The Stingray is back. General Motor’s Chevrolet division has resurrected the iconic Stingray name for its newly redesigned 2014 Corvette. Although it is called the “C7” by enthusiasts to distinguish it from earlier Corvettes, the 2014 Stingray has taken many styling cues from earlier models, particularly the models of the 1960s. The 2014 Stingray is a sports car designed to make a nice bold statement for the newly re-energized General Motors. In fact, the Chief Engineer of the Corvette, Tadge Juechter, says upwards of 1,000 people worked on the engineering team to create it. Accordingly, the 2014 Corvette has been almost completely redesigned; in fact, Chevrolet said there are only two parts used in the 2014 Corvette that were used in the previous model.
The 2014 model is also a bit more powerful than its predecessor. The earlier “C6” Corvette offered 430 HP but the C7 delivers 450HP as well as 450 lb-ft of torque from a new all-aluminum 6.2 liter small block V8. Plus, its thrifty on fuel. The new Stingray V-8 is designed with cylinder deactivation from eight to four cylinders, variable valve timing and an all-new combustion system. The result is powerful sports car that can deliver a full 26mpg on the highway. At 177 inches, the 2014 Corvette is a couple of inches longer than the Corvette earlier C6, and has a wider stance, with a wheelbase that’s an inch wider. A major upgrade is the Stingray’s frame which has been changed from steel to aluminum to reduce weight. With an aluminum frame and several body panels made from lightweight carbon fiber, the Stingray is a lighter car than the C6 versions and has a significantly lower center of gravity.
The interior is also a noticeable improvement over today’s Corvettes, with lots of stitched leather instead of plastic, as well as carbon-fiber trim. We spoke with the sales manager at Reedman-Toll Chevrolet (PA) recently and he told us that Chevrolet apparently received less than enthusiastic comments concerning the interiors of their Corvettes for quite some time. For 2014, the designers were charged with “giving this car a world-class interior”. The current C6 Corvette is priced from around $50,000. While Chevrolet hasn’t released 2014 Corvette pricing just yet, it stands to reason that the car will cost more, and possibly significantly more with dealer mark-up, than the model it replaces. Pricing should be released soon.
