Six reasons why the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is not a highly-strung supercar

Make no mistake, the new C8 Chevrolet Corvette is an exceedingly cool car. It even has a retro-cool call-sign: Stingray!

Steeped in 66 years’ worth of history, this Corvette looks like a ruthless apex predator, it has removable roof panels, a glass engine cover to witness the gas-guzzling, all-American glory of its 6.2-litre V8 beating heart and will deliver the sort of incendiary performance that will make small children cry. And by the grace of God the Chevvy Corvette is coming to Australia.

Hallelujah!

Fast? You better believe it. Blasting from 0-100km/h in under 3.0 seconds, this supercar is almost beyond cool. But exotic? Nope, nein, nada, niet, non, no way Jose.

To those who see the phrase 'mid-engine' and instantly think "Struth, an exotic car!", you'll need to check yourself before you wreck yourself… Find out why below.

The newly-developed 6.2-litre LT2 V8 is not turbocharged like most of its rivals, from exotic brands like McLaren and Ferrari. The big V8 is not as highly-strung as its Euro cohorts and won't engage in screaming-high revs. Indeed, the GM-built donk's simpler construction means it will be far easier to maintain and will be less likely to hemorrhage oil or suddenly catastrophically detonate while on a mild Sunday arvo cruise. If that doesn't get the Corvette kicked out of the exotic car club, nothing will.

The 6.2-litre all-'aluminum' engine bangs out 370kW at 6450rpm and about 640Nm at 5150rpm and, given its cylinder heads make use of old-school overhead valves (just two per cylinder, to keep things humble), it's probably going to be relatively inexpensive to service. That's another no-no for any self-respecting exotic supercar.

Simply put, the new Corvette Stingray has been designed with too much input by people who actually drive cars, which goes against the exotic car code. For starters, the front storage area fits an airplane-spec carry-on suitcase and laptop bag. Tut-tut.

Combined, front and rear storage areas provide more cargo space (357 litres) than a Toyota Corolla. Oh, and the twin cargo tubs will swallow not one, but two sets of golf clubs… and the removable roof panels fit in the rear tub too. But just as touching the Queen of England is frowned upon, so is real-world pragmatism in the realm of exotic automobiles. Sorry, it's not an exotic.

Everyone knows that true exotic cars must carry absurdly expensive price tags. This car? It's rudely affordable.

Starting at less than $US60,000 ($A85,000), there's been lots of whinging and whining that a ballpark Aussie price of about $125,000 when it arrives Down Under in early 2021 will be too expensive. But even if it costs $150,000, it'll be a veritable bargain compared to entry-level mid-engine exotics that offer similar performance, such as the McLaren 540C ($350,000) and Ferrari 488 GTB ($469,988). It's cheaper than even the most-excellent Porsche Cayman GT4 ($218,800) – and considerably more powerful.

It's so un-exotically inexpensive there'll be a few Toyota Supra buyers who may wish they'd waited and watched, given the $100k asking price for the reborn Japanese hero car.

Carbon-fibre is an exotic material, right? It's super light, super stiff, and super brittle, so when it breaks (shatters) it cannot be repaired and has to be completely replaced at great expense. Unlike McLaren supercars, the new 2020 Corvette eschews a carbon-fibre central frame or tub, instead using the poor man's alternative – the almost as light and strong aluminium.

The Stringray's frame is constructed of six high-pressure die-cast aluminium parts, dubbed the Bedford Six (named after they're fabrication base, in Bedford, Indiana, not the classic bongo van), to which the double wishbone suspension is attached.

The aluminium frame can bear a decent amount of weight, which allows for the open-top targa roof system while at the same time shunning an oversized sill or rocker panel to step over when clambering in. This makes occupant entry and exit accessible to a wider audience than just double-jointed freaks and doped-up Russian gymnasts. Again, another reason why the new Corvette is almost guaranteed to have its bid for exotic status quashed forthwith.

When Chevrolet set about designing a mass-market mid-engine supercar, it decided that comfort and ergonomics would be considered, a clear-cut contradiction in the exotic car world.

How's this: Three different seat types are offered in the new Corvette, from cushy to competition, with heating and cooling functionality built-in and Kevlar integration for bullet-proof longevity. Plus, there's an extra inch of rearward seat travel for longer-legged people and a greater angle of seat recline.

There's a front lift system that raises the front suspension by 40mm in less time than it takes to say "Crikey, that driveway is munted!" (2.8 seconds), so as to avoid scraping the front end on tricky vertical drops. Oh, and it can be setup to automatically engage at user-programmed points using the GPS navigation. Such considerate attention to details is the antithesis of archetypal exotica.

Convenience features such as one-touch Bluetooth pairing with 'near field' communication, wireless smartphone charging and a large, fully-customisable 12-inch digital instrument panel mean the Corvette has more in common with a BMW 3 Series sedan than a European exotic.

Over-the-air WiFi updates will ensure the C8 Corvette will remain digitally relevant, and upgraded computing power means all the systems and menus on the infotainment screen toggle much quicker.

There's an advanced data recorder that logs all telemetry when required, but also footage, taking advantage of a front-mount camera and hard drive to record your antics on road or track.

Conclusion: Not exotic

The thoughtfulness employed in the making of this American two-seat sports car is gob-smacking. To be frank, it's quite rude that General Motors and Chevrolet have spent so much time and effort making this car so approachable – and potentially setting a new overall benchmark in the category.

Therefore the Corvette must be ruled out of contention as a true exotic.

So next time someone says the new Corvette is an exotic piece of machinery, feel free to slap them, hard. How dare they...