The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray R Launch Edition is set to arrive in Australia and New Zealand from January 2026, priced from $235,000 before on-road costs.
New Zealand pricing has been set at $NZ245,000 (A$225,400) plus on-roads.
General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) announced the special-edition Corvette as a prelude to the upgraded 2026 model year Corvette range, and only 50 examples will be offered in total for both countries.
Details of the broader MY26 Corvette range for local showrooms, which will once again include the entry-level Stingray, electrified E-Ray and hardcore Z06 versions, are yet to be announced.
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As we’ve reported, the range-topping Corvette ZR1 won’t be available in Australia because it’s not produced in right-hand drive, as will likely be the case with the electrified ZR1X flagship.
Meanwhile, the Launch Edition will be based on the 3LT Stingray Coupe, which is priced at $201,990 before on-road costs in Australia, meaning it carries a $33,000-plus price premium.
For the extra cash, the Launch Edition will feature a Stingray R ‘Appearance Package’ comprising gloss-black 20-inch forged alloy wheels featuring a red stripe, a carbon-fibre roof and unique build plate.
GMSV says it will also feature “an array of other premium, eye-catching standard features” it is yet to announce, with the model paying tribute to the Corvette’s motorsport heritage.
Being based on the 3LT Coupe means the Launch Edition will come with the same 6.2-litre LT2 V8 petrol engine producing 368kW of power and 637Nm of torque, matched with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, making it good for the same claimed 3.4-second 0-100km/h acceleration time.
Changes for the MY26 Corvette, which is already on sale in the US, are focused on the inside, where a revamped interior brings a larger 12.7-inch centre touchscreen, 14.0-inch digital instrument cluster and 6.6-inch auxiliary screen.
The drive model selector has also been redesigned, taking up less space to allow a wireless smartphone charging pad, while the previous central row of climate buttons between the two seats has been relocated.
The 3LT now has real aluminium inlays, and while it comes with leather and upper suede interior packages brining a leather-wrap steering wheel, GT2 bucket memory function front seats, a head-up display as well as Performance data and video recorder.
There’s also a 14-speaker premium audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, with a passenger-side USB-C port also new for 2026.
MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette
