second half of next year.

In North America, where the first global Corvette became available early this year, the standard Stingray coupe is priced from $US59,995 ($A81,985) and the convertible from $US67,495.

Both rear-drive supercars are offered in 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trim levels, all powered by a 6.2-litre LT2 V8 producing about 370kW/640Nm and matched to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

For an extra $US5000, all US Corvettes can be optioned with the Z51 pack, which is required for track use and comprises performance suspension, exhaust, axle ratio and Brembo brakes, plus an eLSD, heavy-duty cooling system, 245/35 ZR19 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tyres, and a Z51-specific front splitter and rear spoiler (pictured here).

Also now confirmed as standard for Australia via the GMSV website is a 12-inch reconfigurable digital instrument display, 8.0-inch infotainment touch-screen, 10-speaker Bose Performance Series 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth with NFC pairing, wireless phone charging and keyless entry/start with remote start.

Australian options will include the Front Lift system, Performance Data Recorder and a colour head-up display.

In the RHD UK market, the C8 Launch Edition will retail for £81,700 as a coupe and £87,110 as a convertible, which translates to about $A148,000 and $A158,000 respectively.

According to our sources, when it arrives late next year the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 coupe will be priced from about $130,000 – about $100K less than the base Porsche 911 – and limited to about 250 units for the first year in Australia, where the convertible version is yet to be confirmed for release.

Further afield, up to four other more powerful versions of the eighth-generation Corvette are expected, and we understand at least one of them will come Down Under in limited numbers with a price tag of around $200K.

Latest reports from the US suggests the next cab off the Corvette rank is likely to be the Z06 in 2022, followed by a Grand Sport model in 2023, the ZR1 in 2024 and the 750kW/1000hp ‘Zora’ EV in 2025.

Before then, the C8 Z06 and ZR1 will reportedly employ a new twin-turbo 5.5-litre flat-plane-crank DOHC V8 named LT7, in different configurations delivering up to 485kW and 670kW respectively – the latter with torque-boosting hybrid tech.

There’s speculation the top-shelf Zora could add two more electric motors at the front axle to provide for all-wheel drive and four-wheel torque vectoring, increasing traction, agility and acceleration.