Corvette News Summary | January 2022
Corvette News Summary | January 2022
Following up on December's Corvette News Summary, the Corvette brand suffered a few setbacks in 2021, ranging from injuries to enthusiasts to delays in production due to unforeseen weather conditions. Regardless of that, Chevy made a few good strides and was even awarded accolades in Asia.
However, Chevy is not resting on its laurels but has gotten to a roaring start in 2022. They continued their tradition of ruthless commitment to improving their products and weeding out bad trends within management ranks.
You are going to want to keep reading until the end because you will get a glimpse of two unreleased photos (until now) of development products that are around the corner for the C8 Corvette!
Here's what happened in the world of Corvette in January:
PRODUCTION UPDATES: 2022 & 2023 Corvette
Chevrolet has already commenced its plans for 2023, no matter how early it might seem.
As per the Corvette Action Center website, the Detroit auto giant aims to begin production on the 2023 C8 Corvette in early May. That means the Z06, the brand's much-anticipated high-performance counterpart, might be on the road by autumn.
According to the enthusiast website, General Motor's Bowling Green, Kentucky facility would stop producing the 2022 Vette on May 6 and produce the 2023 model on May 9. There was a "week or two" gap between model year changes in previous years. Given the higher price of the z06, it is no wonder GM wants production to start ASAP!
Top Gear UK Reviews the New Z06
As more news keeps pouring in about the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Top Gear has added to the excitement by uploading a recent video about the Z06 on their channel:
With the review given in the video, the 2023 Corvette C8 Z06 is projected to propel the legendary nameplate into territory formerly occupied by Ferrari and Lamborghini exotics.
Of course, with the engine now behind the driver, the C8 Z06 is like no other Z06 before it. It's not only wider than a standard Corvette Stingray, but it also has larger air intakes and a distinctive back wing. The new Z06 features a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 engine, which means it won't sound like any other 'Vette,' thanks to a flat-plane crankshaft.
The 2023 Corvette Z06 looks set to embarrass many folks driving absurdly expensive supercars when they meet at a racetrack.
You can read more about the differences between a C8 Stingray and C8 Z06 here.
CorvetteBlogger Releases Top 100 Dealers for 2021
It is no surprise the new C8 is generating so much new interest in the brand. Our friends over at CorvetteBlogger organize the data released by Chevrolet in a beautiful list of top 100 Corvette Dealers in terms of Corvettes sold. This list revealed how eventful last year was for Chevrolet dealers as they supplied a total of 33,041 new Corvettes. The highest total annual production since 2015.
Here is a look at the top ten from that list:
| 1 | CIOCCA/KERBECK | ATLANTIC CITY | NJ | 1481 |
| 2 | MACMULKIN CHEVROLET CADILLAC | NASHUA | NH | 1160 |
| 3 | CRISWELL/MIKE FURMAN | GAITHERSBURG | MD | 583 |
| 4 | BOMNIN CHEVROLET DADELAND | MIAMI | FL | 534 |
| 5 | LES STANFORD CHEVROLET CADILLAC INC | DEARBORN | MI | 492 |
| 6 | STINGRAY CHEVROLET | PLANT CITY | FL | 309 |
| 7 | RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET | DULUTH | GA | 248 |
| 8 | COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | PATASKALA | OH | 233 |
| 9 | BOMNIN CHEVROLET WEST KENDALL | MIAMI | FL | 232 |
| 10 | GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET, INC. | REDFORD | MI | 202 |
Source: Corvette Blogger Top 100 Corvette Dealers
2023 Corvette Z06 Delivers Epic Performance During Test Driving on the Nürburgring Race-track
Coming to the Nürburgring is the ultimate test for every sports vehicle. You get every single sort of turn, high speed, low speed, high grip, and low grip. It is a world-renowned track known for its steep inclines, curves, turns, and ability to push every road car to the absolute limit. Every sort of road you can experience anywhere in the world, you get it on one race track.
Fundamentally, the 2023 Corvette Z06 is a race car you can drive on the road, as this video shows. It is unequivocally a supercar that rewards customers that choose to explore its performance, and there is nothing more important than the connection with the machine when you are driving something with the performance capabilities of the Z06.
GM President of North America Puts Dealers on Notice
GM's North American president, Steve Carlisle, wrote to the Chevrolet dealer network, requesting that unlawful antics with the 2023 Corvette Z06 be put to an end.
