The Chevrolet Corvette may be America’s sports car, but that isn’t stopping General Motors from giving Europe its own exclusive version of the ‘Vette. Dubbed the Corvette Competition, the limited edition model has been created to commemorate the start of the American Le Mans Series season.
As odd as it seems for GM to create a limited edition model of the Corvette for Europe based on an American racing series, not everything about the Corvette makes sense in Europe. Across the pond, Corvette is actually its own brand — it’s not a Chevrolet Corvette, just a Corvette — and the sports car is sold through Cadillac dealerships. But back the car.
GM claims the Corvette Competition “bears subtle resemblances to the successful C6.R race car,” but we don’t think they put quite enough emphasis on subtle. The only thing the road-going special edition C6 really has in common with the racing C6.R is a honeycomb grille up front and the same insert between the rear exhaust.
Other features unique to the Corvette Competition include a rear spoiler borrowed from the Corvette Z06, unique 5-spoke rims coated in Competition Grey paint, a black exterior and a reduction in available options intended to keep weight down. No changes were made to the Corvette’s 6.2L V8 powertrain.
The Corvette Competition — which is slated to hit the European market in April — can only be had in coupe guise, but customers will be able to choose between six-speed automatic or manual gearbox.
03/26, 5:05 PM
posted by:
G
Ummm … right …
If they’re going to call it “Competition” you’d think they’d at least make it a special edition Z06 vette … not a normal one …
Good one there, fellas … that’s really going to compete well against, say, another “competition” spec car out there … such as the F430 Stradale! … not …
03/26, 5:15 PM
posted by:
JennyFromTheBlock
They must sell all of 3 COrvettes in Europe each year
03/26, 5:17 PM
posted by:
SSupercharged
I don’t think European buyers are going to see through the subtle exterior modifications to see the Corvette as anything more then it currently is. The aluminum mesh grill that is put in both the front bumper and then between the exhaust pipes looks very tacky to me. I love the grey painted rims on the 08 C6, and I’d take the ZO6 spoiler, but I think GM needed to do a lot more to sell the C6. Also please replace that steering wheel.
Try harder GM.
03/26, 5:30 PM
posted by:
DjRags
What is that little grill between the second and third exhaust holes? You can see it in the second to last photo on the bottom
03/26, 5:41 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
yes just what i was hoping for- HONEYCOMB grilles, yes!
/sarcasim
03/26, 5:43 PM
posted by:
A4
ive always liked the orange rear turn signals better than ours.
03/26, 5:51 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
The main difference is the Euro-spec Corvette will feature a 1.4 liter 5-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with 79 HP but 501 ft-lbs of torque @ 750 RPM. It will have a SCANIA 27-speed transmission. Instead of RWD, it will feature an innovative new SAAB system where the front-left and rear-right wheels steer while the front-right and rear-left wheels drive.
03/26, 6:27 PM
posted by:
PetrolHeadPete
lol @ global_lightning,
sounds about right
03/26, 6:59 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
How embarrassing, the fake diffuser.
03/26, 8:39 PM
posted by:
Jspeed
The low-profile Euro plate sure is less of an eye sore for a sports car w/ low-profile nose.
03/26, 8:45 PM
posted by:
Badass Z51
I agree. I like the amber lights much better. I’ve tried to find amber’s, can’t get’em for the c6. They made them for the c4 & it looked cool.
03/26, 9:08 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
How do you say, “Hey nice car” in French?
03/26, 11:15 PM
posted by:
CleanGTO
Nothing super special, but I do like the piano black/carbon/whatever dash trim. The seat leather looks floppy and bad though.
03/27, 1:34 AM
posted by:
C6Racer
The German plate looks out of place on an all-American car. It even has headlamp washers. I’m pretty sure we don’t even get those.
03/27, 1:35 AM
posted by:
C6Racer
I have nothing against German plates tho. I actually prefer them. I’m just used to seeing them on E36 M3’s.
03/27, 1:37 AM
posted by:
C6Racer
One last post: The polarized lens shouldn’t have been used to take the stationary photos. It just makes the car look very weird for some reason.
03/27, 6:58 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
UK version needs to take into account that petrol costs £1.09 a litre… It should run on Flintstone power.
03/27, 8:11 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
“But back the car.”
Where, up against my gooch?
03/27, 2:10 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Interior features:
The seats will be half as wide to accomodate skinny eurobutts. The new space between seats will be fitted with a bidet. Headroom will be doubled to accomodate their egos and exagerrated sense of self-importance. There will be no child safety latches because the only people in Europe having children are Muslim immigrants who can’t afford this car. Leather seating options will include Yiddish Yellow, Gypsy Green, and Bosnian Brown.
03/27, 7:48 PM
posted by:
bigp
go gas is too high across the pond
03/27, 11:07 PM
posted by:
planet_drive
How many vettes does GM expect to sell over there?? Europeans still laugh at vettes, they call them yank tanks, They know its fast, but they are not impressed because anything with a giant 7litre motor should be fast, there is nothing technologically appealing about it. Also its got one of the sloppiest shifters you will find in a sports car. Anyone in Europe who has money to spend on a high performance car will gladly spend a little more on something with a good reputation like a Porsche or the new Nissan skyline.
03/28, 8:57 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
global_lightning, the US version shouldn’t exist… then it will match the US sense of reasoning, maturity and class…