The latest version of the most iconic of American sportscars has just been revealed on the eve of the North American International Auto Show: behold the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette. The C7 will be officially launched in 2014 but available towards the end of next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the famous Chevy model.
Perhaps the most striking thing, looks aside, is that the new Corvette has resurrected the StingRay name for the base model, almost 40 years after the last Corvette carried that epithet.
The name might be retro, but the styling definitely isn’t: although it has a visual lineage that ties into its predecessors, the C7 is a much more angular, aggressive beast with hints of other contemporary Japanese and European supercars. A dab of R35 on the rear three-quarter; a touch of Ferrari there along the long nose; a Lamborghini angle on the splitter?
It’s at the back where the biggest change is apparent. Although we’ve lost the classic round tail-lights and curved uplift tail, it still looks pretty dramatic: just check out the central, quad pipes. There are definite hints of Camaro out back, but little of the rather awkward prototype (quad exhausts aside) revealed a year or so ago.
The Corvette will be the most powerful standard model ever, with over 450hp and 450lb-ft of torque on tap from its 6.2-litre aluminium V8.
Rumours about the engine location changing to mid-mounted have been premature, and the block is up front as it should be.
There are two transmission options: a six-speed sequential or manual seven-speed with Active Rev Matching for smoother downshifts – although it appears that the seventh manual gear is ultra tall for going into highway cruiser mode and keeping from having to find a gas station every couple of miles.
It’s a radical follow-on from the C6, with a completely new chassis and powertrain, cutting edge technology applied throughout and carbon fibre elements used on the modern-looking interior– which may shock some Corvette fans whilst others sigh with relief…
Carbon is also used for the hood and removable double-bubble roof panel, and composite materials have been used for the rest of the body.
Chevrolet claim that the C7 has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, so handling should be significantly improved in association with the lightweight body and stiffer frame – despite the kerb weight coming in heavier than the C6. The numbers ‘911’ have been mentioned by Corvette engineers…
For that extra push there will also be a Z51 Performance Package, which adds an electronic limited-slip diff, shorter gearing, Bilstein dampers and dry sump oil system under the skin plus larger rims and a unique aero kit. This is just a taster of what’s to come for the new Corvette – we can expect Z-prefixed street racers in the near future – and as an entrée it’s all a pretty exciting prospect. Will the Viper’s 600hp be the target, but with modern handling to match?
Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
Photo by Jonathan Moore
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They should have made the one that was in the Transformers movies! This one looks like a Camero rear end with a Corvette front...
Love it. Want it.
I'm sure the engineering and performance will all be there, but the aesthetics are unoriginal and unappealing. The front end is a blatant copy of a Ferrari which was already copied by the Viper. And no iconic round tail lights? The roof line also looks like it was copied off the Ferrari, yet wasn't implemented properly. The front is curvy, yet the rear is angular. All in all, it's as if two or three separate design teams consisting of 10 year olds worked on different sections of the car without any form of communication or knowing what the rest of the car would look like.
To bad the car will not be at all close to the pictures. Looks ok but its going to be cheap as crap build quality just like the Camero and everything else they build. Plastic poop is what this is.
@zackspeed333
Orly?!?!?!?http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JyjfNv86SwA
@Hanma I totally agree, it is horrendously ugly and shouldn't even bear the name Stingray.
@voloeverto787b Just wait it will be just like the Camero. Looks awesome in pics and video but then you see one in person and want to puke. These are pre production units and will not look near as good once in showrooms. The cars will sit higher, have cheaper paint, and lets not forget all the Saturn plastic in this thing. The Corvette has become a parts bin car at this point and not at all a true super car of any sort.
@zackspeed333
Im sure performance will be there, and it does look alot better in the videos than it does in the pics. But the mishmosh of design cues just has no flow to it. The F430 rear window, LFA quarters, Camaro booty just look awkward when pieced together. The most pleasant is the nose, but maybe because by comparison to the rest, it's the most bland
The interior is always the bane of the Vette's existance but everything being revealed states this one will be a complete departure. Gotta wait and see.
Always been a lot of performance/dollar, I am sure this is no exception. But the biggest thing that faces the modern era Vette is it's stigma: Leisure Suit Larry would drive a Vette. The higher end models totally bypass this IMHO. But can this take the whole nameplate upwards, sort of like how Ford has done with the Mustang? Time will tell.
