Used 2019 Chevrolet Corvette

The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette pushes the performance envelope yet again. This year marks the debut of a new extreme machine, the ZR1. So the Corvette range expands to four models, available in both coupe and convertible forms. Each has been developed on Germany’s famed (and sometimes frightening) Nürburgring North Loop and represents incredible value compared with its far more expensive European competition, despite the ZR1 breaking the $120,000 barrier. Try looking for another adept sports car with an amazing 755 horsepower for under $250,000. Even the entry-level Stingray still has 455 horsepower in a lightweight body, which is plenty for most people. The Corvette, now in its seventh generation, also has the manners, refinement, equipment and flair to be much more than a weekend adventurer.

The latest Corvette is absolutely the best yet, with acceleration, steering, cornering and braking that leave former iterations and many rivals in the dust. It’s fast. And thrilling. The Corvette’s comfort and convenience also help it carve its own niche in the sports-car world. Although it accommodates only two, the cabin is roomy and its seats are designed for the daily commute as much as the racetrack. For a sports machine with extreme handling talents, the Corvette also rides well, even more so when the adaptive suspension is installed. For greater speeds and excitement, the supercharged Z06 and new ZR1 are both breathtaking.

The Corvette didn’t become desirable because of its cabins, which have sometimes been distinctly joyless, plastic-y places over the years. That’s no longer the case. The 2019 Chevy Corvette’s interior is as smart as its exterior — well built, well-appointed and one of the most comfortable in the sports-car class. Tech includes a standard 8-inch touch screen, while Wi-Fi and navigation are also available. The MyLink infotainment system is easy to use and compatible with Apple CarPlay.

Designers of the current Corvette have cleverly paid tribute to some classic elements while making it an unmistakably 21st-century sports car. The long hood and low roof had to be included, but now the headlights are stretched, bold creases adorn the flanks, and the quad exhaust tips in the center of the rear fascia provide that final piece of drama before the car disappears toward the horizon. The entry-level Stingray is slightly shorter and has a narrower track than the rest of the range. Convertibles have a powered fabric roof that can be activated up to 30 mph.

Z07 PACKAGE
To really exploit the potential of the exciting Z06, add this. It brings adjustable aerodynamic bodywork for increased downforce, super-grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Hitting 60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a 10.9-second quarter-mile is remarkably rapid, while the handling qualities are also amplified.

GM SMALL-BLOCK V8
General Motors’ small-block V8 engines are legends themselves. Drop one into an equally legendary sports car and the result is the new Corvette. The V8 in this 7th-generation car is a 6.2-liter unit. Chevy then had the inspired idea to add a supercharger, bringing us the Z06 and now the ZR1.

The 2019 Corvette comes in Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 versions, as coupes or convertibles. Even the least expensive Corvette coupe is still a machine to be reckoned with, sporting that mighty 6.2-liter V8 matched to a 7-speed manual transmission, plus staggered-width alloy wheels (19-inch up front; 20-inch out back), dual-zone climate control, power seats and a power-adjustable steering column. Also included are a rearview camera, 9-speaker Bose audio system with Bluetooth, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay capability, Wi-Fi, and two years/24,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

It’s worth ordering the Z51 Performance Package for the Corvette Stingray that upgrades the brakes, suspension, tires and lubrication/cooling systems, while adding an electronic limited-slip differential and performance exhaust system. Magnetic Ride Control is an adaptive suspension with a range of settings from freeway to racetrack. Folks taking their Corvette to the track should check out the navigation system with data recorder, which has a windshield-mounted camera to record laps in high-definition video. Interior upgrades include suede trim, heated/ventilated seats, and an upgraded audio system. The Z07 package for the GS and Z06 includes carbon-ceramic brakes and the adaptive suspension.

One 6.2-liter V8, four possible outputs. The Stingray and Grand Sport have the naturally aspirated version. In the former, it develops 455 horsepower. An optional active-exhaust system (standard in the Grand Sport), raises that to 460 horsepower. The 2019 Corvette Z06 adds a supercharger for a fearsome 650 horsepower, while the brand-new 2019 ZR1 turns up the supercharged volume to the tune of 755 horsepower, making it the most powerful production car GM has ever built. All Corvettes have rear-wheel drive and employ a 7-speed manual gearbox with a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle to simulate heel-and-toe driving for smoother transitions between gears. An 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is optional.

6.2-liter V8
455 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
460 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm
460 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm (w/active exhaust)
465 lb-ft of torque @ 4,600 rpm (w/active exhaust)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/25 mpg (Stingray, manual), 15/25 mpg (Stingray, automatic); 15/22 mpg (Grand Sport manual), 14/23 mpg (GS, automatic)

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Z06, ZR1)
650 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
650 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
755 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
715 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (Z06, manual), 14/23 mpg (Z06, automatic); 13/19 mpg (ZR1, manual), 12/20 mpg (ZR1, automatic)