Autoweek Best of the Best/Car - Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette beat two other stout new cars, the Mercedes-Benz S550 and Jaguar F-Type. We haven't exactly been shy about our lust for Chevrolet's seventh-generation two-seater. Corvette engineers were charged with developing a car that would exceed expectations of the Corvette faithful, one that would also be the greatest performance car for the dollar on the planet. Oh, and they were also told to make sure it's good enough to compete around the world. The team succeeded.

First, some quick stats: The new Corvette is about an inch longer than the outgoing model. While styling is new, there's no mistaking that it's a Corvette. The C7's mighty 6.2-liter V8 develops 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. It is direct injected and features cylinder deactivation, a Corvette first. You can get a Tremec seven-speed manual, with active rev matching for upshifts and downshifts, or a six-speed automatic.

Josh Scott
A full 6.2 liters of fun packed under the Corvette's svelte hood.

The other finalists went down swinging. We found the second-place S550 gorgeous to look at—inside and out. The technology level is astounding, making it a comfortable cruiser, but one that can really be hustled for such a big car.

The Jaguar, meanwhile, impressed us with its sexy bod, terrific power and rockin' exhaust note.

So what pushed the Corvette past the S-class and the Jag?

Well, almost everything.

The Chevy got high marks for its flexible engine—"monster torque," wrote one staffer—great brakes, and rock-solid chassis and handling. "There's an eagerness here that a Corvette's never had," said one tester. Other logbook comments included "amazing agility," "the engine is wonderful" and "jeez-o-pete, this car has NO body roll."

One staffer summed up his C7 experience thusly: "Every person who says they're a car enthusiast should have a new Corvette sitting in the garage." We have never been able to say that about a Corvette before.

By Autoweek editors