chevrolet unveils a convertible version of its 2020 corvette stingray

chevrolet has unveiled the convertible version of its forthcoming mid-engine sports car. the 2020 chevrolet corvette stingray convertible builds off that heritage as the first hardtop and mid-engine convertible in corvette history.

images courtesy of chevrolet

‘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 US vice president. ‘and the convertible will be priced only $7,500 more than entry 1lt stingray coupe.’

the convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the stingray coupe. the hardtop stows seamlessly into the body offering the same storage as coupe, 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 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.

chevrolet paid careful attention 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.

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.

the 2020 chevrolet corvette stingray convertible will go into production early next year and will be offered in 1lt, 2lt and 3lt trims. a right-hand drive version of the convertible will be available in select international markets at a later date. in the US, the base 1lt model begins at $67,495, which is a $7,500 premium over the entry-level corvette coupe’s $59,995 starting price.

‘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.’