Chevrolet’s Corvette Goes Back To Europe

The next step in GM’s plan for total domination in the sports car segment is to cross the Atlantic and bring the fight to the Germans and the Italians on their home soil. Since the current car is the best Corvette they have ever built, the timing is perfect.

First of all, the Euro-spec Corvette comes standard with the Z51 performance package, which means they will all feature a limited-slip diff, dry-sump lubrication, transmission and differential coolers and performance-oriented wheels and tires.

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However, the American heart of the Corvette doesn’t change: the 6.2-litre V8 is still under the car’s hood, producing 455 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. Since Europeans know how to drive, the only available transmission is a seven-speed manual. And for those who want to enjoy the sun in Nice and Monaco, the convertible is also part of the options list.

Available at the start of April 2015, the Corvette will cost 74,500 euros, which is equivalent to $105,400 here. By comparison a similarly-equipped ‘Vette here is $62,000. At that price, the coupe is entering the same bracket as the Jaguar F-Type, but it still undercuts the Porsche 911. Will the American legend be able to sway buyers from those two competitors?