According to Carlisle, dealers who do not stop engaging in such behavior risk losing their Z06 allocations.
Two major unethical techniques were identified in the letter. The first is dealers requiring buyers to deposit amounts exceeding the $1,000 Z06 reservation fee imposed by GM.
Carlisle's second target is dealers working with brokers promoting new GM vehicle allocation, which is a direct breach of the Dealer Sales and Service Agreement. These practices, according to Carlisle, can be "damaging to the reputation of the Dealership, General Motors, or its Products" and "puts our mutual interests at risk and creates negative press that reflects adversely on GM's brands and your dealership."
Now, if only they can somehow control this second-hand market pricing going on!
The C8 High Wing goes on National Constraint...Again.
This constraint gained more public attention, about a few days ago, when on the Corvette Forum, a member post indicated he could either replace his non-Z51 HTC with a Low Profile Spoiler (that utilizes the very same mounts as that of the High Wing and can easily be switched out later for it) or have it pulled from the order and acquire it via GM Accessories once it becomes available again.
We do have a few of the OEM C8 High Wings in stock, if you are looking to secure one:
This constraint follows last week's announcement that the supplier of the Carbon Fiber Engine Appearance Package will be leaving the business at the end of the month, resulting in the removal of all Engine Appearance Packages from orders.
If you are following our Instagram account, then you would have seen our sneak peak of our own C8 High Wing that is set to release in 2022. Here are a couple of shots of the ACS Composite C8 High Wing.
We haven't release more information on the ACS C8 High Wing just yet, but you can count on it being a heavily performance oriented high wing. We wanted to create a piece that not only looked amazing, but also performed to the highest levels that even track guys would want to have on the rear of their C8s.
From the images, you can tell we moved away from the 4-post OEM design to a more traditional two pedestal mounted wing. How do we hide the pre-drilled holes you might ask? Well, you may have noticed the ACS Composite C8 Speedtail on the back alongside the High Wing.
Corvette Assembly Plant Sets New Production Record
The Corvette Assembly Plant appears to be making headway in its efforts to make up for production days lost due to the tornado on December 11 and snowstorm days in late December.
Starting on a Tuesday, January 11, the Corvette Assembly Plant broke a record for the C8 and created another by building 197 Corvettes in a day. At the end of this same week, the plant built a total of 1036, all within six working days.
The Assembly Plant rarely meets its weekly goal of 920 cars in normal times. So this is a great feat, as workers had to pull up for a Saturday shift.
The Corvette 70th Anniversary Package Slated for 2023 Corvette
Chevrolet stated recently that a 70th Anniversary Edition package for the 2023 Corvette and Corvette Z06 would be available. The package's moniker pretty much tells you everything you need to know about its roots, and it will be universally available throughout the Corvette portfolio, just like comparable offerings in the past.
The leaked photographs of the 70th Anniversary Edition Chevy Corvette Z06 were genuine, but the fun won't be confined to the Z06. Even cars without the package will receive a commemorative plaque on the center speaker grille and a design on the rear window.
The 70th edition will include a full Carbon Flash Black C8 just like the 60th edition during the C6 era. Fun fact that is where Carbon Flash Black was born! You can read more about what carbon flash metallic black is here. Additionally, they are releasing a new color, White Pearl Metallic. Here is a shot of them both from the Corvette Visualizer.
First 2023 Corvette Set for Auction for Charity
**Update: Rick Hendrick purchased VIN 001 for a record-breaking $3.6 million! Congratulations to him and his team.
As is Chevrolet's tradition, the first commercial production 2023 Corvette Z06 VIN 001 will be auctioned. This event will be held on Saturday, January 29 at 8:30 p.m. MT at Scottsdale's forthcoming Barrett-Jackson auction event.
When Barrett-Jackson auctioned off the first production 2020 Corvette coupe in 2020, NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick bought it for $3 million. The revenues of that sale were donated entirely to the Detroit Children's Fund. Meanwhile, the earnings from the forthcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 auction would go to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides financial and housing help to 9/11 wounded survivors, veterans, and military families.
