Chevrolet Corvette

As redesigns go, it doesn’t get much more dramatic or bolder than what the Corvette got for the 2020 model year. For the first time, the V-8 engine that powers the car was tucked behind the two-seat interior; that engine makes 490 horsepower and teams with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The redesign retains some familiar Corvette design cues, but the mid-engine layout gives the car new, eye-catching proportions that rival exotics like the Acura NSX and Audi R8. Inside, the Corvette features a driver-focused cabin dominated by a central touchscreen and a ridge that extends from the dashboard to the center armrest. The higher-performance Z06 trim rejoined the roster for 2023 and was followed for 2024 by the E-Ray, the first all-wheel-drive, hybrid Corvette. An all-new version of the king-of-the-hill ZR1 trim, boasting a twin-turbo V-8 that makes a mind-boggling 1,064 hp, is slated to be unleashed as a 2025 model.

Powered by a 455-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine, the current Corvette is both the most technologically advanced and most capable version to date. The C7 uses an aluminum frame and carbon fiber to help reduce weight, and cornering grip exceeds 1g right out of the box. Designers also made improvements in interior quality and materials. This generation marked the return of the Stingray suffix. Coupe and convertible body styles continue, along with Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 versions with even more performance.

Lighter and leaner than the previous version, the sixth-generation C6 Corvette lost 5 inches in overall length but gained an incrementally longer wheelbase. Interior quality was hugely improved, and the Corvette went without hidden headlights for the first time since 1962. Coupe and convertible body styles were once again offered. Power came from a 400-hp, 6.0-liter V-8, which was replaced in 2008 with a new 6.2-liter V-8 good for 430 hp. Z06, ZR1 and Grand Sport models joined the lineup over the years, and there were seven versions by the 2013 model year. 

A major redesign brought reduced weight and improved handling, thanks in part to nearly 50-50 front-to-rear weight distribution, with the engine aft of the front suspension and a rear transaxle in place of a conventional transmission. Power for the C5 came from a 345-hp, 5.7-liter V-8. A convertible joined the coupe in 1998, followed by a hardtop in 1999. The first Z06 arrived in 2001 with 385 hp and a top speed of more than 170 mph. New tech features included an optional head-up display in 1999 and keyless entry in 2000.

With a relatively tame 205-hp, 5.7-liter V-8, the first C4 Corvette accelerated from zero to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds and had a 138-mph top speed. An aluminum suspension was new, along with digital instrumentation. The Stingray name was dropped, but a convertible rejoined the lineup in 1986 for the first time in 10 years. Power increased to 230 hp in 1985 and to 240 hp in 1987. The 1990 model year saw the arrival of the ZR1, which featured a 375-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 with 32 valves and four camshafts, jointly developed with Lotus. In 1992, a new 300-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 became the base engine.