It's That Fast

2020 Chevrolet Corvette is as quick as a Ferrari 488 GTB

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 8, 2019, 9:20 am

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette has been shown in its Stingray trim and first reviews indicate it's an impressive entry from the Detroit automaker.

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet

A lot of people's ears perked up and jaws dropped (even just a little) when Chevrolet announced that its new mid-engine Corvette would start under $60,000. Now there's another reason to be impressed.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the base model, is as quick as a Ferrari 488 GTB when equipped with the Z51 package. That setup gets the car from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Without the package, the base model gets to 60 mph in three seconds flat.

The base model is faster at the quarter mile though they're equally as quick (11.2 seconds). The Stingray gets to 123 mph while the Z51 package-equipped Corvette hits just 121 mph.

This is significantly faster than the previous generation Corvette. The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray base model gets from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

"The performance of the 2020 Stingray has far exceeded our expectations," said Alex MacDonald, Chevrolet vehicle performance manager. "Moving more weight over the rear wheels helps us get off the line quicker, but it's the integration between the powertrain and chassis that really takes the performance to new levels."

2020 Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is powered by a naturally-aspirated small-block V8.Photo courtesy of Chevrolet

The Corvette is powered by a naturally-aspirated small-block V8 that gets 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque when equipped with the performance exhaust. It is the most powerful entry level Corvette ever.

Its engine is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The 2020 Corvette is equipped with paddle shifters, which operate three different ways:
  • Double paddle declutch – pull both paddles simultaneously to simulate pressing a clutch pedal.
  • Temporary manual – simply use either paddle while in Drive, and the vehicle will temporarily switch to manual mode.
  • Lowest available gear – hold the downshift paddle and the transmission will shift to the lowest available gear for a quick burst of torque.

The model comes with three drive modes:

  • Tour: Moves to the background to provide quiet, smooth shifts for optimal ride comfort.
  • Sport: Gives drivers altered up and downshifts for more spirited driving.
  • Track: Maximizes vehicle performance with aggressive gear selection expected to keep the engine in a peak performance window.
Dealerships are currently taking orders for the 2020 Corvette, which starts at $59,995 without any taxes and fees factored in.
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Supercars

McLaren confirms 3-second 0-60 mph time for Artura plug-in hybrid supercar

The McLaren Artura was unveiled earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of McLaren Automotive

The McLaren Artura is quicker than a Porsche 911 off the line, but still not as fast as the Tesla Model X Plaid. The hybrid supercar has had its acceleration figures verified with its zero to 60 mph time coming in at 3.0 seconds. The Model X Plaid gets there in 2.5 seconds and the911 Carrera 4S Coupe takes 3.5 seconds.

McLaren also divulged its figures for acceleration to longer distances:

  • Zero to 124 mph: 8.3 seconds
  • Zero to 186 mph: 21.5 seconds
  • Standing quarter-mile: 10.7 seconds

The car's time to 124 mph makes it slower than the McLaren Senna and 765LT by several seconds. Lotus brags that its Evija all-electric hypercar can hit 186 mph from a standstill in a blistering 9 seconds. The Artura's quarter-mile time makes it as quick as a 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. The car has an electronically-limited maximum speed of 205 mph.

The Artura uses this electric motor to help it set its performance marks.Photo courtesy of McLaren Automotive

Mc

"The McLaren Artura's all-new, super-lightweight electrified powertrain is at the cutting-edge of high-performance-hybrid technology, engineered to offer all of the advantages of internal combustion and electric power in one package and establish new benchmarks for combined performance and efficiency in the supercar class," said Geoff Grose, Chief Engineer, McLaren Automotive. "The 'clean-sheet' design of the Artura has allowed us to focus on how to make this power accessible to the driver and deliver the levels of engagement expected from a McLaren."

The Artura gets its power from a newly developed twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that generates 617 brake horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. The engine is 110 pounds lighter than the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that's in other McLarens. The engine is paired with an electric motor and a 7.4 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery.

The battery pack is nested in the car's architecture and takes just 2.5 hours to charge from zero to 80 percent under the perfect charging conditions. The automaker says that the battery can be charged up to 80 percent in "minutes" under "normal driving conditions". McLaren backs the battery with a six-year/50,000-mile warranty.

Drivers can adjust how the car's electric motor is deployed to prioritize range or power, or choose to shut off the internal combustion engine altogether and run on electricity only.

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Such a Tease

GM teases Chevrolet Silverado electric pickup truck in new video

And all-electric version of the Chevrolet Silverado is on the way.

Photo courtesy of Chevrolet

Earlier this year, General Motors very quietly teased its forthcoming electric full-size pickup truck. Today, the automaker is giving us a closer look with a new teaser video.

The video accompanies an announcement that says that the Silverado electric pickup will be built at the company's Factory Zero assembly plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. The Silverado electric vehicle (EV) will be built alongside the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV, which debuted this weekend.

GM has designed the Silverado EV to be an electric vehicle from the ground up, riding on the company's Ultium Platform and keeping Silverado's capability in focus. The automaker says that the truck will offer more than 400 miles of all-electric range on a full charge.

The company confirms that retail and fleet versions will be offered.

"The vehicles coming from Factory ZERO will change the world, and how the world views electric vehicles," said General Motors President Mark Reuss. "The GMC Hummer EV SUV joins its stablemate in the realm of true supertrucks, and Chevrolet will take everything Chevy's loyal truck buyers love about Silverado — and more — and put it into an electric pickup that will delight retail and commercial customers alike."

What will it be called? The teaser photo GM released was labeled "Silverado E". Stay tuned for confirmation on the name.

GM plans to deliver more than 1 million electric vehicles globally by 2025 and earn EV market leadership in North America. With the company's Ultium Platform, virtual development tools and technology, GM has reduced vehicle development times by nearly 50 percent to just 26 months.

The GMC Hummer EV pickup truck and Cruise Origin will also be built at Factory Zero. Reports indicate that a forthcoming Cadillac Escalade BEV could also be built there and be ready for dealerships around the same time as the Hummer EV SUV.

To ready for its new products, GM has invested $2.2 billion in a complete renovation and retooling at the historic GM manufacturing facility. The project is the largest ever for a GM manufacturing site. The plant's paint and body shops and general assembly area are receiving comprehensive upgrades, including new machines, conveyors, controls and tooling. The plant has expanded to over 4.5 million square feet.

Late last year General Motors revealed details about many of the new electric vehicles it has in the pipeline.

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