Sunday 13th January 2013
General Motors unveiled its latest model of the Corvette Stingray (7th generation) on the eve of the Detroit Motor Show. The next day GM’s Cadillac ATS sedan took the show’s top prize.
According to Motor Trend, GM executives have been planning the next-generation (C7) Corvette since 2007. On October 18, 2012, GM made an official news announcement confirming the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette would debut on Sunday evening, January 13, 2013, in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. Chevrolet also showed the new Crossed Flags logo for the new 2014 Corvette. The car was originally planned for the 2011 model year, but was delayed. Mid-engine and rear-engine layouts had been considered, but the front-engine, rear-wheel drive (RWD) platform was chosen to keep costs lower. The C7’s all-new LT1 6.2L Small Block V-8 engine develops 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 460 pound-feet (620 N⋅m) torque, which can accelerate the Corvette from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The C7’s suspension consists of independent unequal-length double wishbones with transverse fiberglass mono-leaf springs and optional magnetorheological dampers, similar to its predecessor.
The C7 was designed not only to provide a bold styling statement, but also to incorporate an interior makeover that would put to rest past complaints about the quality of interior fit and finish. While overall the C7 attempts to provide an evolutionary redesign to an iconic theme, the car’s designers took their inspiration from the 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro’s squared rear end, incorporating aggressive angular elements that disappointed many Corvette enthusiasts. The C7 received criticism for some of the more styled elements of the car. “The rear contains what will surely be the C7’s most controversial styling elements. It’s all creases and vents back there, with aggressive trapezoidal taillights similar to those found on the current Camaro and quadruple-barreled tailpipes lined up in a neat row in the center of the rear valance”, wrote Jason Kavanagh for Edmunds. Functional aerodynamic aids are tacked on or cut into every body panel of the C7, often juxtaposed against sharp creases. This is a radical departure from the prior generations of Corvettes, whose styling had no spoiler, few body panel creases, and only semi-functional gills for front brake cooling. In addition, past Corvette models minimized the size of headlamps or even hid them altogether. The C7 reverses that minimalist styling language with intricately styled headlamps with LED accents.
The new Corvette features of the new generation include a carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel. Its fenders, doors, and rear quarter panels remain fiberglass composite. The C7 uses Aerogel, a material developed by NASA, to keep heat from the transmission tunnel from transferring into the cabin. The under-body panels are made of “carbon-nano” composite. The chassis is made of hydro-formed aluminum. The rear tail lights use indirect LED technology.
Despite the increased use of aluminum and other light weight materials, the overall weight of the car remains the same as that of the previous generation (C6). The C7 Corvette offers a seven-speed manual transmission made by Tremec that implements active rev matching. The Corvette also provides a driver mode selector with five settings: Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport, and Track mode. The C7 hood and side vents and inlets assist in cooling and aerodynamic stability. The interior features a driver display that allows the driver to select from several modes with up to 69 different sources of information, ranging from an interactive performance timer to a tire tread temperature display. Two seat options are available: a sporty touring seat for every day use, and a competition sport seat for track driving with pass-throughs for a racing harness.
The new Corvette LT1 engine, the first of the Gen 5 family of Small Block engines, retains the push-rods acting on overhead valves design. It implements direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), and continuously variable valve timing.
