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The Corvette made its debut in 1953, and since then, the car has become an American legend, the stuff dreams are made of and songs are written about. Chevrolet has outdone itself with the 2008 model, the sleek, streamlined version of the original. This baby not only has the elegant lines of a racehorse, it has the incredible power to match.

The 6.2-liter aliminum block V-8 engine has 430 horsepower at 5900 rpm, and 429-lb-ft of torque at 4600 rpm. The 'vette can go from 0-60 in an amazing 4.3 seconds, quicker than the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Ford Shelby GT500. The Corvette passes the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds and at 114 mph. It also delivers a breathtaking top speed of 190 mph.

The Chevrolet Corvette has a steel skeleton with attached composite panels, providing a lighter weight. The car looks big, with a length of 105.7 inches and a width of over 6 feet, but only weighs in at a little over 3,000 pounds. The front fenders are made of tough carbon fiber for extra durability.

Drivers love the car's interior, too. All the controls on the panel are easily accessible and readable, and lots of luxuries come standard with the 2008: leather upholstery, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, comfy driver and passenger seats, a CD/MP3 player, and power windows, locks, and mirrors. Opening the doors is as simple as pressing a button - a really cool gadget!

Front and rear independent suspension with short/long arm wishbone and transverse composite leaf springs and shock absorbers make for a smooth ride and excellent handling. The 4-wheel antilock brakes, an electronic stability control system, crash sensor, driver and passenger airbags with dual stage deployment, and side-guard door beams come standard and add to the Corvette's safety. The 6-speed overdrive transmission with a floor mounted shifter make the car fun to drive, too. Drivers won't have to worry about the Corvette's being a gas guzzler, either. It gets a surprising 26 mpg on the highway and 16 mpg in the city.

If all these standard items aren't enough for you, a host of options and option packages are available, like side air bags, a battery warmer, a rear spoiler, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, special alloy wheels, and an even more powerful engine.

The bottom line is that the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette is a whole lotta car for the money. It compares and even out-performs some of the European sportscars, at a fraction of the cost. This powerful beauty is available for just over $40,000, an amazing bargain, especially when you consider its competitors.

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
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