We drove the Corvette C8 Stingray and loved it

Published 2025-05-30 by Peter Ternström

In a bold move, the engineers at Corvette moved the engine to the rear. It is no longer in front of the driver. Instead, it is a proper mid-engined supercar.

Why? It is not a mystery. Corvette wants to challenge the European exotics and be an alternative to Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren. The European supercars have engines behind the driver, and Corvette intends to join this exclusive club.

We had the opportunity to drive the Corvette C8 Stingray on the Adriatic tour, and the car is brilliant. Let me explain why.

Engine

Before we start, let me point out that I drove the base model of the Corvette C8 lineup, the Stingray. It has a naturally aspirated V8 with about 500 horsepower, putting it at the performance level of a base Porsche 911.

The engine is sweet. It is very similar in sound and power delivery to my favourite engine, the 6.2-litre Mercedes-AMG engine used in many cars, including the gull-wing SLS.

The Corvette has lots of power, a very masculine sound and that incredible popping noise from the exhaust when you lift the throttle. The engineers certainly got it right, this is a great power plant.

During the 2,000 kilometres of the tour, I never felt like I needed more power. It was enough to keep up with the plethora of Ferraris and Lamborghinis at the event.

I will be in the Z06 version of the car for the next tour, with a flat-plane crank and 650 horsepower. The officials from Corvette told me it is an entirely different animal, with insane power and a sound very close to the Ferrari F355. I will return to you with a report on the Z06 in June.

Styling

Unlike Ferrari's new styling, a retro organic mish-mash in the 296 and new 12Cilindri, Corvette has chosen a bold, futuristic design, with many sharp edges. The car resembles a stealth jet fighter, with gigantic air intakes behind the doors.

The Corvette looks the business, and got a lot of attention everywhere we stopped. The amazing blue colour probably helped, as over 50 supercars attended Gran Turismo Adriatica, and this was the only one in blue.

Interior

With the previous iteration, the C7, there was a dramatic increase in the interior quality, materials and craftsmanship, putting the car almost on par with European supercars.

The C8 pushes it even further, and it now feels just as solid as any Ferrari or Lamborghini. The dashboard, instrument cluster and leather are all top notch. Also, the seats feel very Maranello, being partially in carbon fibre.

I especially like the tunnel that separates the driver and passenger areas. It has a tall ridge where the climate control buttons are. Not very practical, but very cool indeed.

The instrument cluster in front of the driver is a high-resolution screen, which you can configure how you want it to look through the car's settings. You have the infotainment system to the right, which perfectly integrates with Apple CarPlay. I have never seen such great integration with my iPhone, maps, music and even dictated WhatsApp messages. Impressive.

Performance

My first drive in the Corvette was just around Opatija in Croatia—a few kilometres to get a first feel of the car. I first thought the car was incredibly comfortable, with super-smooth gear changes. The engine noise was delicious, but a bit restricted. It felt more like a Mercedes S-class than a supercar.

It took until the next day, on the excellent coastal road between Rijeka and Karlobag, to find the three driving modes: Tour, Sport and Track.

In Tour mode, the gear changes are smooth, the suspension soft and the steering light. I felt disconnected from the road and was not confident enough to push the car properly.

Then I discovered Track mode. And Oh Boy did it make a difference. The gear changes became much more snappy, the suspension stiffened, and the engine noise was loud and wonderful.

In track mode, the car felt sharp and induced confidence on the twisty Magistral road. The Corvette became more communicative with the driver, and I felt right at home. I could enter turns faster and accelerate earlier. The car went from being a comfortable limousine to an angry race car with the flick of a button. Incredible.

From now on, I changed driving mode to Track whenever I started the car. It became part of the ritual, connecting my iPhone and removing the roof.

Luggage space

In many supercars, especially Lamborghini, the limited luggage space can make a week-long road trip a nightmare. You often end up with luggage in the cockpit, which is never good. The Corvette has plenty of luggage space, both in the front and rear of the car. There is no problem storing two smaller bags in the front and two big roller bags in the rear.—Enough for two people and a week on the road.

Pricing

One crucial thing we need to discuss is the car's incredible price. In Europe, the list price of the Corvette C8 Stingray is about 130,000 euros. For this money, you get a proper mid-engined supercar with a big V8, that also looks the business.

This is less than half the price of a base Ferrari or Lamborghini.

I have many friends who buy their dream car, of Italian make, stretching their budget to the limit of what they can afford. This often results in the owners refraining from actually using them correctly. What if the car gets too many kilometres on the clock? What if it gets a stone chip in the front?

Often, their dream car ends up in the garage. A few years later, they sell the Italian exotic without using it much, terrified of depreciation. This is sad.

You have to see the proposition from Corvette from this perspective to understand correctly. Now you can get a fantastic supercar at a decent price, and not be afraid to use it. A stone chip in the front, or a few kilometres on the clock, will not matter as much.

This is what I like about the Corvette. The extremely low cost of purchase and ownership makes it a fantastic car to own and drive, a lot, every day. Like there is no tomorrow. What is the point of owning a supercar if you don't use it?

Heritage

The Corvette does not, by any means, try to be Italian. It has its own identity and heritage. It is from a different world than the region between Modena and Bologna, and is proud of it.

The first Corvette came in 1953, ten years before the launch of the Porsche 911. It closely relates to many outstanding US achievements, like the space program and the first man on the moon.

TL;DR

A new cool cat has entered the mid-engined supercar world. It sounds and looks like a proper supercar. At this price level, it is an absolute steal. Never before has the entry ticket to the world of supercars been more affordable.

It is relatively scarce in Europe, much more than a Porsche or a Ferrari. You will get a lot of attention.

Get it before Europe raises the tariffs for US-made cars. Get one in a bold colour, like orange, blue or yellow.