Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

The "stingray" is back. Chevrolet recovered this mythical name in the saga Corvette, first used on a concept car that would give birth to the 'Vette's 63. At first glance it shows a huge leap forward compared to C6, which itself was an evolution of the C5 aesthetic. Now, the C7, aka Stingray, defined surfaces and much more technical lines. Is more overloaded, it is true, but his body looks more stressed. It is, in any case, purely Corvette, and as such recognize him on sight, thanks to its truncated rear, your windshield "widescreen", cut to the shape of the side windows (eye to this, that we discussed below ), or your nose and fins format.

Under the bonnet lies a V8 "small block" 6.2 liter (and that's small block?) With 455 horsepower (72 hp per liter, which is still not any "Odyssey") and a great 610 Nm of torque (here comes close to the 100 Nm of torque per liter displacement). With them is capable of doing the 0 to 100 per hour in 4 seconds. Chevrolet has a car whose chassis, now full of aluminum for all versions, is 45 kilos lighter than the C6 "normal" to date. It has declared a heavyweight for the C7, but it has confirmed to be "better power to weight ratio than a V8 Audi R8 or a Porsche 911 Carrera."

But do you want to know more about this monster of Detroit? So do not miss it after the jump.

Beginning in depth analysis for aesthetics, we return to what has been said before: his appearance is typically Corvette, but has its own character, assuming a very strong step forward, to be fans arguing about whether it is better or worse than before .

It measures almost the same as a Porsche 911 (or a Viper SRT) in length, barely unchanged compared to C6, but in person looks much more compact view. This is achieved by changing to convex surfaces composed taut body based style lines that give character to his appearance and muscularity.

The front is "very Corvette" with oval mouth we already knew from the first generation model, while the light clusters evolve, with new LED daytime running lights, and a more "aggressive" than the C6. Is there reasonable similarities here? We can find them, but we can also find their origin in the Corvette own DNA, so we prefer not to touch the subject.

The bonnet is radically more advanced than the basic C6. For starters, multiplies its "flat" six, thanks to a lot of power lines. It edgier, and is, along with the front grille, "pointed forward swept". Carbon fiber is to reduce weight, and has a hot air opening to leave from the front radiator while the axle load thanks to the aerodynamic.

The fins, more "pointy" on its crest, have air vents to dislodge downforce at high speeds, which is well learned by Corvette at Le Mans, and its design is clearly inspired by the Stingray Concept that we saw in 2009.

The side view is also Corvette, with the cockpit windscreen delayed and embracing the pillars to become one with the side windows. But there are two big changes. The first is that reappear rear side windows, behind the B-pillar, something we had not seen for decades in this model. And the rear goes from pan to be much flatter, thereby creating two separate C pillars which emphasize a body more muscular and powerful, something also marked by the "square" of the rear wings.

But the biggest change of all is in the truncated rear. While still with the idea of ​​"dry cutting" radically changes all that relates Corvette. To begin the round headlights disappear, giving way to a technological and strange lights "in three dimensions" LED technology paths surrounded by hot air outlets from the gearbox (remember, it transaxle).

It has a sort of diffuser, but at its center has four large "bazookas" to exhaust mode. They also take their inspiration from the Stingray Concept 2009.

However, seeing the body of a glance, we reaffirm that meets what you expect from a 'Vette, although there will be dissenting voices and the typical "looks like" as always. What strikes us is that, given the voltage and power transmitting this C7 "basic", how will the ZR1 and company?

Changing of the third to focus under the skin of composite (fiberglass and carbon in some areas), you say that now is the all-aluminum chassis, something that was not so far for the basic versions. In order to save weight, 45 kilos, and gains rigidity, 57% talking torsional rigidity of the chassis of steel previously used.

The battle lasts until the 2710 millimeters, while the wheels stay in a demure, for the segment, 18 inches, with narrower tires than the C6, with the idea of ​​reducing the unsprung mass. Both front and rear suspension is maintained by overlapping triangles, counting as elastic with transverse composite ballestones. The arms are forged and inspired by the drag racing version.

