The Chevrolet Corvette has been an icon of American speed and style for decades. But the newest Corvette is set to put all previous models to shame. Not only will the 2020 Corvette be the first mid-engine Corvette in history, but its convertible variant will be designed unlike any other. With a power hardtop, the new Corvette convertible turned heads at its debut. And at a reasonable starting price, Chevrolet is expecting its new 2020 C8 Corvette convertible to fly off dealership lots when it’s ready for purchase next year.

The coolest roof to ever top the Chevrolet Corvette convertible

Chevrolet already made history this year, debuting the first-ever mid-engine Corvette in July. But Chevrolet is making history again, premiering the 2020 Corvette convertible at Cape Canaveral, with its first-ever power hardtop. Onlookers and market experts were mesmerized as the Corvette convertible made its entrance and dropped its top in stunning fashion. According to Motor 1, the 2020 Corvette will come with a never-before-seen, two-piece convertible roof that folds perfectly behind the driver. When retracting, the hard drop-top (powered by six motors) comes down horizontally above the mid-engine and sits in “a composite compartment that’s shielded from the heat.”

The Chevrolet Corvette’s new impressive hardtop can be lowered or raised up while driving at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, with the entire process taking a quick and easy 16 seconds. Though you’ll have to see it for yourself, Chevrolet’s design of the Corvette’s new convertible roof is extraordinary. To accommodate the new hardtop, Chevrolet had to rework the Corvette’s engine cover and eliminate the see-through lid originally planned. But even with the new changes, the Corvette convertible is better-looking than ever before. And owners don’t have to worry about the super-cool retracted roof affecting any cargo space, as Chevrolet designed the roof to retract and close seamlessly into the car.

But according to The Drive, the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 utilizes “trick engineering” to keep its promised performance, improves on styling and speed; all without a major price increase. Chevrolet even crafted the retractable roof to allow the convertible to have the same drag coefficient as the coupe. According to Motor 1, the hardtop is made from a composite material that can come standard to match the body color or finished “in an optional Carbon Flash metallic for a dark look.”

Everything you need to know about the new 2020 Corvette

The 2020 C8 Corvette convertible is expected to have a starting price of more than $67,000 and be ready to hit the dealerships next year. According to Car and Driver, this will be the Corvette’s eighth generation. For the first time in history, the Corvette’s engine will sit behind passengers, rivaling the likes of supercar makers like Ferrari and McLaren.

It will showcase a powerful 6.2-liter, V8 engine that creates 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, named the LT2. The LT2 engine sends all its power to the rear wheels and is coupled with a specially-engineered eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Unfortunately, this is the only gearbox offered on the C8 Corvette convertible. The dual-clutch transmission can be shifted manually while it mechanically shifts wholly by wire. This removal of the mechanical connection means the center tunnel can be enclosed to increase the Corvette’s structural strength. An optional performance exhaust will also be available.

There aren’t any official numbers yet, but experts expect the 2020 Corvette to hit 60 mph in roughly 3 quick seconds. But the Corvette’s Z51 performance package may allow it to hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Its expected top-speed should be around 194 mph.