Aussies up in arms about new Chevrolet Corvette

A new supercar is headed to Australia bringing similar performance and head-turning looks to a Ferrari at a fraction of the price. But not everyone is happy.

The new Chevrolet Corvette is due to land in Australia shortly.

As the first Corvette to be built in right-hand-drive and sold officially in local showrooms, the Corvette is the spiritual successor to Holden’s V8-powered heroes and the foundation of General Motors’ rebirth in Australia..

The Corvette boasts big performance, wild looks and promises plenty of driving character that has it compared to some of the world’s most desirable European supercars.

But not everyone is happy about the price, and it has sparked some rigorous debate among our readers. Here’s a sample of what they had to say.

The Corvette Z06 will arrive next year.

CORVETTE MUSCLES IN

Re the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, what date will it arrive here? And will Australia get different power choices or are we shafted with just one model?

Tony Sheehan, email

The right-hand-drive C8 Corvette Stingray is due to arrive in showrooms this month, but the first batch – priced from $144,990 plus charges – has already sold out. You can register interest or find your nearest dealer at gmspecialityvehicles.com. The Stingray has a 370kW/637Nm 6.2-litre mid-mounted V8, good for a claimed 2.9-second sprint to 100km/h. Not sure this engine is “shafting” us, but if you need more, a Z06 version with naturally-aspirated 500kW V8 with 8600rpm redline arrives here in about a year’s time.

Prices start at about $150,000 in Australia.

’VETTE BILLS

Where does GMSV (Australian outfit General Motors Special Vehicles) get its “about $150,000” price for a base model 2022 Corvette which costs $59,000 in the US? At current exchange rates that makes it about $80,000, so why the $70k mark-up? It surely can’t cost that much to import them? I’m a 1979 Corvette C3 owner and love these cars.

Bill Thompson, email

The local Corvette is definitely expensive compared with the US version, but $150,000 for a mid-engine supercar that cracks 100km/h in less than three seconds isn’t outrageous when you compare it to Italian supercars with similar performance. Our ridiculous luxury car tax makes up a part of the price and we’re also getting the high-spec as standard, including the Z51 Performance Package with uprated suspension, brakes, exhaust and limited slip differential. That car would sell for roughly $US75,000 or $105,000 here. Granted these Corvettes don’t need local conversion as they come right-hand drive from the US factory, but the expense Chevrolet has undertaken to develop right-hand drive for a relatively small market must also be considered.

PLAYING THE FOOL

Disappointing to see you guys trying to justify the outrageous Australian price for the new Chevrolet Corvette when it’s $60,990 in the US for the base model. Your comments supporting the price only make you look foolish.

Charlie Beecham, email

I reckon I quantified the Corvette’s $144,990 Aussie price rather than supported it. A 2022 Corvette Stingray’s base price in the States is $62,195 – $86,500 in our dollars. Australian Corvettes are far better equipped, and we must add about another $13,000 courtesy of our daft Luxury Car Tax.

The right-hand drive Corvette is built in Kentucky.

NO COMPARISON

Re the new Corvette, comparing it to an Italian supercar is like comparing a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to an electric bike. They may compete on 0-100km/h times but they’re ranked as one of the least reliable cars in the world. Make sure when you’re low flying in one of these bombs you’re wearing a safety harness and parachute.

Norm Warren, email

Italian supercars have their reliability concerns as well.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the Corvette was converted to right-hand drive in Australia. This is incorrect. It is built on the factory line in Kentucky in the United States.

Originally published as Aussies up in arms about new Chevrolet Corvette