@zackspeed333 @voloeverto787b apparently you are delusional. what part of "this is the production 2014 Corvette Stingray" do you not understand? what you see is what you get. besides, pre-production cars are NEVER as well assembled and finished as the production models. so by your logic the actual car in the dealer show room will be better than what was driven on stage and photo'ed.
the car is HOT. I'm no longer saving up for a C6 GS, or Z06. I now want a BASE C7 Stingray. my only question is; if the base Corvette is this good, what will they pull out of the hat for the Z06 and ZR1?!
*Sees C7 Corvette
*Claps hysterically like a seal
*Looks at bank account
*Cries hysterically like a seal
ugly as hell
ugly as hell
ugly as hell
ugly as hell
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht, nothing flows
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht, nothing flows
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht, nothing flows
looks like something i would have drawn when i was young, ugly as sht, nothing flows
tail panel is hideous, love the technology but not the styling
tail panel is hideous, love the technology but not the styling
tail panel is hideous, love the technology but not the styling
tail panel is hideous, love the technology but not the styling
Do not want.
Do not want.
Do not want.
Do not want.
I like everything but the back. It's absolutely horrible from the back. And when you say sequential gearbox, is that an auto with a manual mode or are we talking a true, flat-shifted, dog geared sequential?
I like everything but the back. It's absolutely horrible from the back. And when you say sequential gearbox, is that an auto with a manual mode or are we talking a true, flat-shifted, dog geared sequential?
I like everything but the back. It's absolutely horrible from the back. And when you say sequential gearbox, is that an auto with a manual mode or are we talking a true, flat-shifted, dog geared sequential?
I like everything but the back. It's absolutely horrible from the back. And when you say sequential gearbox, is that an auto with a manual mode or are we talking a true, flat-shifted, dog geared sequential?
The angles of the rear clash with the quad round exhaust tips. The whole thing is just too busy design wise.
The angles of the rear clash with the quad round exhaust tips. The whole thing is just too busy design wise.
The angles of the rear clash with the quad round exhaust tips. The whole thing is just too busy design wise.
i feel this new corvette is just another sign were all soon gonna be saying "remember the days when sports cars came with 6 speed manuals"
Wow, a dry sump system. GM is really stepping up their performance.
A little over designed for my taste, looks like they threw the kitchen sink at it. Already looks a little goofy and dated.
@dadecode @voloeverto787b Again cheap piece of turd. Just another Saturn with a big engine. I myself find it funny this car weighs so much but yet uses allot of aluminium and plastics. The C5 was and will always be the last good Corvette. My big issue as I have stated is the cheapness of the car. Its like being in a full size toy car. It also does not go around a track for poop either. Its just poop so get over it. Heck a Hyundai has better build quality than any GM product and that's just sad.
They really fucked up up that rear end! This car could have been epic! Greatest history in the States, cool name for a long time. The front end and the performances are up to expectations....but thats it. Feel sorry for the fans, I know they dont like it either. Check the forums. :((((
If you want a Camaro, buy a Camaro, why they think that 2 Camaro end would sell well??
You mean Z07 and ZR1 I think. Progressive thinking my young american mind. Remember. Thats why you think this car is cooler than the previous one. Well, its not. The rear end is Camaro. They ruined the name of Corvette and you think is cool because it goes faster. Good luck with this abomination for the future.
You should check out Jon Sibal's rendering...sick
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/jon-sibal-renders-the-2014-chevrolet-corvette-c7r/
@LouisYio Import guys will hate it, but the American/Midwest folk will like it. Got it.
@greenroadster no I mean Z06 as in it pays homage to the ORIGINAL Z06 form 1963.
The first Z06 package (known as RPO Z06) was offered on 1963 models and included an anti-roll bar, dual master cylinder, custom brakes, an over-sized gas tank and a stiffer suspension.
Nearly all of Chevrolet's performance designations are RPO (Regular Production Order) codes that happen to become public knowledge; like Z28, ZR1, ZL1, 1LE, Z34, Z24, Z51 and so on.
and I like it because i Like the way it looks...period. the fact that it will be faster is incidental and a bonus. side note: i happen to have liked and wanted just about every Vette except the 1974-1979...(on account of those being slow and loosing the awesome chrome accents of the 1968-73 Stingrays), I'm also not a big fan of the super soft plastic look of the C5, although i give the C5 Z06 a pass. to my eyes this is an explosive departure and a return to Corvettes being near complete departures from the last model design wise.
@zackspeed333 @voloeverto787b lol ok, i get it! you're trolling! my bad, i was actually taking you serious for a moment. i'll let you get back to your games...
I agree with everyone who say the rear is messed up badly. I mean IT IS a wide car, it's large, you gotta mark it up for anyone behind.
Just to me the C5 is still the best corvette they've made, I liked C6 less since front lights weren't as good.
