It was one year ago today, February 3, 2020, that the first retail ordered 2020 Corvettes started production at the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green.
The first VIN 001 Corvette off the line was a Black 3LT Z51 Coupe that was sent to Rick Hendrick following his winning bid of $3 Million for the car at Barrett-Jackson’s 2020 Scottsdale auction.
![[VIDEO] 2021 Corvette Stingray Z51 Runs 2:49.0 at Car and Driver's 2021 Lightning Lap](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/020321_1b.jpg)
Car and Driver is out with one of our favorite features of the year. It’s time for the 2021 Lightning Lap at VIR and one of the participants this year is the 2021 Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe! This is the first time the C8 Corvette has been invited to participate in the Lightning Lap and we are excited to see how well the car stacks up against the current crop of competitors, as well as the previous C6 and C7 Corvettes which ran the Lightning Lap over the last 15 years.
Welcome to the latest edition of your favorite new column, This or That, wherein CorvetteBlogger locates a pair of interesting/desirable/similarly priced examples of America’s Sports Car and lets our fine readers decide which would be “the one” to own with a good old-fashioned slice of democracy.
![[PICS] What We Know About the C8 Corvette E-Ray](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/012521_8c.jpg)
A couple weeks back, the good folks at Motor Trend offered up a new “Everything We Know” article with the focus being on the Corvette E-Ray, rumored to be an all-wheel-drive C8 hybrid vehicle. In the article, the author runs through some of the current discussions on the rumored model, and they also included these fun new renderings which I believe are a first for the E-Ray!
![[VIDEO] Jordan Taylor Nearly Crashed the Corvette C8.R During His Celebratory Post-Race Burnouts](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/020221_1b.jpg)
As you know, Corvette Racings No. 3 Corvette C8.R took the checkered flag on Sunday afternoon to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona with the car finishing just 3.519 seconds ahead of the No. 4 Corvette. Jordan Taylor had the final stint in the car and was able to bring it home, despite having to put in extra driving duties following the positive COVID test by teammate Antonio Garcia.
Criswell Chevrolet’s Mike Furman is hosting a two-day Corvette Owner’s School class out at Spring Mountain and you’re invited!
![[VIDEO] C8 Corvette Convertible Drag Races a Mercedes-AMG GT R](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/020121_7c.jpg)
When most folks think about rental cars, images of boring cars like Impalas and Accords pop into mind.
But the guys at Drag Times don’t go for such mundane cars, not when they’re driving on someone else’s dime.
Instead, host Brooks and his cohort Jimmy decided to visit Diplomat Car Rentals, where they picked up a new C8 Corvette convertible and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R for a “Battle of the Exotic Car Rentals for Under $1,000.”
The two sports cars deliver their performance in very different ways. The Corvette, of course, now features its 495-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine in the back, while the GT R has its 577-horsepower 4.0 liter V8 in the traditional spot out front. Both cars do have automatic dual-clutch transmissions, but the differences emerge again at the checkout line – with the Corvette listing for $110,000 and the AMG going for $185,000.
So after a drive through the Valley of Fire, a beautiful area about 40 minutes outside of Las Vegas, on the way to the FuelRun Rally in Sin City, which of these monster cars do you think will come out on top in a series of standing and rolling starts?
Indeed, Brooks asked his viewers that same question on Instagram the day before filming, and more than 70 percent predicted the M-B.
They turned out to be right. The Corvette was able to stay even in the early going each time, but then the AMG blew it away as the races progressed.
Guess we’ll just have to wait for the Z06, E-Ray, and Zora to arrive before the Corvette emerges as champion in the Battle of Exotic Car Rentals, huh? Hopefully, at least one of those will qualify under $1,000 for a 24-hour rental.
Source:
Drag Times /YouTube via AutoEvolution.com
Related:
[VIDEO] 2020 Corvette Beats a Tesla Model 3 and a Ferrari 458 on a Curvy Road
[VIDEO] 2020 Corvette vs Tesla Model Y Face-Off for a Drag Race and Track Attack
[VIDEO] Ferrari F8 Tributo Photoshoot Turns into a Drag Race with a 2020 Corvette
We’ve told you about old-timers like the Corvette enthusiast who recently celebrated his 90th birthday with the purchase of a brand new 2021 C8.
![[VIDEO] Corvettes for Sale: No Reserve Black/Black 1969 L88 Coupe](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/020121_1b.jpg)
One of the best L88’s on the planet is currently up for grabs on Bring a Trailer at no reserve. The double black, 4-speed coupe is of one of 216 built over the L88’s lifespan and one of 116 assembled in 1969, the L88’s most prolific year. Well known throughout the hobby, it’s claimed virtually every award that a Corvette can achieve. Better yet, it’ll have a new owner in just a few days.
![[PODCAST] Jim Mero on Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the Corvette Today Podcast](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2021/020121_10c.jpg)