While Chevrolet has not confirmed the full weight of the car will have to be below the 1,400 kilos if he wants to keep its promise to improve the power to weight ratio of its rivals, as we said at the opening of this article. To achieve this, Chevy also opt for some carbon fiber body panels, also has a drastic reduction applied in many other parts masses.

In any case, the Corvette development team regrets that, due to the requirements of emissions and consumption, the car has not been anything lighter than they would like. And it has had to apply variable valve timing, fuel injection, a system shutdown operation with half cylinders, a steel drive shaft instead of one compound to withstand the vibrations as "four cylinders" ... and a lot more action, arguing the environment, not for how fast he could have become the 'Vette (always words of Chevy people, of course).

The 6.2 liter V8 is associated with two possible gearboxes. One is an automatic torque converter "conventional" (no double clutch) with seven relations and camming behind the wheel. The other is a box of seven relations manual (the first of its kind after the 911), which also contains the "heel toe" automated ECU programmatically, rather than in a car of this type do not know if we like. .. because while it takes away some of the work, also takes away part of the fun. If we want the car to do these things for us, is not it better to buy the automatic model then?

Speaking of engine and gearbox, we will tell you that one of the points of "American pride" of the Corvette's performance in terms of torque. Because if it is not an engine of high returns, with an impressive final stretch and over 100 horsepower per liter, it is key that offers almost twice the torque to two thousand laps rivals like the BMW M3, Ferrari 458 or (Those are their rivals? Chevy says that ...). Come on, you can drive without changing gears, taking push elephant on the rear wheels.

The weight distribution is 50/50 perfect, as always, with a very low polar moment of inertia, with the addition of all the heavy elements within the wheelbase. The center of gravity also reduces its height, thanks to the use of the roof (removable) carbon fiber.

The power steering is electric, but for the C6 has rigidificado 500%, to try to get the touch and accuracy, something we can not certify to sit behind the wheel.

How could it be otherwise in a 2013 car, the Corvette has multiple modes of operation, achieved through a round handle, which takes us through 12 presets for piloted damping, throttle map, and the amount of stability control is working. The control panel, which has a huge LCD between watches, changes according to the driving mode selected, to tell only what is relevant at the time (speed, navigation, speed ...).

But if you are feeling, what he is ordering the Vette with the Z51 Performance Package. This adds Bilstein shocks, 19-inch wheels in front and 20 rear, shorter gear ratio, vented brakes with specific shots, a larger rear spoiler, dry sump lubrication, and the odd detail, as the electronic differential lock, supplementing a car on the circuit more effective.

The interior is another major points of evolution. As you we had yesterday, it becomes a much better developed interior, both in materials and workmanship and design. All the dashboard "look" towards the driver, surrounding as in the Audi R8. The focus of attention is the steering wheel, smaller diameter, own design and very good looking, the shifter being very close to him.

Still going lying, with legs straight, as it should be, and your eyes will look through the huge steering box LCD watches. Everything is new around you. There aluminum finish (not painted plastic) and genuine carbon fiber.

The seats are offered in two specifications: a comfortable GT and over "competition", sportier, holding more and have less fluffy.


Chevrolet has that in tests with groups of potential buyers, these preferred inside the new Vette to the 911 and R8, regarding four to one (four were left with the Vette for every customer who preferred the interior of the Germans). Of course, these tests have been conducted in the United States ...

However, for the moment we have no price or date of arrival in Europe (in the U.S. will be sold at the end of this year), but do not expect late beyond the first quarter of 2014, with a similar rate to the current C6, despite all the improvements. This would place him on $ 119,880, which would make him once again, one of the best sports options price-product.

It is true that not long ago we tested the Corvette ZR1 on this page, and criticize some aspects of it, but the huge leap forward from the C7, Stingray, promises to fill more than anything when it was not perfect, to be more in the height than ever of its European rivals.

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