Corvette Stingray Coupe

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Coupe

Chevrolet is reportedly dropping two Corvette exterior paint colors only a month after it announced it was extending production of the 2023 model year. The news comes from Corvette Blogger which confirmed the information with the automaker. So, which two colors are being retired?

That'll be Elkhart Lake Blue and Caffeine. These colors are being discontinued for all C8 Corvette variants, including the Stingray and Z06. The reason for dropping them simply has to do with a low take rate. Elkhart Lake Blue consisted of only 5% of Stingray orders and was ranked ninth overall in popularity out of the 14 color options initially offered at the beginning of this model year.

Caffeine, meanwhile, came in dead last with Stingray shoppers at just 1%. For the Z06, Elkhart Lake Blue made up 4% of production while Caffeine came in last place at 1%.

Caffeine was brand new for the 2023 model year and, quite clearly, it wasn't popular. Elkhart Lake Blue, however, has been offered since the C8 generation debuted. In fact, it was available for the C7's final model year. But the good news is that Chevy will be replacing both colors for the upcoming 2024 model year. Riptide Blue will replace Elkhart Lake Blue and Cacti is Caffeine's successor but neither will be available for 2023 models.

Also new for '24 will be Seawolf Gray Tri-coat replacing White Pearl which is available on the 70th Anniversary models. The elimination of two '23 model year colors is somewhat surprising considering Chevy's decision to keep '23 models rolling off the Bowling Green, Kentucky factory's assembly line until September 1. The new model year will begin production a few days later on September 5.

Dropping paint colors is not unusual in this industry and Chevy has done this before with the Corvette. For the 2022 model year, for example, Sebring Orange, Shadow Gray, and Zeus Bronze were all cut. It was surprising to see Sebring Orange go because it was the fourth-best-selling color for the 2020 model year.

Aside from the color palette changes, no other packaging adjustments have been made known for the extended '23 model year but we do expect some updates for 2024.