I understand this is not everyone's cup of tea, but it looks amazing in person. I was able to check out the brown/grey base car with tan leather interior they had behind the main stage. It looks wider, lower and rounder? in person. More like an NSX combined with an updated ferrari 360, but still very Corvette-like from the ground level. THere's only so much designers can do with a mid-engine v8 without making it look too alien (hello Pagani and McClaren). Pictures don't show how truly low and wide the car is. The rear end isn't the prettiest, but it's much "smaller" in person.
If it truly drives amazing I will probably buy a base model next year since I have a big boy job now. The rep that was guiding the B-list E-Magazine reporters assured me that the quoted 0-60times were for the base model with performance exhaust, he also told me (I'm still doubtful) that the GPS enabled hydraulic nose lift was on ALL models. He also quoted the price difference between the base and the z51 model would be similar to the c7 price differences ~$7500 if I remember correctly. He smiled when I asked about the twin turbo V8 and hybrid powertrains and asked me if I thought they were seperate (twin tubro v8 + electricity?!?). There also seems to be a LONG options list from interior colors finishes, exterior accent colors, brakes, wheels, exhaust, suspension, etc so the price could easily approach $100K. He was emphasizing the dual nature of the car and how it would be able to embarrass expensive cars on the track and still drive comfortably around town.
The interior is gorgeous although the passenger seat is designed for more petite individuals and is quite claustrophobic looking. I didn't sit in it, but I got to do a 360 walk around. A LOT of buttons on that center pillar and unfortunately the digital cluster gauge was off. Everything looks to be amazing quality and puts my former 2006 zo6 with its plastic interior to shame.
Of course we all wish there was a 3 pedal option, but those of us that wish that tend to not buy these cars.....
Note to self: use my production and DoD contacts more often. If it weren't for my aunt working for the DoD and a former colleague working on a production team, I'd never have been able to tag along.