Sixty years after its debut, the Chevrolet Corvette is a different beast than the original 1954 model that featured a base price of $3,498 and two available options: a $91 heater and a $145 AM radio. To date, General Motors has sold over 1.5 million Corvettes. Now, the all-new, seventh-generation 2014 Corvette is ready to launch at the end of this year.
General Motors gave us a look at the iconic American sports car at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It is still a two-seater -- and is the most powerful standard model ever produced in the U.S., according to Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. Pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date. (The current generation starts just under $50,000).
Using only two parts from its predecessor, the new 2014 Corvette Stingray is an engineering tour de force. It uses only two bolts from the last generation Corvette's engine. Every other part is new in the 2014 model that's scheduled to go into production later this year.
Powered by an all-new aluminum V-8 that generates 450 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque, the Stingray uses only 12 horsepower to move down the road at 55 mph. The 6.2-liter small-block V-8 LT1 gasoline engine will get better fuel economy than the current Corvette engine, which is rated at 26 mpg, says chief engineer Juechter. The 2014 Stingray will accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds. Juechter also says the two-seater will achieve a higher top speed than the current base model which is rated at 190 mph.
The driver mode selector allows customization of driving performance with five choices: weather, eco, tour, sport and track. Excellent brakes are needed in a vehicle that can generate such high speeds. The new Stingray comes with bigger brakes as standard equipment. If desired, buyers can purchase the optional Brembo Z51 brake package for use on tracks.
The new gasoline direct-injection V-8 features cylinder deactivation from eight to four cylinders when driving conditions permit. Variable valve timing and an all-new combustion system are new features in the engine.
Juechter says upwards of 1,000 people worked on the engineering team for more than three years to create the new Stingray. Chevrolet benchmarked the Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R and Ferrari Italia sports cars. Chevy's aim was to produce a sports car that could compete with these speedsters.
It's also the first time that Chevrolet has ever used hollow aluminum castings and laser welding for the body structure. The process allows aluminum extrusions to be cored out, making them stiffer. This results in 57 percent greater torsional stiffness than the current structure and produces better handling characteristics for the Stingray.
The first Corvette offered an AM radio as the only optional entertainment system. Buyers of the 2014 model will have virtually unlimited connectivity and infotainment options, along with GM's exclusive OnStar system. The Stingray has two 8-inch screens, one with touch-sensor control, USB input port, Chevrolet MyLink communications, HD Radio, along with a 10-speaker sound system.
Courtesy of The New York Daily News
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