Corvette C6

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Corvette C6 overall verdict

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The thinking man’s TVR. Superlative yank muscle for the price of a round of drinks in the Met Bar
Our buying tip

Monster re-incarnation of the ZR-1 is due soon with 630bhp and 200mph potential. Think of it as a Z-06 that’s been injecting steroids into its own face with a plastic funnel

You can’t argue with the Corvette C6. Revised and now even better, it comes with Porsche-humbling performance and a £50k price tag. Hands-up who can cope with left-hand drive for that eh?

Comfort

It's a sports car, so the C6 is firm but well damped. It's lost the nervousness from the front end and become a much more pleasant place to be on a long journey. Cabin is big and wide and comfy too. Makes other fast cars feel a bit like hard work when you cruise along the motorway in sixth at 1,000rpm.
Performance

Nothing short of devastating for the money, the C6 uses the new LS3 6.2-litre V8 mounted up front and driving the rear wheels. That means 437bhp fighting to make the rear tyres lose traction, 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and 190mph.
Cool

As long as you don't harp on about it, the C6 is very cool, if suffering a little from late ‘80s medallionisation. The forthcoming ZR-1 will be ice-cold though.
Quality

Not up to European standards, but the Corvette feels well built. Some of the gimmicky electrics are plain annoying (doorhandles instead of buttons please!), but altogether it feels well screwed together. Engines and drivetrains will outlast our solar system.
Handling

New C6 has re-discovered its poise below 30mph, but it still grips like no other American car. You think all Yank metal is yawn-inducingly roly-poly? Then try a Corvette - it'll make your eyes water. And it goes sideways really, really easily without making you crash. I am the Stig.
Practicality

Decent sort of hatchback clamshell means you can get a few bags in it, even if they do threaten to spear you in the back of the head should you brake too hard. Space is good for two with weekend baggage and you could conceivably drive this as your only car - it's easy to see out of and a doddle to place in traffic.
Running costs

The usual supercar stuff; group 20, mid-teens mpg, the highest tax band you can find. Turn all the running cost knobs up to 11 and go from there. Cheap as chips for the grin-factor though.