Chevrolet

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette has received more than 100 orders in Australia a year before it is due in local showrooms – and before anyone knows the price –according to dealer sources. The iconic US sports-car is due in Australia by this time next year as the first ever factory-built right-hand-drive model. The right-hand-drive production process was made easier for the eighth-generation Corvette since it switched to a mid-engine layout after decades of having a V8 under the bonnet.

It's been a big year for automotive in 2020, with the exit of Holden, the cancellation of international motor shows and the Australian Grand Prix due to coronavirus, and the steady decline of new car sales. In a challenging climate, it's perhaps unsurprising that carmakers are reducing their ranges, discontinuing under-performers and replacing older models with hybrids, electric cars or new creations altogether.

UPDATE: Following the early September appearance of the new Chevrolet Corvette in right-hand-drive form, the newly established GM Specialty Vehicles has begun teasing its Australian launch for the new mid-engined hero on its Instagram page. The company is no closer to confirming exact timing for the Corvette's launch, but a late 2021 date is expected.

An increasing number of Australians are planning epic road trips on home soil because of travel restrictions overseas, according to the latest new-car sales data which has unearthed an unexpected trend. Sales of heavy-duty four-wheel-drives and towing vehicles – such as the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series, Nissan Patrol, Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – have either surged or remained relatively strong in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.