Rob Loszewski
For the first time in it’s history, the 2020 Corvette Stingray convertible will come with a power hard top.
Last night, Chevrolet took the wraps off the 2020 Corvette Stingray convertible and C8.R race car at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Weighing in at only 77 lb. more than the coupe, Tadge Juechter, the Executive Chief Engineer for Corvette called it a “no-lose proposition” for Corvette enthusiasts, while Program Engineering Manager, Josh Holder said that with the touch of button, the roof can be brought down in 16 seconds with the vehicle moving up to 30 mph.
While no additional reinforcing components were needed for the convertible over the coupe and the clear glass engine cover is replaced with a solid body panel with rear ventilation section, Holder said the new glass wind blocker behind the seats can be power-adjusted to any position to maximize the open-air driving experience.
Using only six electric motors, the convertible hard top was developed and engineered by Webasto – the same company that developed the convertible roof system for the outgoing C7 Corvette generation.
Composite panels and heat shielding were developed for the convertible in order to form the compartment for the hard-top convertible system to protect it from excessive engine heat.
Below is the official press release from Chevrolet regarding the 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible:
Chevrolet Introduces First Hardtop Corvette Convertible
2020 Stingray convertible offers the same storage as coupe, even with the top down
2019-10-02
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Open-air driving has always been a part of the Chevrolet Corvette’s heritage. In fact, when the Corvette debuted in 1953, it was available only as a convertible. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible builds off that heritage as the first hardtop and mid-engine convertible in Corvette history.
“We put the world on notice when we introduced the first mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette a few months ago, and now we’re raising the bar with the first-ever hardtop Corvette convertible,” said Brian Sweeney, Chevrolet U.S. vice president. “And the convertible will be priced only $7,500 more than entry 1LT Stingray coupe.”
First and foremost, a convertible
The mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray was engineered first and foremost as a convertible. The convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the Stingray coupe.
The team engineered the hardtop to stow seamlessly into the body, maintaining the Stingray’s impressive ability to store two sets of golf clubs in the trunk even with the top down. The convertible also keeps the coupe’s front storage compartment, which can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag.
The hardtop provides a quieter cabin, increased security and a cleaner look compared to the previous softtop designs.
“Our goal from the beginning was to make sure customers didn’t have to sacrifice any functionality, performance or comfort when choosing the hardtop convertible,” said Josh Holder, Corvette program engineering manager. “We managed to keep the same design theme as the coupe, as well as the exceptional storage capacity and track capability.”
Inspired by jets
Like the coupe, the Stingray convertible’s design was inspired by fighter jets. The tonneau cover features aerodynamically shaped nacelles influenced by the housing used for jet engines. The nacelles, which were also used as inspiration on the Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle (CERV) I and II, as well as the Corvette SS and SR2 concepts, help reduce air recirculation into the cabin and provide a remarkably exotic profile with the top up or down. The tonneau also provides a rear power-adjustable window and a vent for mid-engine cooling.
The two-piece top can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph and retract in as few as 16 seconds. It is powered by six electric motors — a Corvette first — and uses encoders for precise control. Switching to electric motors from hydraulic systems helps increase reliability. A body-colored roof is standard, while Carbon Flash metallic-painted nacelles and roof are optional.
Careful attention was paid to make sure the engine could breathe when stored underneath the tonneau cover. The sheet-molded composite top stows in a compartment made from lightweight composite panels and heat shields to manage heat from the engine.
A divider glass window in the middle of the vehicle can be power adjusted with the top up or down. The glass has been optimized to reduce air recirculation and wind noise in the cabin for improved quietness. The roof system design, combined with the same rear spoiler used on the Stingray coupe’s Z51 Performance Package, results in identical drag between the coupe and convertible with the top up.
Engineers tweaked the chassis for the convertible, with springs and dampers tuned specifically to provide nearly the same performance as the coupe.
No compromise performance
Like the Stingray coupe, the convertible is powered by the next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. It will produce 495 horsepower (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.
The LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, directly connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.
When combined, the advanced propulsion system, revised chassis tuning and retractable hardtop make the 2020 Stingray the most no-compromise Corvette convertible in history.
Build and price tool now available
Interested Stingray shoppers can now build and price their own Corvette coupe or convertible on the 2020 Corvette visualizer at Chevrolet.com.
A dedicated Chevrolet Corvette Concierge team will provide 2020 Corvette customers with answers about the vehicle discovery, buying and ownership process. The team can be reached by calling 866-424-3892. Customers can also live chat with a Corvette Concierge by visiting Chevrolet.com. The team is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT Mondays through Fridays.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019, with the convertible following in late first-quarter 2020. A right-hand drive version of the convertible will be available in select international markets at a later date.
2020 Corvette C8.R Race Car Ready to Take on the Competition
Chevrolet also used the event to officially unveil the 2020 Corvette C8.R race car which will compete in the GTLM race series beginning in January of 2020 at the Rolex 24 Hour endurance race in Daytona, Florida.
Below is the official press release from Chevrolet:
C8.R Makes Surprise Debut at Corvette Convertible Reveal
New Corvette race car will debut in both silver and yellow at Rolex 24 at Daytona in January
2019-10-02
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — More than 60 years of racing heritage helped set the stage for the most important debut in Corvette’s racing history tonight, as Chevy’s first mid-engine GTLM race car – the Corvette C8.R – made its surprise debut alongside the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible at the Kennedy Space Center. The C8.R and Corvette Stingray represent a true technology transfer, taking lessons from the street straight to the track and vice versa.
“The C8.R is much more than just a race-tuned version of the 2020 Corvette Stingray. It’s a culmination of many years of testing and development between GM Design, Propulsion, Engineering and the Corvette Racing team,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports. “The collaboration between these teams has allowed us to take these vehicles’ performance to the next level, both on the street and the track.”
With its tremendous success on the track over the last 20 years, Corvette Racing has helped push the development, performance and popularity of Corvette’s top-line performance cars on race tracks across the world.
Since 1999, Corvette Racing has won 107 races – the most of any professional sports car team in North America – including 13 Team championships and 12 Driver and Manufacturer titles. In 2015, Corvette Racing became the first sports car team in 15 years win endurance racing’s Triple Crown – victories at Rolex 24 at Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans – in the same season.
The C8.R No. 4 car dons a new silver livery, inspired by the color of iconic Corvette concepts such as the 1973 Chevrolet Aerovette and the 1959 Corvette Stingray Racer. This car also features yellow accents.
Complementing the No. 4 vehicle is the No. 3 car which will feature a traditional yellow color scheme with silver accents that continues the lineage of the successful GTLM racing Corvettes of the past 20 years.
The C8.R will make its racing debut at Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2020.
ABOUT CHEVROLET
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information can be found at www.chevy.com/nextgencorvette.
