Seventh Generation Chevrolet Corvette
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 consisted 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 instant criticism for some of the most overstyled 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. Other designers found the C7’s large front grille to be a rather unattractive reversion away from the Corvette’s prior four generations of grille-less designs that pulled cooling air from beneath the nose. 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 clean muscular styling revealed no tack-on 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 clean minimalist styling language with oversized, intricately styled headlamps with LED accents.
The 3LT interior package includes Bose 10-speaker audio system; SiriusXM radio with one-year subscription and HD radio receiver; color head-up display; memory package; navigation system; heated and ventilated seats with power lumbar and bolster adjustment; premium Napa leather seating surfaces; leather-wrapped dash and instrument panel, console and door panels.
The Z51 Performance Package includes dry sump lubrication, specific close-ratio gearing; transmission-cooling system; larger 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged alloy wheels and dual-compound tires; larger, slotted rotors and brake-cooling ducts; electronic limited-slip differential and differential cooling system; unique chassis tuning; optional Magnetic Ride Control active-handling system with Performance Traction Management.
The Corvette Stingray Coupe was first unveiled in 2013 with the 3LT interior package and leather-wrapped interior ($8,005), Z51 Performance Package ($2,800), Competition sports seats ($2,495), Exposed-carbon-fiber roof panel ($1,995), Magnetic Ride Control with Performance Traction Management ($1,795), Dual-mode exhaust system ($1,195), Carbon fiber interior trim ($995), Sueded, microfiber wrapped upper interior trim ($995); Red-painted calipers ($995), Black-painted wheels ($495), followed by 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion, 2014 Kagawa import car show.
The U.S. model went on sale in the third quarter of 2013 as the 2014 model-year vehicle. Early models incorporated TREMEC TR6070 7-speed manual with rev-matching for both downshifts and upshifts or Hydramatic 6L80 6-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission optimized for Active Fuel Management.
2014 CORVETTE STINGRAY COUPE PREMIRE EDITION
It is a limited (500 units) version of 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe 3LT with Laguna Blue Tintcoat body colour, Brownstone suede interior, suede-wrapped interior trim, carbon-fiber interior packages, visible carbon fiber roof, variable tuned performance exhaust system, Z51 Performance Package, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, “stinger” hood stripe, “Stingray”-logo interior sill plates and wheel caps, custom Corvette-branded luggage from Thule, a unique vehicle identification number starting with 300001, an exclusive dash plaque.
CORVETTE STINGRAY PREMIRE EDITION CONVERTIBLE(2014–)
It is a limited (550 units) version of Corvette Stingray Convertible 3LT with Lime Rock Green body colour, Brownstone suede interior, suede-wrapped interior trim, carbon fiber accents, variable tuned performance exhaust system, Z51 Performance Package, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, unique wheels with “Stingray”-logo center caps, “Stingray”-logo interior sill plates, a five-piece set of Corvette-branded luggage from Thule (from the Corvette Accessories catalog), a unique VIN sequence starting with 400001, in unique dash plaques.
US model went on sale for $77,450, including destination and delivery fees, and was set to arrive in dealerships in early 2014.
EQUIPMENT
The new Corvette from day one was a pioneer in the use of advanced materials. 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 implement active rev matching. The Corvette also provides a driver mode selector with 5 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.
PRODUCTION
Production and customer delivery of the 2014 Corvette began in September 2013. Corvette Bowling Green, Kentucky Assembly Plant tours begin again in October 2013. As noted previously, the official announcement date for the 2014 Corvette was on January 13, 2013.
Delivery of 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe to dealers began on September 18, 2013.[28] Production of the Stingray Convertible began at the end of 2013.
The Gen 5 Small Block engine used in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was built in GM’s Tonawanda Engine Plant.
The first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible was sold in 2013 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach to Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick for USD $1,000,000 in a Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer institute charity lot.
A month since the first 2014 Corvette Stingray delivery, 485 vehicles had been delivered, with 38% of the vehicles include 7-speed manual transmission, 75% of all orders include Z51 Performance Package (with 54% also selected magnetic ride suspension system)
2015 CORVETTE Z06, Z07 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE (2015–)
The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is a version of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with 6.2L supercharged intercooled LT4 engine with 1.7L Eaton R1740 TVS supercharger, which makes 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. It also has Rotocast A356T6 aluminum cylinder heads, a removable roof panel, seven-speed Tremec manual with rev-matching technology or an Hydra-Matic 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, a removable carbon fiber roof panel, uniquely calibrated SLA-type front and rear suspension design, standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control dampers, standard smart electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) integrated with Electronic Stability Control and Performance Traction Management systems, Michelin Pilot Sport P285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear tires. The fenders are extended by 56 mm front and 80 mm rear, 19×10-inch front and 20×12-inch rear spin-cast aluminum wheels, Brembo brakes (371x33mm front and 365x25mm rear two-piece steel brake discs, aluminum six-piston front and four-piston rear fixed calipers), a front splitter, spats around the front wheel openings, a unique carbon-fiber hood with a larger vent, and a larger unique rear spoiler; redesigned mesh pattern on the front fascia for maximum airflow to the supercharger’s intercooler heat exchanger, dedicated brake-cooling intakes and wider grille outlets on the bottom serve as air diffusers, a larger hood vent, larger front fender vents and unique air blades over the inlets on the rear fenders, larger rear-fascia openings than the Stingray, a choice of 2 magnesium frame seats (GT seat or a Competition Sport seat with more aggressive side bolstering), a steel-reinforced grab bar on the center console for the passenger, soft-touch materials on the edge of the console, a fully wrapped interior with soft-touch materials (Napa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and micro-suede depending on the trim level).
Z07 performance package includes Michelin Sport Cup P285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear tires, 394x36mm front and 388x33mm rear carbon ceramic-matrix brake discs, a larger winglets to the front splitter, an adjustable see-through center section on the rear spoiler.
Optional carbon-fiber aero package (in either black or a visible carbon-fiber finish) adds a carbon fiber front splitter with aviation-style winglets, carbon fiber rocker panels, and a larger rear spoiler with a fixed wickerbill – a small, vertical tab at the edge of the spoiler that significantly increases downforce.
The 2015 Corvette Z06 was unveiled at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.
US model was set to go on sale in January 2015 as 2015 model year vehicle with a base price of $78,995.
Chevrolet offers buyers of the Z06 an opportunity to personally assemble the engine used in their cars as part of a $5,000 package.
The Z06 has a published top speed as high as 199 miles per hour (320 kilometres per hour) (if the Z07 package is excluded).
