Corvette enthusiast Mark Reuss, GM's product czar, revealed the all-new Vette at a giant aircraft hanger in Southern California.
The eighth-generation Vette replaces the C7 design, the highest and most powerful expression of which was the 755-horsepower ZR1.
The outgoing Vette has an incredible racing pedigree. Corvette Racing finished 1-2 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2016 and has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the top sports-car class.
Gone is the long hood, as the V8 engine has been shifted amidships. It now sits in a compact bay between the driver and the rear wheels.
GM and Chevy have experimented with mid-engine concepts, including the CERV III design from the 1990s.
But now the mid-engine Corvette has moved from concept to reality. Chevy will build it in Kentucky for the 2020 model year.
The design picks up various key Corvette cues, but the car bears a resemblance to the old Ferrari 458, although the impressive side intake scoops are more akin to what we see in contemporary mid-engine supercars. The sharp angles continue the design language of the C7 Vette.
Up front, the fascia presents a familiar Corvette look, but with a much shorter hood and lower haunches.
The rear end is pure Vette, and it looks good. The two-piece rear spoiler and a front splitter combine to create 400 pounds of downforce.
The Stingray can be had in six different colors, according to Chevy: Jet Black, Sky Cool Gray, Adrenaline Red, Natural/Natural Dipped, Two-Tone Blue, and Morello Red
"A lightweight ... glass panel on the rear hatch allows owners to show off the engine," Chevy said. "This panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the engine compartment."
A 6.2-liter V8 LT2 engine motivates the new Vette. Making 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, it's unique in that it's the only naturally aspirated motor available in the V8-powered segment, according to Chevy. The transmission is a new eight-speed dual-clutch unit. The new is expected to race from zero to 60 mph in under three seconds when equipped with Z51 Performance Package.
"Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference," Chevy said.
"The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes: MyMode, a configurable setting for preferred driving style that can remain between key cycles; and Z mode, named after the famed Z06, ZR1 and Z51 Corvette performance packages."
"Z mode is activated through a 'Z' button on the steering wheel. This is a single-use mode that takes MyMode configurations one step further, allowing drivers to adjust the engine and transmission, as well."