2008 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Running Hotter

The Chevrolet Corvette Convertible gets a performance boost for 2008 that lets it race the sun to the horizon with greater authority than ever.

For the venerable Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, the formula remains the same: high power and impressive handling in a stylish package that offers reasonable comfort at a (relatively) affordable price.

The Corvette was last redesigned in 2005 for its sixth generation. Chevy added the soft-top convertible later in that model year, just in time for summer fun. The original Corvette premiered in 1953.

The two-seat Chevrolet Corvette Convertible comes standard with a manually operated roof, even though it has a sticker price above $50,000. A power-operated top is offered only as part of an options package, code-named 3LT. Fortunately, operating the manual top is not difficult. The five-layer fabric top nicely conceals the underlying structure to preserve an attractive top-up appearance, while maintaining the vehicle’s aerodynamics and reducing road noise. A retractable hardtop is not available, unlike a growing number of open-air autos, including the Cadillac XLR, which is based on the Corvette.

• Get a Chevrolet Corvette Convertible price quote

The present Corvette's exterior styling is a refinement of and not a radical departure from the previous generation. It is the first Corvette since 1962 to feature exposed headlights, as opposed to ones that flip up. The present car also has Xenon bulbs that cast a dazzling, bluish light.

The current model is the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever, generating more downforce than previous versions to enhance high-speed stability. The interior features aluminum accents and makes bold use of color. It’s also roomier and is easier to get in and out of than previous models.

The Chevrolet Corvette Convertible delivers earth-shaking performance. The car’s 6.2-liter small-block V8 is code-named LS3. It delivers 430 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque, making it the largest and most powerful standard small-block ever offered in a Corvette. Those specifying the optional two-mode exhaust system (it uses vacuum-actuated outlet valves that close to muffle low-speed engine noise and open for maximum performance when necessary) will see that figure boosted to 436 hp. The Z06 variant of the Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (reviewed separately) has an even bigger and more powerful V8 engine, but this is not offered in the convertible.

• See Chevrolet Corvette Convertible specs

A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an electronically controlled, six-speed automatic transmission is optional. It has three modes: Drive, which has predetermined shift points designed for smoothness; Sport, which automatically optimizes shift points for aggressive driving; and Paddle Shift, which allows drivers to select gears manually with steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

Despite its explosive power, the LS2 engine remains relatively fuel-efficient. Chevrolet says that the standard Corvette V8 is the first  over-400-hp production engine not to get slapped with a federal gas-guzzler tax. (By contrast, you’ll have to pay Uncle Sam an extra $1,700 for the privilege of owning a Dodge Viper.)

The Chevrolet Corvette Convertible tenaciously holds the road through corners with the assistance of a four-wheel independent suspension. All-speed traction control, which actively aids handling and stability, and four-wheel antilock disc brakes are welcome safety measures to help tame any unruly behavior. Run-flat tires allow drivers with a flat to keep going at a reduced speed to find a safe place to pull off the road, or if they’re lucky, to reach a facility where the tire can be fixed or replaced.

The Corvette's size and weight are substantial for a two-seat sports car. This helps in quelling body motions over rough roads, but the car can still feel alarmingly unsettled over uneven pavement.

• Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Vehicle Summary

An optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control system — variations of which are used on a number of GM products — uses shock absorbers filled with oil that is infused with metal shavings. An adjustable electromagnetic field reacts with the metal in the fluid to stiffen or soften the shock absorbers in relation to road surface. The process is constantly measured by special sensors. Even with the magnetic suspension system set to its cushiest setting, the ride is bone jarring over all but the smoothest of roads.

This ingenious system can further improve the already sharp handling, or help maintain a smooth ride based on which setting the driver chooses. Hardcore enthusiasts can also opt for a Performance Handling Package, named Z51, which includes even beefier suspension components and brakes, as well as more aggressive gear and axle ratios, among other items. These all work to increase handling abilities at the expense of a rougher ride.

• See all Chevrolet models in the Chevrolet Showroom

Other available high-tech features include a reconfigurable head-up display that projects information onto the windshield in the driver’s line of sight, part of the 3LT or 4LT equipment packages. There is also a voice-operated satellite navigation system that can be ordered on top of the 3LT package. A keyless access system with push-button starter is standard.