Chevy debuts the new 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible, with model-first retractable hardtop

Chevy debuts the new 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible, with model-first retractable hardtop

Chevrolet stunned the auto industry last year with the surprise announcement that the eighth-gen Chevy Corvette would be mid-engined, and the brand just keeps rolling out surprises related to their flagship performance car. The latest is the word that the 2020 Corvette Stingray Convertible will feature an innovative retractable hardtop with virtually no aerodynamic and performance tradeoffs when compared to the Stingray Coupe. Utilizing six electric motors for operation, the folding top conceals cleanly inside the body structure and looks amazing from any angle whether up or down.

McLarty Daniel Chevrolet of Springdale is your Chevy Corvette Superstore in Northwest Arkansas, and we’ve got all the details on this gorgeous new drop-top ‘Vette, so read on!

Since GM announced the 2020 Corvette would be mid-engined, they’ve said that from a design standpoint, the C8 would be “engineered first and foremost as a convertible.” With that in mind, the Corvette team engineered the Stingray roadster’s hardtop to stow seamlessly into the body for an incredible look, without sacrificing storage. In a release about the new convertible, Chevrolet said that the 2020 Stingray Convertible has the ability to store two full golf club bags in the rear trunk, with the top up or down, in addition to enough storage for an airline-spec carry-on bag and laptop bag in the “frunk” up front. When compared to a cloth soft-top, the folding hardtop provides a quieter cabin and cleaner look, while also being more secure.

Inspired by jets

“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.”

The design of the Stingray roadster was inspired by the latest generation of fighter jets, including the tonneau cover behind the driver and passenger’s seats, which features shaped nacelles designed to reduce wind noise and turbulence inside the passenger compartment with the top down. Operated with six electric motors for efficiency, speed and maintenance-free operation, the two-piece folding hardtop can fully retract in under 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. A body color roof is standard for a clean look. For a more performance vibe, GM also offers a metallic Carbon Flash roof as an option.

Given the rear-engine configuration, careful planning was required to make sure the high-performance V8 could both breathe and avoid overheating when the top was stored under the flip-up tonneau cover. A sheet-molded composite top made from lightweight panels features heat shields to help divert and manage engine heat. The glass in the roof has also been optimized for maximum noise reduction, while the roadster includes the same rear spoiler from the C8 Z51 Performance Package. In wind tunnel testing, the result was an identical drag coefficient when comparing the 2020 Coupe and the 2020 Roadster with the top up. Engineers also slightly changed the convertible’s chassis, tuning dampers and springs to provide almost identical performance between the coup and convertible.

GM’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky will begin production of the 2020 Chevrolet Stingray Coupe in late 2019, with the convertible going into production in early 2020. Ready to get in the driver’s seat of the first mid-engine ‘Vette convertible? Then stop in today at McLarty Daniel Chevrolet, talk to one of our friendly finance professionals, and let’s get the paperwork started!