Fresh from last year's complete redo, Chevy's famed Corvette promises dominating performance and all the admiring attention you can handle. It remains the ultimate trophy car for young-at-heart buyers who appreciate American muscle and swagger.
What's New for 2015
The Corvette receives an eight-speed automatic transmission and some new design packages.
Choosing Your Chevrolet Corvette
The Corvette Stingray, as it's officially known, is available as a rear-drive coupe or soft-top convertible. The 6.2-liter V8 pumps out 455 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque for appropriately untamed performance. An optional dual-mode exhaust system tweaks these figures to 460 and 465 respectively. Power is funneled through your choice of a seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, both with launch control. Although the Corvette isn't about economy, it manages an impressive 29 mpg on the highway.
The standard coupe and convertible come in three trim levels (1LT, 2LT, 3LT), which differ in terms of comfort and convenience features only. The high-performance Z51 model is considered a separate series and is available in the same three trim levels.
Each increase in trim level adds about $5,000 to the price of the Corvette, as does the convertible body style. Keep in mind that only the Z51 equipment has any effect on performance, so you can stick with the "basic" LT1 trim and not miss a thrill.