C7-gen Corvette sells in limited numbers on this side of the pond
General Motors’ 6.2-litre V8 engine doesn’t comply with new WLTP legislation
New emissions legislation coming into force will mean Chevrolet’s Corvette and Camaro can no longer be sold new in the UK.
UK-bound variants of these two models are powered by Chevrolet’s 6.2-litre V8, which falls foul of newly imposed WLTP regulations and will no longer be eligible for import as of 31 August.
The Camaro and Corvette are currently only sold new in the UK by Surrey-based Ian Allan Motors, which has 40 examples left to sell ahead of the August deadline. Any not sold by this point will have to be registered and sold as pre-owned cars.
While it is no longer possible to order these cars to the UK direct from the factory, Chevrolet has continued to produce them for the market with MPH markings on their speedometers and UK-spec headlights.
The mid-engined C8-generation Corvette will be revealed on 18 July, powered by an evolved version of the current C7 model’s pushrod engine, but the model won’t make its return to the UK until early 2021 – most likely in hybrid form.
It has not yet been confirmed that the new model will be adapted for right-hand drive markets, but new laws in Australia, Japan and India now prohibit the importing of left-hand-drive cars, making the case for a right-hand-drive variant much stronger.
The current Ford Mustang is offered in right-hand drive for the first time in the model’s long history, making it much more globally accessible than its Camaro rival. This could prompt Chevrolet to strengthen its European muscle car offering at the same time as introducing the new Corvette.
The new regulation also affects Cadillac’s Escalade SUV, which is powered by the same 6.2-litre engine. A new model will arrive in Europe in 2020, although a spokesman for Ian Allan Motors said the Escalade is less popular in the UK than the two Chevrolet sports cars, given their iconic status.
Prices for new Corvettes at Ian Allan Motors range from £64,995 for an entry-level Stingray version to £92,439 for a range-topping Grand Sport. The Camaro is available from £34,995.
Read more
New C8 Corvette: what we know so far
High-highs & low-lows: history of the Chevrolet Camaro
Source: Autocar
