Detroit AutoShow USA, 14/01/2013 – The long anticipated, long debated and long rumored news is out ; Chevrolet have finally un-veiled the 2014 Corvette .. and it’s a STINGRAY !
Chevrolet have decided to return America’s favorite sportscar a little more retro, by labeling the C7 edition with the hallowed name of `Stingray’ for the first time since the mid 70’s.
The pics here are the first official view of the car, due for public release late in 2013 (hence a 2014 model), in both hard top and targa versions.
With the styling queues on show, it’s clear that Chevrolet intend to return their sports coupe to an era where power, performance and style were king. In so doing, inspiring both the ambitions of the young, whilst re-capturing the older market more familiar with the sting of late 60’s to mid 70’s versions, before emissions control and government regulations emancipated the iconic super sports car.
C7 chief engineer, Tadge Juechter wasn’t in a hurry to give the Stingray label away though, and needed to see some renderings before he would agree. In fact, a few hundred more renderings ..
“It wasn’t a question by the end,” Juechter said.“.. and we honestly felt that we could call this car a Stingray. Once you get in the car and drive it and experience it, you’ll believe us then, if you don’t before.”
Aiming right at the heart of the power fans, Chevrolet has placed at the heart of the C7 an all new engine that matches that iconic Stingray name! This is in the form of a 6.2-liter V8 with direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and rev matching technology which helps the manual gearbox pre-empt the correct revs required to engage the next gear.
For the environmentally conscious, the C7 is the most fuel efficient Corvette ever thanks mainly to the engine’s cylinder deactivation technology. This allows the car to operate in four-cylinder mode while coasting and eight-cylinder mode while accelerating. No prizes for guessing which most would prefer !
The engine is Chevrolet’s Gen5 LT1 V8, producing what Chev `estimates’ is 335kW (ie 450hp) and 610Nm. In Australia, that would put the C7 on even output par with the current Ford Performance Vehicles’ GT335 (335kW/650Nm). Albeit with an obvious weight advantage against the heavy Falcon.
This new engine shaves a further 0.2 of a second off the current model’s 0-100km/h time of 4.2 secs by reducing it to 4.0 secs in the C7.
It is expected that the more `performance’ versions of the C7 – namely the Z51, and assumed Z06 and ZR1 versions, will carry a lot more power than it’s entry level brother!
Ofcourse the frame is a brand-new aluminium version, designed to deliver equal weight distribution through corners and under heavy brakes. The doors, bonnet, quarter panels, targa roof and parts of the under body are “carbon-nano” composite which also add to weight balance and much fewer kilos!
The performance package upgrade, provides more goodies, in the form of electronic limited-slip differential, a dry-sump oiling system and an improved cooling system for the differential and transmission.
In other retro styling queues, the classic power bulge reminiscent of the big block bonnet remains, as does a modern version of the early 70’s 427ci and 454ci bonnet `nostrils’ – except that they’re actually designed to work in this version.
GM designers were careful to stay true to the flowing, swooping lines of the classic Corvette and the more agile steering and cornering of the more modern versions.
Whilst staying true to the 60 year history is important, the comforts of modern times can’t be ignored in the interior either, so GM have provided an eight-inch high-definition infotainment screen curteousy of a Chevy/MyLink joint venture.
The steering wheel is also smaller to give more of a race-car feel, and all materials are premium with stitching to match.
If you are starting to think that the Little Red Corvette is growing up, and out of it’s blue collar working class gear, you may be right. The GM leads have no problem admitting that their intention is for the Corvette to compete squarely against European luxury super sports models like the Audi R8, Porsche 911 and entry Ferrari models – perhaps even America’s own other love child, the GTS Viper.
So what does it cost ?
Well, GM is keeping lips tight on that one .. however we know the 2013 base model is around USD$50,000 and the ZR1 performance loaded version around USD$100,000.
“If you can afford today’s Corvette, you’ll be able to afford this one,” Engineer Juechter said.
And ofcourse the question on everybody’s lips – well down under lips at least – when do we get a purpose made (ie right hand drive) Aussie version ? There-in lies the mystery of reading between the lines of GM CEO Dan Akerson who answered `yes’ to a News Limited reporter who asked him if a right hand version would be made.
As to when however, he offered only `soon’.
Engineer Jeuchter provided a little more grounding by saying ..
“Our main competition sells left- and right-hand-drive cars, so that’s what we want to do. Our plan is to make this a truly global car. But I would say it’ll be years away rather than soon.”
There you go !
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It looks a little like a Ferrari and a Viper had a baby, but I like it .. 😉