Mid-engine C8 Corvette production delayed until February

Corvette evangelists have waited six decades for the mid-engine messiah to come, but the C8 Stingray is once again just out of reach. Chevrolet confirmed to Hagerty that start of 2020 Corvette production will be delayed until February due to the recent United Auto Workers strike, adding a few months to the original timeline to start production by the end of 2019.

We reported last month that the strike could affect the launch of the new Corvette, indicating that once a resolution was reached, the Bowling Green, Kentucky, facility would need to catch up on existing C7 orders before retooling the facility for the mid-engine C8. With Chevrolet now confirming a delay until February, it’s fair to infer that Corvette convertible production initially slated for late-first-quarter 2020 could be pushed forward until the second quarter.

The new Corvette is a watershed moment for GM, which is broaching a whole new dimension of performance as it wades into modern mid-engine waters. Although initial feedback from the first round of media drives indicates a seriously capable car with sound road manners, we expect later Z06 and Grand Sport models to dispense with the Stingray’s more approachable personality and pursue more aggressive handling characteristics.

With the 2020 Corvette just around the corner, a glorious new Shelby GT500 Mustang waiting in the wings, and ever-more Mopar madness from the Challenger, it’s a damn good time to be a fan of American performance.