America’s Ferrari Fighter Ready for SA – Corvette Imports Commence

Although not being imported by Chevrolet or any of its affiliates, independent importer Rospa International has decided it is time the people of Mzansi receive the critically-acclaimed eighth-generation Corvette in either Stingray or Z06 guise.

Image: Supplied

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Having become synonymous with Japanese performance imports into South African shores, Rospa International has recently turned some of its attention to the other side of the Atlantic. While the importer will still be sourcing cult classics like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota AE86, and rotary-powered Mazda RX-7, the company has now announced it will be brining in the Corvette supercar as customer demand dictates.

Company founder Himal Chris Paul says the time has come to broaden the offering. “People usually think of JDM cars when they hear the name Rospa. But we’re expanding the business to cater for car enthusiasts with different tastes. We want to bring all the forbidden fruit to SA,” Paul explained. “We are proud to announce that we are now offering Chev Corvettes to local enthusiasts.”

Thanks to the right-hand-drive production of the eighth-generation Corvette (C8), Rospa can now import brand-new, factory-built cars directly for the South African market. Local buyers will be able to choose from either the Stingray or the more potent Z06.

“The Corvette is often misunderstood as a one-size-fits-all sports car,” said Paul. “But it’s more like the Porsche 911 in that it has a range of derivatives that look similar but perform very differently.”

The Stingray serves as the entry point into Corvette ownership and is powered by a 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 delivering 369 kW. The three available trim levels, namely 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT, cater to a range of buyers with varying appetites for comfort and tech. On the upper end of the spectrum is the Z06, which, despite a lower displacement 5.5-litre V8, puts out a whopping 475 kW of naturally aspirated power. What is more, it has a redline that flirts with the 9 000 r/min mark and can complete the obligatory 0–100 km/h in a claimed 2.9 seconds and the top speed sits just shy of 315 km/h.

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Both the Stingray and Z06 send power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and serve as the first rear mid-engine Corvette since the model’s introduction in 1953, differing from the traditional front mid-engine design started in 1963.

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The Rospa owner further adds that in time they will be offering ‘even wilder’ turbocharged ZR1 and ZR1X hypercars for local buyers, once they enter production.

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The post America’s Ferrari Fighter Ready for SA – Corvette Imports Commence appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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