It took 50 years, but Chevrolet has finally introduced the mid-engine Corvette. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray promises to be the quickest, most powerful Corvette yet, but how does it compare to Ford’s halo car, the GT? Can this bargain supercar keep pace? Keep reading to learn how these two very different mid-engine cars stack up.
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Power
The GT delivers 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque, well ahead of the base Corvette Stingray’s 495 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the optional performance exhaust. That’s a huge gap, but Chevy will undoubtedly release more powerful variants of the Corvette (perhaps a Z06 or ZR1), so expect the match-up to be closer once that happens. Whereas Ford uses a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, Chevy relies on its tried-and-true naturally aspirated 6.2-liter push-rod V-8. Chevy says this output is enough to propel the mid-engine Corvette to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, but we’ll have to test that number for ourselves. When we took the Ford GT to the track, we managed to hit 60 mph in 3 seconds flat.
Switching gears (and drive modes)
Unfortunately, you can’t get a manual transmission on either car. The Corvette routes power through an eight-speed dual-clutch, while the GT has a seven-speed dual clutch. On both cars, the gears are electronically selected, with the Corvette featuring a push-button shifter and the GT having a rotary knob setup.
Both cars also offer multiple drive modes. On the Corvette, these include Weather, Tour, Sport, Track, and MyMode and ZMode (driver-configurable modes for street and track use, respectively). The GT has Normal, Wet, Sport, Track, and V-Max (for maximizing straight-line speed). Both models feature launch control.
Cargo volume
The previous-generation Corvette stood out for its reasonably large trunk measuring 15 cubic feet. The new model splits the storage space between a frunk and a traditional rear trunk, which combine to offer 12.6 cubic feet. Though that number is down slightly from the C7, it’s still way more than the meager 0.4 cubic foot of space you get with the GT.
Brakes and Wheels
The 2020 Corvette Stingray does not boast carbon ceramic brakes like the GT. On the ‘Vette, you’ll find front and rear E-boost-assisted discs with Brembo four-piston/two-piece front calipers and four-piston monobloc rear calipers. With the Z51 performance package, there are E-boost-assisted discs with Brembo four-piston monobloc calipers at the front and rear. The GT gets Brembo six-piston fixed aluminum calipers up front and Brembo four-piston fixed aluminum calipers at the rear. The Corvette sports 19-inch wheels in front and 20-inch wheels in the back, while all four of the GT’s wheels are 20-inchers.
Customization and interior
On its configurator, Ford offers eight different exterior color options for the GT, plus seven different stripe colors as well as carbon-fiber trim options. Ford has offered unique Heritage Edition models with unique looks. There are also four interior color schemes to pick from. The Corvette has 12 exterior colors (hello, bronze!), six interior color themes, six seat belt colors, and two optional stitch packages. Both models feature minimalist, driver-focused interiors with a flat-bottom steering wheel, large digital instrument display, and carbon-fiber trim. Uniquely, the Corvette has a strip of 20 buttons on its high-rising center console separating the driver’s side from the passenger side.
Exterior dimensions and weight
It may not be immediately apparent from the photos, but the GT is longer (187.5 inches in length compared to 182.3 inches for the Corvette). The Corvette has a longer wheelbase at 107.2 inches versus 106.7 inches. The GT is the lighter supercar, with a dry weight of 3,054 pounds compared to 3,366 pounds for the Corvette. We weighed in a GT at 3,354 pounds with fluids and a driver.
Price and availability
If you haven’t noticed, the Ford GT surpasses the C8 Corvette in just about every on-paper spec. But that’s no surprise, given the half million dollar price tag on this exclusive supercar. At the Corvette reveal, Chevrolet took us by surprise with the announcement the Stingray will start below $60,000, although it’s unclear at this point if that includes destination and delivery fees. We imagine that the car, which goes on sale early next year, will be available with numerous options that will drive that base price up pretty quickly. Still, the C8 will continue to offer a big bang for your buck.
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