And still leaf springs, maybe that's why its called Stingray
Please don't be a digital dash.....
I don't know, I kinda like it but...it is a bit fussy, design wise; some nice elements and, personally, I think the proportions are nice. Seven speed manual though, come on...
@Mighty_Mite50 Pretend you're driving a very fast bus.
@TheShinigami
HA nailed it
GM learned how to engineer a car for the 21st century.Still can't make it look good.Just no.
I was blown away for about 5 seconds when I saw this. Looks great for an instant, then you start finding things that irritate you about the design. Why did they make this car try to fit into their mediocre lineup style-wise instead of taking the opportunity to make this the flagship car and design leader for the brand? "Let's make the Corvette look more like the cheaper Camaro". Really? Compare a front on view of this and the new Viper and I swear you won't be able to tell the difference. With all the trinkets and lines on this car, it will look outdated in 2-3 years and be a forgotten generation. It's a shame.
@Larry Chen Back to old-school.. http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h174/v10viper04/1987_chevrolet_corvette_convertible-pic-58486.jpg
But seriously, I hope this isn't gonna happen.
True, it's a curse for all these cars nowadays. I can't even tell, why would you even want this car if you own C5 or C6. And what they did with backlights is just ugly. :/ It seriously reminds of Camaro.
True, it's a curse for all these cars nowadays. I can't even tell, why would you even want this car if you own C5 or C6. And what they did with backlights is just ugly. :/ It seriously reminds of Camaro.
@dadecode @voloeverto787b Not really trolling. My point is that just like the current Camero this new Vette is going to be very fat with allot of cheap plastic. Just looking at the pictures of this new car you can see that's its allot of the same. The Camero has horrible proportions and has some of the cheapest made body panels and paint I have ever seen. The Corvette has only been one thing and that's clumsy. Don't ever see that changing either.
@dadecode @voloeverto787b Not really trolling. My point is that just like the current Camero this new Vette is going to be very fat with allot of cheap plastic. Just looking at the pictures of this new car you can see that's its allot of the same. The Camero has horrible proportions and has some of the cheapest made body panels and paint I have ever seen. The Corvette has only been one thing and that's clumsy. Don't ever see that changing either.
@TheShinigami definitely agree with you! especially on the way the back looks! and the headlights must have been taken directly from the Viper...i still preffer the older C6...
@TheShinigami definitely agree with you! especially on the way the back looks! and the headlights must have been taken directly from the Viper...i still preffer the older C6...
Sorry but that is hideous. When I saw the front I thought it was the new Viper. Not saying the Viper is ugly, quite the opposite, but it looks like Chevy have just ripped it off.
It looks like the Camaro and new Viper's mutant lovechild. Seriously disappointed.
Sorry but that is hideous. When I saw the front I thought it was the new Viper. Not saying the Viper is ugly, quite the opposite, but it looks like Chevy have just ripped it off.
It looks like the Camaro and new Viper's mutant lovechild. Seriously disappointed.
@zackspeed333 @dadecode @voloeverto787b You think the C5 was the last good Corvette. You just officially lost whatever minute shred of respect anybody might have had for you.
@zackspeed333 @dadecode @voloeverto787b You think the C5 was the last good Corvette. You just officially lost whatever minute shred of respect anybody might have had for you.
I don't care what anyone says..................I love it! Would still prefer the c6 zr-1 though
I don't care what anyone says..................I love it! Would still prefer the c6 zr-1 though
@t.Menoncin does it really still have rear leafs......
@t.Menoncin does it really still have rear leafs......
@zamm333 transversal leaf springs, yes
@Nikhil_P @TheShinigami Fully agree with the above comments. The new Vette is not ugly, it's just bits of other cars (Viper, Camaro) put together. Surely they could have done much better than that. From the modern day corvettes, the C5 is best looking
@Yossarian @Nikhil_P That's exactly what I meant, since I do like pop-ups, C5 is my kind of choice, but I won't argue that C6 has an american feel and it was a Corvette to the core. The new one doesn't have anything special about it, the vette feature was lost here.
Years later, every race C5 I get to see still makes my heart bounce like crazy, they're stunning and brutal and passing years just doesn't get to them. That's class.
@MatthewScott1 By saying these words, you, my good man, actually agreed with everyone on the point that this particular car can't be called a great successor.
LOL you guys are import guys for sure. If a toyota or nissan badge was on it you'll say its the greatest thing since water. I love it. Btw borrowing design cues is nothing new.Manufactures been doing it since cars existed.
