Post: #1

http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/20...uto-show.html/

Wave bye-bye to the old plastic-fantastic Corvette, America’s original sports car.

In a nod to the past and a major reach for the future, Chevrolet unveiled the all-new 2014 Corvette tonight in Detroit, renaming it the Chevrolet Stingray.

The much anticipated ‘Vette was introduced on the eve of the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

And you can forget those old slams — the complaints that the Corvette was crude and unsophisticated.

The lithe, slightly more European looking two-seater gets a carbon-fiber hood and roof panel, a compact high-compression 450-horsepower V-8 and a new seven-speed manual transmission (a six-speed automatic remains an option).

The car’s taut body — fitted to a wheelbase that is about one inch longer than the current car and an inch wider — includes composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels and carbon-nano composite underbody panels.

In addition, it will ride on a hydroformed aluminum frame that is 57 percent stiffer and 99 pounds lighter than the current car, Chevy says.

Direct fuel injection and cylinder deactivation for cruising in four-cylinder mode were just some of the additions to the ‘Vette’s 6.2-liter V-8.

In fact, the Stingray shares only two parts with the previous-generation Corvette, Chevy said of its new Porsche- and Viper-fighter.

“The 2014 Corvette delivers the fastest acceleration, the most cornering grip, the most track capability, the best braking performance and what we expect to be the best fuel economy ever for a standard Corvette,” said Tadge Juechter, chief engineer for Corvette.

Chevy says the Stingray will rip to 60 in less than 4 seconds and achieve highway fuel economy of more than 26 miles per gallon.

Although the company did not disclose the car’s weight, it should have a better power-to-weight ratio than a Porsche 911 Carrera or Audi R8, Chevy said.

The new Stingray also seeks to fix one of the Corvette’s long-standing problems — an interior that fell far short of expectations for a car costing more than $50,000.

The “fighter-jet inspired” cockpit will be crafted in premium materials such as Napa leather trim for the seats, soft-touch material on the edge of the console, a smaller steering wheel and high-resolution information screens.

Standard Stingrays will blister the pavement with 18-inch wheels up front and 19s in the rear, while Z51 performance models will roll on 19s in front and 10-inch wide 20s in the rear.

“We continually apply technologies and strategies developed for Corvette racing directly to the production car,” Juechter said. “That influence can be seen in virtually every aspect of the new Corvette Stingray, from the aerodynamic design to the use of carbon fiber to the cooling techniques and even in the brake system.”

Corvette did not disclose pricing for the Stingray. The car is expected to arrive at dealers in the third quarter of this year.

Post: #2

Lots of Ferrari styling knockoffs, especially the headlamps.

Looks great in the "gun metal grey" but still cant get the interior right...*sigh*

Post: #3

Nice, i like, God Bless America and V8's, a lot of performance and muscle for ~$50k?

Wonder if they have engineered it for RHD this time?

Anyway, at least the engine/powertrain will find its way to Australia for our HSV models some time in the future

http://www.hsv.com.au/e3/showroom/

U guys are lucky to have the best $/HP on the planet

Not sure it will monster a Nissan GTR, let the battle begin

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #4

I forgot this was being revealed today. Thanks for the heads up.

Love it for the most part. The tail lights not so much.

The long rumored split window would have been hot....

Post: #5

(01-14-2013 04:07 PM)RASER Wrote:  Nice, i like, God Bless America and V8's, a lot of performance and muscle for ~$50k?

Wonder if they have engineered it for RHD this time?

Anyway, at least the engine/powertrain will find its way to Australia for our HSV models some time in the future

http://www.hsv.com.au/e3/showroom/

U guys are lucky to have the best $/HP on the planet

Not sure it will monster a Nissan GTR, let the battle begin

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

I love Skylines but the fact you cant get a GTR R35 with a true manual transmission kills me.

Post: #6

Awful.

Post: #7

(01-14-2013 04:24 PM)Menace Wrote:  Awful.

A Ford or Chrysler man!

Its a fusion of tradition and modern, thats the best they can do!

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #8

Chevy has done it again.

Post: #9

(01-14-2013 04:32 PM)RASER Wrote:  

(01-14-2013 04:24 PM)Menace Wrote:  Awful.

A Ford or Chrysler man!

Its a fusion of tradition and modern, thats the best they can do!

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

I just hate these transformer-style designs. Too many edges and slots and crap. I just think a car of this caliber needs more style and curves. If they wanted to re-make a stingray they should have flared those front wheel wells a bit more to give it that partially retro design cue.

Post: #10

That interior looks inspired by the later C4 interior.

Much respect to GM for not stunting the Vette by doing the retro shit they did on the Camaro, or like Ford did on the Mustang.

Post: #11

(01-14-2013 04:37 PM)porscheguy Wrote:  That interior looks inspired by the later C4 interior.

Much respect to GM for not stunting the Vette by doing the retro shit they did on the Camaro, or like Ford did on the Mustang.

HATE the Camaro tail lights. Shoulda kept it classic round.

Post: #12

(01-14-2013 04:37 PM)porscheguy Wrote:  That interior looks inspired by the later C4 interior.

Much respect to GM for not stunting the Vette by doing the retro shit they did on the Camaro, or like Ford did on the Mustang.

Agreed. The only retro looking Corvettes there should be are the ones from the previous generation.

With regards to the tail lights, the ones on the car IMO fit better with the rear's styling.

Post: #13

I don't know why it reminds me of the Batmobile.

But yeah, definitely a lot of Ferrari influence.

