autoevolution
 

European C8 Corvette Gets Tiff Needell’s Rubber Stamp

While Fifth Gear prepares to return with former Top Gear host Rory Reid, the one and only Tiff Needell is doing his thing at Lovecars. For his first overseas car launch in two years, the British motoring journalist took the wheel of a midship Corvette Stingray at the Frankfurt airport in Germany.
Tiff Needell drives the new Corvette Stingray! Full review! 59 photos
Photo: Lovecars on YouTube
C8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette StingrayC8 Corvette Stingray
Tiff begins the review by giving a little context on his relationship with the ‘Vette. The last one he tested is a sixth-generation Z06, which is a completely different machine to the mid-engine model in the featured clip.

Described as a brutal driver’s car, the C6 Z06 clearly isn’t as comfy on the road or technically sophisticated as the C8 Stingray with the Z51 Performance Package. The go-faster option is standard in the European Union where the base trim level of the Corvette is the 2LT at 86,900 euros.

That’s $100,867 at current exchange rates, which makes this fellow a steal in comparison to the higher-quality Porsche 911 Carrera (108,137 euros or $125,515). It’s also important for us to remember that Corvettes for the European Union don’t make as much power as their U.S. counterparts due to stricter emissions regulations. More specifically, the small-block V8 and sports exhaust deliver 482 PS (475 horsepower) and 613 Nm (452 pound-feet) as opposed to 495 horsepower (502 ps) and 470 pound-feet (637 Nm).

“It’s got a stupid-shaped steering wheel,” said Tiff of the somewhat hexagonal steering wheel that features a flat top and flat bottom to improve visibility. Even though racing drivers like him are well accustomed to this particular shape, Needell makes a good point that three-point parking jobs and very tight roundabouts are pretty awful with this hexagonal design.

On the upside, the ‘Vette receives the rubber stamp from Tiff in regard to the ride, steering, chassis tuning, paddle shifters, transmission reaction time, luggage space, interior, and exterior design. “A very impressive car” is how Needell sums up the first mid-engine Corvette in more than six decades.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories