2021 Chevrolet Corvette: What’s Changed

Most significant changes: Magnetic Ride Control is now a stand-alone option; new colors and stripe choices; standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Price change: None, tentatively; base price is identical to the 2020 model, though option and trim pricing is not yet known

On sale: Later in 2020

Which should you buy, 2020 or 2021? 2021. You can’t buy a 2020 new, as they’re sold out … unless you’re willing to pay a lot over the sticker price for one that’s already on a dealer lot. It’s best to wait a bit and order your new 2021.

Hope you didn’t blink, because if you did, you missed out on the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. It’s been sold out for months, and since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Corvette’s Bowling Green, Ky., manufacturing plant for much of the spring, GM decided to just end the 2020 model year early and produce the 2021.

Related: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette: Everything You Need to Know

You’ll soon be able to order your 2021 model, and Chevrolet is holding the line on base prices for the ’21 Corvette. They’ll remain the same as they were for 2020 despite the massive demand for the new mid-engine supercar. The coupe’s price will start at $59,995 (prices include destination), while the convertible will start at $67,495. No word on whether option packages, trim levels or content pricing will change, however — so while the starting price may be the same, we wouldn’t be shocked to see some trim levels or options get more expensive.

The 2021 Corvette carries over mostly unchanged from the prior model year, but Chevy has made a few changes, expanded some feature availability and changed up some colors. The biggest news is that the amazing Magnetic Ride Control dampers can now be had independently of the Z51 Performance Package. For 2020, it was a $5,000 option to get the Z51 before you could then specify the $1,895 Magnetic Ride Control option. Not anymore; now you can get it without dishing out that coin for the sport-tuned suspension, performance exhaust, bigger Brembo brakes and aero add-ons.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, as well, while a new on-screen visualization happens when you switch drive modes and a new tachometer appears when you’re in Track mode. Chevy is also including a new feature called Buckle to Drive, a selectable electronic system that prevents the car from shifting out of Park if the driver hasn’t had their seat belt buckled for up to 20 seconds. 

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On the appearance front, there are two new exterior colors: Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat and Silver Flare Metallic. There are also four new full-length racing stripe colors (blue, orange, red and yellow) and three new Stinger Stripes (Carbon Flash/Edge Red, Carbon Flash/Edge Yellow and Carbon Flash/Midnight Silver). For the interior, there’s a new Sky Cool Gray/Yellow Strike combo that should prove to be distinctive. 

Chevrolet hasn’t yet said when the new 2021 model will go on sale, but considering that the plant is already starting to build the new ones, it’s safe to expect that it will be sometime in late 2020.

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