@Larry Chen Ha, eat your words! http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/c7-corvette-reconfigurable-gauge-cluster-video/#continued
Never read so many arguments by people who are clueless when it comes to automobiles. Opinions are fine, but how can all of you be engineers? I don't like some of the looks but you can actually see a photo comparison of all the cars mentioned on JALOPNIK and even next to the viper , gtr, and ferrari the vette is easily distinguishable. Posers and fanboys making comments...oh wait I'm on speedhunters not MOTOIQ!
I'll give serious credit to GM. They are one of the few manufactures with the exception of Nissan who put out something on par with world super cars and still make stuff the average Joe can buy.
From the ultimate car guy to the ultimate review, i'd like to see what Jay Leno thinks about this....He is a big Corvette fan.
Surprised at all the hate on here. Especially for a place devoted to all things fast and performance orientated. Luckily on just about every poll out there from the non enthusiast perspective, GM appears to have a winner on thier hands. I'm sure it will sell in far higher numbers than the Euro and JDM competition. Which means that there will be plenty of affordable C7s (and C6s) on the used market in the future with great modability potential for us and future SpeedHunters to enjoy and abuse!
It's funny how some guys can be all about car snobbery Nd show such love to European and Japanese cars that in reality are or we're little more than rare, expensive, and delicate trinkets or bland econoboxes (that just happened to be cheap to modify) yet hate on many awesome USDM performance cars that are both tough and affordable, and have far higher performance envelopes. It would seem if you are about performance such cars would trump modified Volvos or Corollas any day all day; US made or not.
@wrohrl @Larry Chen NICE! Mine would stay in Race Mode.
@t.Menoncin Spoken with true ignorance. Interesting how even with a elegantly simple, efficient, and compact rear IRS with "archaic" transverse leaf spring, it trumps every car out there in lateral grip and high speed handling.
But no it can't be a good long lived solution to a complicated problem, like how the 911 still has its engine hanging out way over the ass end of the car. Oh wait. That's a terrible idea that had terrible and dire consequences for handling and was only refined compensated for (even though Porsche tried to move away from it) because cutomers refused to buy every 911 replacemnt Porsche put out. So with super fat rear tires electronic nannys and suspension geometry tricks they kind of tamed it so it's at least relatively safe to drive now.
its busy, inspired, loud, i was really hoping it wouldnt get the camaro tail light treatment, and i totally LIKE it.
I love how people here call it overdesigned, then turn around and jizz about BenSopra's hideous bodykits. At least the vents on this thing are functional. Gotta agree though, the rear is overdone. And the vents should be body color. Other than that, incredibly sexy.
I would definitely be a 911 buyer any time. Corvette? I dont think so.
You see, there is so much more passion in style at any Porsche that in any Corvette.
@dadecode In parts I agree with you, its not a bad suspension, it will surely be well tuned but I can't help thinking about the potential. And the engine, what kind of monster could they build if they ditch the pushrod V8.
I gotta say I'm with @greenroadster , I would choose the 911 in a heartbeat.
@greenroadster Passion? Sure, style? Hardly. A German car is about as stylish as a German tank. Cool, well engineered, great performing, and certianly interesting, but stylish? Please. The 911 looks the same as its looked since the 60s. And even then the equating front on a "Lilly pad" "styling" look is was and is dictated simply by the arangement of its drive train. Nothing more, nothing less. Styling in a German car is merely a strip of chrome here, or plaid seats there. There are exceptions but the 911 is hardly one of them.
Squating frog on a Lilly pad ( dang iPhone )
@t.Menoncin @greenroadster Ditch the pushrods v8? Are you serious? Ditch THE most dominat performance/ single engine design of ALL time because you think it's "archaic". That smacks of such ignorance about the inherent efficiantcies and advantages of the OHV pushrod design that again, it shows nothing but pure ignorance.
You also completely disregard the Z06,ZR1 and the class dominating C5 and C6 racing programs.
A small block Chevy V8 is anything but old fashioned. It's small, light, compact, and fuel efficient. It's easily and simply maintained and modified. It loves revs yet makes mountains of torque, it is huge in displacement yet small in external dimensions, and is stupidly simple to adapt to just about any situation. And as if to rub it all in "snobs" faces its CHEAP.
Never mind that the basic design is actually newer than the OHC design as well. The valves are operated the way they are because of the inherent compact size of such a design, NOT because of old school engineering.
@zackspeed333 @dadecode @voloeverto787b *Camaro. And holding multiple track records and beating $300k cars around a lot of tracks is not something I would qualify as "poop" at "going around a track".
Your ignorance is showing.