You expect eyeball-flattening performance from a Corvette and that'swhat you get. It takes less than 12 seconds to reach 100 mph, and top speed is just north of 170 mph, almost as fast as the old ZR1. The handling that goes with all this speed is pure joy--decisive, balanced, cat-quick and laser-precise. The prime purpose of a sports car is to make the vehicle an unerring extension of the driver's will, and that's what the new Corvette delivers, with amazing brakes thrown in for good measure. In short, wow. As good as the dynamics are, though--and they are very, very good indeed--we think the new Corvette's strongest suits are comfort, all-around driveability and quality. We think that largely because these elements were marginal in previous Corvettes. Harsh ride quality has been replaced by an up-to-the-minute blend of firm control and supple response to small bumps and ripples in the pavement. Thanks to much higher construction quality, squeaks and rattles have been banished, and the sweeping improvements in the details make the new Corvette far more useful as an everyday car, as well as an adrenaline generator. |
