New 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe New 2018
Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

For 2018 the Corvette gets significant improvements, including larger standard wheels and tires, standard HD Radio and five new wheel designs; Magnetic Ride Control is now a stand-alone option. There are also new colors and interior refinements, and carbon-ceramic brakes are now a stand-alone option on the Grand Sport.

Few sports cars are as fun to drive as a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, as Corvette has been thrilling us since it became V8-powered way back in 1955. Sixty-three years later, Chevy’s legendary sports car is still packing a big V8, now displacing 6.2 liters, and its rock-and-roll soundtrack and tire-shredding thrust will put a smile on your face and endorphins in your bloodstream. The latest Corvette is absolutely the best yet, with steering, cornering, braking and accelerating that leave former iterations and many rivals in the dust. The Corvette’s comfort and practicality also set it apart. This is an everyday supercar. Although it seats only two, Chevy’s sports car is roomy inside and its seats are designed for your daily commute as much as the racetrack. The Corvette also rides well for a sports car with such extreme handling, and it offers class-leading cargo volume.

Z07 PACKAGE
When a standard Z06 isn’t enough, add the Z07 package. It includes adjustable aerodynamic bodywork for increased downforce, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and lighter Brembo carbon-ceramic brake rotors. It’s available with the 8-speed automatic transmission, hits 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and runs a 10.9-second quarter-mile.

CARBON 65 EDITION
To mark the Corvette’s 65th birthday, Chevy has created the Carbon 65 Edition, available on the Grand Sport and Z06 for $15,000. Limited to just 650 units, it includes carbon-fiber spoilers and scoops, a carbon-fiber steering wheel, special Matrix Gray paint, graphics, black wheels and blue brake calipers.

Over the years, Corvette interiors had been compared to North Korean prisons, but that’s ancient history. The interior of the 2018 Chevy Corvette is well-built, well-appointed and it’s one of the most comfortable you’ll find in a sports car. Although it seats only two, Chevy’s sports car is roomy and its seats are properly shaped for daily use. Tech includes a standard 8-inch touch screen, onboard Wi-Fi and available navigation. Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system is easy to use and is Apple CarPlay compatible. The coupe offers a generous 15 cubic feet of storage space, while the convertible offers 10 cubic feet.

The 7th-generation Corvette Stingray is strikingly fresh yet familiar: a long hood, low roof and glassed rear hatch, but all characteristics have been blessed and enhanced with modern flair. The headlights have been elongated, and deep creases run up the hood and sides all the way to the muscular rear haunches. Center-mounted quad exhaust outlets let the world know you mean business. Z06 and the new Grand Sport models are slightly longer and have a wider track and body than the standard Stingray. Convertible models offer a power-operated fabric roof that can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph.

The 2018 Corvette is available in three main versions -- Stingray, Grand Sport and Z06 as coupes or convertibles, in 1LT, 2LT and 3LT trims. Spend the least on a Corvette coupe and you'll still get a mean machine. There is, of course, that fire-breathing 6.2-liter V8 matched to a 7-speed manual transmission, plus 19-inch wheels in front/20 rear, dual-zone climate control, power seats and power-adjustable steering wheel. Also included are a rearview camera, 9-speaker Bose audio system with Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability, a 4G LTE system with built-in Wi-Fi and two years/24,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

We recommend the Z51 Performance Package for the Corvette Stingray, which upgrades the brakes, suspension, oiling system, tires and cooling system, while adding an electronic limited-slip differential and performance-exhaust system. Magnetic Ride Control lets the Corvette go from the freeway to the racetrack. If you take your Corvette to the track, check out the navigation system with data recorder, which has a windshield-mounted camera to record your laps in high-def video for later playback. Interior upgrades include suede trim, heated/ventilated seats, and upgraded audio system. The Z07 package for the GS and Z06 includes carbon-ceramic brakes and magnetic suspension.

Two engine options are available for the 2018 Chevy Corvette. Standard in the Stingray is a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 engine, with 455 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. An optional active-exhaust system, which is standard on the Grand Sport model, bumps that power up to 460 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The 2018 Corvette Z06 uses a supercharged version of that big V8, pumping out 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the most of any production car ever made by General Motors. All Corvettes are rear-wheel drive and come with a 7-speed manual gearbox with a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle to mimic 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 (manual), 15/26 mpg (automatic)

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Z06)
650 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
650 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (manual), 13/23 mpg (automatic)

The 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $56,500 for a coupe and around $61,500 for a convertible. Grand Sport coupe and convertible models start about $10,000 higher. The current top dog is the Corvette Z06, at about $81,500 for a coupe and about $85,500 for a convertible. Options can add thousands, and a loaded Z06 can easily top $100,000. Still, the Corvette competes with -- and undercuts -- such rivals as the Porsche 911, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Mercedes-AMG GT and Jaguar F-Type. The Corvette can match or better the performance of those more expensive cars emphasizing the extreme value of America's premium sports car. KBB.com Fair Purchase Price will tell you what others in your area are paying for their Corvette. Yet another benefit: The Corvette is expected to have great resale value.