Post: #14

(01-14-2013 04:36 PM)Menace Wrote:  I just hate these transformer-style designs. Too many edges and slots and crap. I just think a car of this caliber needs more style and curves. If they wanted to re-make a stingray they should have flared those front wheel wells a bit more to give it that partially retro design cue.

I think we should hold final comment till we see it in the metal

But yeah, does look like many different teams have had a go at the exterior, some wanted old, some want jet fighter etc.

Bit like the 911 Porker, everytime they try to do a major change they get canned

FYI this will be $150k and up when it arrives here in AUS, not official by GM but private importers doing conversions etc.

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #15

(01-14-2013 04:07 PM)RASER Wrote:  Nice, i like, God Bless America and V8's, a lot of performance and muscle for ~$50k?

Wonder if they have engineered it for RHD this time?

Anyway, at least the engine/powertrain will find its way to Australia for our HSV models some time in the future

http://www.hsv.com.au/e3/showroom/

U guys are lucky to have the best $/HP on the planet

Not sure it will monster a Nissan GTR, let the battle begin

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

This is the base car. As I recall the current ZO6 will "monster" a GTR on many tracks so I'm not overly concerned about it.

The interesting thing is all Vettes will have an aluminum spaceframe now, saving 99 pounds over the previous model. Nice as it's already a pretty light car.

Was just reading that this new engine puts out the same torque as the 7 liter in the ZO6 from 1000 to 4000 RPM. In other words 400 ft/lbs of torque at 2000 RPM and climbing.

I love me some torque...

And, while I kinda like the 7 speed manual, they really do need to get a DCT in it as an option at least as they really help the track times.

Post: #16

(01-14-2013 04:36 PM)Menace Wrote:  

(01-14-2013 04:32 PM)RASER Wrote:  

(01-14-2013 04:24 PM)Menace Wrote:  Awful.

A Ford or Chrysler man!

Its a fusion of tradition and modern, thats the best they can do!

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

I just hate these transformer-style designs. Too many edges and slots and crap. I just think a car of this caliber needs more style and curves. If they wanted to re-make a stingray they should have flared those front wheel wells a bit more to give it that partially retro design cue.

This. The body styling looks awful, no class whatsoever. While it might be 1/4 of the price, you just can't fuck with Italian aesthetic.

Post: #17

(01-14-2013 04:57 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  [
This. The body styling looks awful, no class whatsoever. While it might be 1/4 of the price, you just can't fuck with Italian aesthetic.

Harsh, but true.

USA does not do high class, like Australia you are a young country, this takes lots of generations and time before you can do art like the Italians, most likely never.

Dont be hard on the Vette and GM team, this is the look most US customers want, not pure and sexy like Italian do.

U want vulgar, check out GM's Aussie operation:

http://www.hsv.com.au

We have a word for it, bogan!

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

Post: #18

I cant wait to see what the aftermarket does with the LT1 motor

Post: #19

It looks way too busy...and its still using suspension tech from the 60s.

GM CEO Bob Lutz said that it was gonna be a mid engined car with a small displacement high revving V8 - which would have potentially made it like an american Ferrari but they decided not to innovate the concept instead.

Vettes will always appeal to the crowd that wants straight line performance and sporty looks but this new incarnation is still not a true drivers car.

Post: #20

(01-14-2013 08:13 PM)EasyMoney Wrote:  It looks way too busy...and its still using suspension tech from the 60s.

GM CEO Bob Lutz said that it was gonna be a mid engined car with a small displacement high revving V8 - which would have potentially made it like an american Ferrari but they decided not to innovate the concept instead.

Vettes will always appeal to the crowd that wants straight line performance and sporty looks but this new incarnation is still not a true drivers car.

Suspension tech from the 60's? Really?

hahahaha ok.

btw-This was also revealed at the show today;

Post: #21

(01-14-2013 08:13 PM)EasyMoney Wrote:  It looks way too busy...and its still using suspension tech from the 60s.

GM CEO Bob Lutz said that it was gonna be a mid engined car with a small displacement high revving V8 - which would have potentially made it like an american Ferrari but they decided not to innovate the concept instead.

Vettes will always appeal to the crowd that wants straight line performance and sporty looks but this new incarnation is still not a true drivers car.

Leaf spring suspension and a pushrod engine design that's also old tech and it shits on cars worth 4x more.

With the engine being a push rod it's actually smaller in size at 6.2L than the 4.4L V8 found in the BMW M3 which has DOHC.

Post: #22

For those that think the Vette runs a leaf spring like under the back of your neighbors pickup, check this out;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring

It's actually very high tech/light and allows them to run smaller anti roll bars, further reducing weight.

Speaking of that, the new Vette does not even need or have a rear anti roll bar due to it's suspension design.

Add in MRC and it's a very modern and extremely capable suspension system.

Post: #23

I hate all these tacky plastic cars with no style.

The real shit are the cars built until the 1980s.

Post: #24

(01-14-2013 09:24 PM)Hotwheels Wrote:  For those that think the Vette runs a leaf spring like under the back of your neighbors pickup, check this out;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_spring

It's actually very high tech/light and allows them to run smaller anti roll bars, further reducing weight.

Speaking of that, the new Vette does not even need or have a rear anti roll bar due to it's suspension design.

Add in MRC and it's a very modern and extremely capable suspension system.

I'd still like to see a modern modern setup. I've driven the last two previous generations of vettes and they're not exactly what I would call confidence inspiring in the canyons. But they sure are a blast on the freeway.