DETROIT, Mi - It seemed an inauspicious setting for one of the most highly anticipated events of this year's Detroit Auto Show, but when you consider that the Corvette, General Motors and Detroit itself have risen, phoenix-like, from the brink of extinction it was perhaps very fitting indeed.
Shuttled through a decaying landscape into a deserted-looking industrial complex, we're herded like lemmings towards an entrance, spotlights casting the Corvette flags upon the crumbling walls.
Inside, the juxtaposition of slick, refurbished studio space within the cavernous old warehouse creates a dramatic atmosphere, the crowd thrumming with anticipation.
During the economic meltdown of 2009, GM was drawing what looked like its last breath. What better way to announce its current state of health than to resurrect one of the most hallowed names in sports car history?
Unlike the first 1963 Corvette which was cobbled together from the GM part's bin, the 2014 C7 (seventh generation) Corvette is a ground-up creation representing the pinnacle of GM technology.
VP of Global Design, Ed Wellburn, gushing, declared the C7 to be the best Corvette ever produced, and worthy of the Stingray name.
Visually, it's an arresting design. Sharp, sculpted edges, vents and inlets were all engineered with the goal of improved performance.
In a departure from its blue-collar, muscle-car past, the 2014 C7 Corvette has more than a touch of European exotic. The front end is stylish, yet aggressive -- the grille wears a futuristic snarl. LED headlamps add more visual flair, while the sharply carved rump, with its square taillights, is more than a little Camaro-esque.
Criticized in the past for its spartan, sub-par interiors, the 2014 C7 Corvette boasts sculpted leather racing-style seats, premium materials, a smaller sporty steering wheel and an 8” high-definition Chevy MyLink infotainment screen. Chief Engineer for the C7, Tadge Juechter, is confident that the new Corvette will compete with such luxury sports cars as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, not only in terms of performance, but in quality as well.
The steel frame has given way to one of aluminum in the 2014 C7 Corvette. It's not only 57% stiffer, but it's also almost 100 lbs lighter. More lightweight carbon fibre panels, shorter overhangs and a removable roof contribute to a lighter car that boasts a perfect 50/50 front-to-back weight distribution.
Enthusiasts will appreciate that the small, racing style wheel connects to steering that's 50% stiffer than the outgoing Vette's. Underhood lies an all-new, 6.2L, direct-injection V8 with cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing. Under light load, the C7 can coast in 4-cylinder mode.
Claiming a estimated rating of 9.0L/100kms, the new 2014 C7 Corvette is the most fuel-efficient Vette ever -- while still boasting an output of 450 hp/450 lb-ft of torque.
While there's an available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, most enthusiasts will opt for the 7-speed manual. Purists will decry its new rev-matching downshift technology, which virtually eliminates the need for heel 'n' toe, but weekend trackday participants will no doubt embrace its ability to make them look like heroes.
The new Stingray can sprint from 0-100km/hr in less than 4 seconds. The 8“ screen behind the steering wheel can display three different configurations: touring, sport and race. Touring mode focuses on navigation and fuel consumption; sport mode puts the tachometer front and centre; while race mode displays the revs in a bar graph along with G-force and lap times.
A new Drive Mode selector allows the driver to modify the 2014 C7 Corvette depending on the situation with five different modes: Touring for regular, everyday driving; Weather to optimize control in snow and rain; Eco to provide the best fuel efficiency; Sport for enthusiastic driving; and Track mode.
There are 12 different vehicle settings that control throttle response, launch control, traction control, transmission shift points (automatic), steering and damper settings (Z51 models only).
The 2014 Corvette Stingray should be available sometime in the third quarter of 2013, with Canadian pricing to come later.
Watch:
Shuttled through a decaying landscape into a deserted-looking industrial complex, we're herded like lemmings towards an entrance, spotlights casting the Corvette flags upon the crumbling walls.
Inside, the juxtaposition of slick, refurbished studio space within the cavernous old warehouse creates a dramatic atmosphere, the crowd thrumming with anticipation.
During the economic meltdown of 2009, GM was drawing what looked like its last breath. What better way to announce its current state of health than to resurrect one of the most hallowed names in sports car history?
Unlike the first 1963 Corvette which was cobbled together from the GM part's bin, the 2014 C7 (seventh generation) Corvette is a ground-up creation representing the pinnacle of GM technology.
VP of Global Design, Ed Wellburn, gushing, declared the C7 to be the best Corvette ever produced, and worthy of the Stingray name.
Visually, it's an arresting design. Sharp, sculpted edges, vents and inlets were all engineered with the goal of improved performance.
In a departure from its blue-collar, muscle-car past, the 2014 C7 Corvette has more than a touch of European exotic. The front end is stylish, yet aggressive -- the grille wears a futuristic snarl. LED headlamps add more visual flair, while the sharply carved rump, with its square taillights, is more than a little Camaro-esque.
Criticized in the past for its spartan, sub-par interiors, the 2014 C7 Corvette boasts sculpted leather racing-style seats, premium materials, a smaller sporty steering wheel and an 8” high-definition Chevy MyLink infotainment screen. Chief Engineer for the C7, Tadge Juechter, is confident that the new Corvette will compete with such luxury sports cars as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, not only in terms of performance, but in quality as well.
The steel frame has given way to one of aluminum in the 2014 C7 Corvette. It's not only 57% stiffer, but it's also almost 100 lbs lighter. More lightweight carbon fibre panels, shorter overhangs and a removable roof contribute to a lighter car that boasts a perfect 50/50 front-to-back weight distribution.
Enthusiasts will appreciate that the small, racing style wheel connects to steering that's 50% stiffer than the outgoing Vette's. Underhood lies an all-new, 6.2L, direct-injection V8 with cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing. Under light load, the C7 can coast in 4-cylinder mode.
Claiming a estimated rating of 9.0L/100kms, the new 2014 C7 Corvette is the most fuel-efficient Vette ever -- while still boasting an output of 450 hp/450 lb-ft of torque.
While there's an available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, most enthusiasts will opt for the 7-speed manual. Purists will decry its new rev-matching downshift technology, which virtually eliminates the need for heel 'n' toe, but weekend trackday participants will no doubt embrace its ability to make them look like heroes.
The new Stingray can sprint from 0-100km/hr in less than 4 seconds. The 8“ screen behind the steering wheel can display three different configurations: touring, sport and race. Touring mode focuses on navigation and fuel consumption; sport mode puts the tachometer front and centre; while race mode displays the revs in a bar graph along with G-force and lap times.
A new Drive Mode selector allows the driver to modify the 2014 C7 Corvette depending on the situation with five different modes: Touring for regular, everyday driving; Weather to optimize control in snow and rain; Eco to provide the best fuel efficiency; Sport for enthusiastic driving; and Track mode.
There are 12 different vehicle settings that control throttle response, launch control, traction control, transmission shift points (automatic), steering and damper settings (Z51 models only).
The 2014 Corvette Stingray should be available sometime in the third quarter of 2013, with Canadian pricing to come later.
Watch:
2013 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1LT
2013 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 1LT
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