Corvette Numbers That Matter: From HP Ratings to Lap Times and MSRP, Which Numbers Matter Most?

What Corvette numbers do you want to see GM focus on to keep you interested in the Corvette year after year?

The Corvette has been around for 75 years. How does GM keep potential buyers interested for another 75 years? Like most sports cars we put a lot of weight behind the numbers that are associated with the Corvette. Those numbers help determine desirability. There are some subjective features as well such as how a car looks or how it sounds. But most of the desirability is derived from objective information supported by factual numbers. How much horsepower does the car make? What is the base price? What are the dimensions and weight? How fast can it run the quarter mile or a lap of the Nürburgring? What is the top speed? Believe it or not some folks even care about miles per gallon. But of all the numbers which are really the most important to you?

The Corvette changes each year. Some years it is a minor update and other years there is a whole new generation or new model revealed. As Corvette enthusiasts we eagerly await the Corvette numbers being reported on the new cars so we can begin to formulate opinions. We naturally expect the numbers to improve each year. But in 2023 we are at a point where even a base Stingray puts up some staggering numbers. For example, how much quicker can we reasonably expect a Corvette to accelerate to 60 mph? 1 second? At some point physics take over and there is not much more to be gained. So, with that in mind, what are the Corvette numbers that you scrutinize the most each year? We will share our perspective at the end.

Power

Using your best Jeremy Clarkson voice say powerrrr. Everyone obsesses over horsepower and torque ratings. Although power doesn’t necessarily mean quicker. A 755 horsepower 2019 ZR1 is no quicker to 60 mph than a base C8 Stingray with 495 horsepower. Although the ZR1 power does pay dividends in other areas such as top speed and quarter mile. Of course, outside of a closed course quarter mile times and top speeds are largely academic. But we all still want to see the Corvette get more power every year. If the 2024 Corvette makes LESS power than the 2023 version, everyone would see that as a step back. GM must continue to ramp up the power numbers to keep the masses happy.

Performance

When it comes to performance there are a lot of Corvette numbers to pour over. 0 to 60, quarter mile, 60 to 130, lateral g load, lap times, and top speed are just a few that immediately come to mind. Enthusiasts typically pay very close attention to these figures as well. Afterall the Corvette is a performance car. Improving the mpg is nice, but Corvette buyers will typically rank 0 to 60 well ahead of mpg in terms of importance. What Corvette performance metric do you rank as the top priority? Is it top speed? Quarter mile? Lap time?

Dimensions

Curb weight, width, length are all important metrics as well as several others. And there is no hiding the fact that the C8 Corvette is a big car. At 182.3 inches long it is only a couple tenths shorter than a Chevy Equinox. At about 3,600 pounds it also weighs about 100 pounds more than a Premier AWD Equinox. Compared to the Porsche 911 GTS the Stingray is nearly 4 inches longer, 200 pounds heavier and three inches wider. And the Corvette has no back seats. Of course, one number that is much smaller on the Corvette is the price. But that doesn’t hide the fact that the C8 is on the large side. How important is that to you when you are looking at the Corvette stat sheet?

So when a new Corvette concept is announced what is the first bit of data that you look for? When the details of the ZR1 or Zora are released, what will get you excited? Do Corvette numbers matter to you at all? Or are you happy as long as it looks and sounds like a Corvette? Is eight the most important number? As in the number of cylinders in the engine. As long as GM gives us a gasoline powered V8 engine will you be happy?

My Corvette Numbers

This is what I want to see GM focus on with future Corvettes. Price, curb weight, overall dimensions. To keep me excited about the Corvette they need to hold the line on pricing. The Corvette is already getting expensive, but I don’t want it to creep into European sportscar territory. The car is heavy. If GM could cut 200 or 300 pounds out of the car that would be exciting. They don’t have to add a lick of power. Dropping that weight will make the car quicker and handle better. Overall dimensions are the next area of focus for me. A smaller Corvette would be nice, and it would help with the weight loss. I don’t need an Equinox sized sportscar. A smaller, and lighter Corvette that costs about the same would keep me interested in the car.

And improving those areas would by extension improve many of the other performance numbers. By improving the weight and dimension numbers as a bonus I get a better accelerating, faster, more agile sportscar. It is a performance trickle down effect. And one that I would love to see happen. But this article is about you. What Corvette numbers do you care about? Let us know in the Corvette Forum forums.

Images: Chevrolet

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