Chevrolet has officially introduced the long-awaited C8 Corvette Roadster, the first mid-engine, retractable-hard-top car in the range.
The company drew historical parallels, pointing out the fact that the very first Corvette was an exclusively open-top vehicle. It also likened the C8 to such concepts and design studies as the CERV, the SS, and the SR2.
The hardtop is made of composite materials (read: plastic) and consists of two sections. As long as you drive under 30 mph (50 km/h), six dedicated electric motors can fold it back within 16 seconds. A small trunk area is still provided, despite the space restrictions imposed by the open-top design.
Chevrolet has designed the new Corvette series in coupe and convertible variants from the start, so no additional body reinforcements were necessary. All the company had to do was adjust the springs and shocks for the extra weight.
On an interesting note, the aerodynamic drag is reported to be nearly identical for both cars. To achieve this, the convertible ships with the rear wing already installed. Those buying the coupe may decide for themselves whether to pay extra for the wing or not.
The C8 Roadster comes with the same 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 rated at 502 hp (375 kW) and 637 Nm (470 pound-feet) of torque. The transmission is dual-clutch eight-speed semi-automatic. No sprint times are available.
The pricing remains likewise unannounced, but rumors say the hardtop will be priced approximately 7,500 USD above the coupe version. Production will begin in the first quarter of 2020.