America’s long wait is over: The 2014 Corvette Stingray has officially arrived. Here are the first stats and images. MCG photo
Russell Center in old industrial Detroit was the scene for the C7 Corvette launch, which included a presentation by General Motors design VP Ed Welburn, GM North America President Mark Reuss, and Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. (Video here.)
You’ll note the Stingray name has reappeared—this is the first Corvette to wear the name since 1976. There’s a new stylized stingray badge, too (see gallery below).
Here are a few preliminary stats and facts, with more to follow:
+ Gen 5 6.2L base V8 tentatively rated at 450 hp and 450 lb-ft, see previous MCG feature here.
+ Seven-speed manual gearbox with active electronic rev matching; six-speed automatic with paddle shifters also available
+ All-aluminum frame claimed to be 57 percent stiffer and 99 lbs. (45 kg) lighter than the previous C6 piece
+ Wheelbase 106.7 inches (2710 mm); overall length 177 in. (4495mm)
+ Base Stingray tires: Michelin Pilot Super Sport run-flat; front P245/40R18; rear P285/35R19
+ Carbon fiber hood and roof panel, carbon composite inner body panels
+ First Corvette with rear quarter windows since ’56-62 removable hardtop
…and more. We’ll have additional technical info as it becomes official. Meanwhile, check out the big photo gallery below.
Expensive piece of crap…. Save yourself money and buy a Camaro or better yet a Ford Mustang.
GM use to be quality but now it is junk.
Just my humble opinion..
The new Stingray is STUNNING! Look out Ferrari.
For the record, that design is 45 years old. I drew it in Junior High school in 1968. My version didn’t have that godawful ugly rear end though.
It looks OK from the side. I don’t like that spike on the bottom but it probably adds strength. The fender vent is canted over too much for my taste but I can live with it. I dislike the door being neck level but that’s a common malady of cars today so it’s excused.
The front looks better than the previous generation and the interior looks great too. I’d like to see it in the wild, but we’re making progress. For a long time, cars were monochromatic. One color outside, all black inside. Now we’re up to two colors. Hopefully by 2030 the designers will find a color wheel that allows for complementary shades too.
Personally I think the rear end is not great, but getting much better as they evolve away from the C4 and C5 which had those hideous butts (especially the fat rectangular look of the rear end from sideview). Everything besides that looks really nice, in my opinion.
Still the best deal in sportscars.
The rear looks like a Camaro. The front has the stupid ‘smilely face’ grill like the Camaro.
A what’s with the ugly black wheels?
Hi Bill, viewed up close and personnel, what was your opinion of the C7’s interior fit, finish and functionality as compared to previous versions? Is this the release version of the C7, or do you suspect any final changes before production starts?
The cars I’ve seen were all pilot models and you really can’t judge build quality or fit and finish from them, but I would be very surprised if the real thing is not palpably better than the previous model (and the C6 is pretty good). GM works very hard on it these days, especially on luxury cars.