2022 Corvette Gets New Hue
The Hypersonic Gray Metallic, which has the RPO number GA7 and the touch-up paint code WA-623G, is one of the three new colors offered for the 2022 Corvette, alongside Caffeine Metallic and Amplify Orange Tintcoat.
These three colors will be replacing the colors Zeus Bronze Metallic, Shadow Gray Metallic, and Sebring Orange Tintcoat. We are sad to see Sebring Orange go as you can likely tell from our product photos it is one of our development C8 colors!
These three colors and the other nine unchanged exterior colors, will be options available for Corvette orders.
A picture of the Hypersonic Gray Metallic 2022 Corvette is enough to convince you to get this beautiful beast.
How Much Will the C8 Z06 Cost? Still No Price Given
Last October, General Motors revealed the brand new 2023 Corvette Z06, a track-ready performance monster that takes the mid-engine C8 Corvette to new heights, without any information on what price range it'll fall into.
In recent times, GM has given indications that prices for the 2023 Corvette Z06 automobile will be announced in March of 2022, as per GM Authority sources. However, given the extremely volatile market conditions, that date may alter.
For the time being, one of the biggest questions trailing the new superfast 'Vette' is the price of the 2023 Corvette Z06.
Consumer Reports Ranks C8 Corvette Highly Amongst Competitors
In its Best Road Test Performers report, Consumer Reports recently published a list of the most recent best achievers in the organization's road tests, with the C8 Corvette coming in third. The third-place finish puts the new Vette above the Audi A8 (96 points) but lags behind the BMW X5 (98 points). With 99 points in Consumer Reports' road tests, the BMW 7 Series came out on top.
As per Consumer Reports, the road results were based on more than 50 separate evaluations, with the final road test result integrated into the organization's Overall Score for the car. The C8 Corvette's handling, acceleration, braking, and transmission performance received high marks from Consumer Reports. The fit and quality of the sports car were also praised. Owner satisfaction was predicted to be a perfect five out of five. In Consumer Reports testing, the sprint from 0 to 60 mph took 3.4 seconds.
C8 Corvette Stingray Challenges Ford Mustang Marche G7 to Drag Race
The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang are some of the most recognizable car brands. Both have an extensive list of achievements and a devoted following. On the other hand, this new film puts the old Corvette vs. Mustang rivalry in a whole new perspective, with the new C8 Corvette Stingray stacking up against a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT for a brand-new kind of drag race.
The most striking aspect of this comparison is how different these vehicles are, especially compared to previous iterations from the same brand.
The new C8 Corvette is a clear departure from its front-engined predecessors as a mid-engine sports car. The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, on the other hand, is even further off from classic Mustangs, debuting as an electric crossover. The Mach-E GT has dual onboard motors that help it produce 480 hp and 634 pound-feet of torque, which is a huge amount. However, the vehicle's weight is significantly greater than that of the C8 Corvette, rated at 4,997 pounds. The Corvette wins this with ease.
Chevrolet Removes Engine Appearance Package from C8 Corvettes
We alluded to the removal of the engine appearance package earlier, citing that the supplier is running into issues. GM announced the removal of engine appearance parts from C8 Corvette Orders. According to reports, this is because the company that manufactures these for the Corvette has informed GM that all carbon fiber activities will cease on January 31.
For those who don't know, the C8 Corvette's Engine Appearance Package is a popular choice that provides LED lighting plus two carbon fiber, closeout panels to the engine bay. The package raises the MSRP of your Corvette by $995.
Dealers who ordered RPO ZZ3 will have to call their customers to inform them that it is being withdrawn from respective orders before the order is placed with allocation, according to a message emailed to dealerships on Monday morning.
If that was the case of your order, then we might have something of interest for you! We are at the end of development for our own ACS Engine Appearance Package. We will be offering the package, without the lighting package, in body color painted covers to help further customize your C8's engine compartment. Carbon Flash Metallic Black, Arctic White, and Torch Red are shown below! Stay tuned for more details.
Conclusion
The newsreel so far in January is proof that Corvette hit the ground running this year. They seem determined to outdo themselves in every department, from performance to production quality and even price. Chevy does not miss any detail. That must be why they have such a solid and dedicated customer fanbase. They go over and beyond to keep the clients satisfied, which is a cardinal virtue required to cultivate long-term customer loyalty.
We hope you enjoyed this month's Corvette News Summary, and we will see you next time for February's News Summary!
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