General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray arrives with edges sharpened
In a rational world, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray wouldnt exist. The very idea of launching a two-seat sports car named after a World War II ship powered by a truck-sized V-8 goes against every trend line on every chart in every automakers boardroom. Yet here it is, the seventh generation of Americas most venerated sports car, sharpened in all dimensions by racing experience toward out-hustling the best sports cars in the world. The question will be whether it can outrun history.
After 60 years of production, General Motors could have found ample reasons for waving the checkered flag at the Vette. Thanks to GMs bankruptcy, the Vette has soldiered on longer than it should have without a major update; GM sold 14,132 last year, well off the 30,000 a year it sustained for much of the past decade. New U.S. fuel economy rules hit sports cars head-on, demanding the same measure of efficiency improvements in hot rods as in compact family sedans.
More importantly, the Corvette has lost much of its cultural currency from the heyday of NASA astronauts drag-racing their free Corvettes on the beach, falling into the tar pit of an old mans car competing for young peoples attention. From Transformers to the Fast and Furious movies, Hollywood prefers the new Chevy Camaro and those Vettes the astronauts drove. A survey from the popular Forza racing video game of the most-driven models found the modern Vette didnt crack the top 40. And while you can still buy Barbie her classic pink Vette, its a far less popular choice than sending her off with Ken in a Mini Cooper.
On first view, the makeover wrought by Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter and team appears evolutionary. Yet every piece of the Vette has either been re-engineered or updated, from the new all-aluminum frame to the sharper, shrink-wrapped exterior to the 6.2-liter, 450-hp, 450 lb.-ft. V-8. That engine can now be paired to an optional Tremec 7-speed manual, a GM first, that will automatically match the engines RPMs to the anticipated gear in all shifts.
More at: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-arrives-edges-sharpened-235611949.html
MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)I'm not much of a car guy at all but I've always liked Corvettes.
Probably costs a small fortune.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)drool...
but in reality I drive this...
which I also love.
freethought
(2,457 posts)but that is a sweet looking ride! It looks like something that rolled of the line at Ferrari!
A HERETIC I AM
(24,367 posts)The Vette;
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta;
Gorgeous car. I pass by the plant in Bowling Green, KY. about once a month.
sendero
(28,552 posts)... one could not help but notice the Euro influence in the styling, and why not, the Europeans (ok Italians have always made the most exciting sports cars.
I too have always wanted a vette but looks like that ship has sailed. If I DID get one I'd want a 69 or so
malthaussen
(17,193 posts)Trajan
(19,089 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)sad-cafe
(1,277 posts)of course I would so get many tickets were it mine.
Courtesy Flush
(4,558 posts)They may be better cars now, I don't know, but for pure eye appeal, 1950s - 1970s were the heyday.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)Also available in hard top I think? But I love an open roof.
raidert05
(185 posts)For things that go fast but....I love big tires and driving over big rocks real slow...
ileus
(15,396 posts)GObamaGO
(665 posts)That is the best looking Corvette in decades.
Zorro
(15,740 posts)Looks like a winning combination.
Archaic
(273 posts)My Volt gets 250mpg.
This would get 26 mpg.
So my average would still be great!
(Kidding. My Volt is everything I need)
Zorro
(15,740 posts)saw my first Tesla Model S in the wild (Redondo Beach) last week.
That is one gorgeous car.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)And, the Tesla's loads better for the environment, too, since it's all electric.
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)nc4bo
(17,651 posts)benld74
(9,904 posts)RebelOne
(30,947 posts)Former boyfriend had one in the '70s and I would borrow it when my car was in the garage. I hated returning it to him. My sister in Florida now has a new 'Vet.
Bonn1997
(1,675 posts)DemoTex
(25,394 posts)But I prefer a Porsche 356 (I had a 1965 356SC sunroof coupe in the 1990s).
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)Thanks for stopping by this thread and sharing this picture!
justanidea
(291 posts)CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)The windshield on those Corvettes is iconic. But it is a subjective aesthetic determination which means 'Everybody is right!'
As for the 2014 edition....to me it is another example of the prevailing design fixation on 'excess'. In particular, excessive design.
Modern day designers do what the 'Vette designers did. Take 4 or 5 stylized body lines each capable of standing on their own, and work out a way to put them ALL into the design. I think it is a generational thing, but still prevalent in many aspects of the culture.
Back in my day there was a aesthetic narrative to the long drawn out body lines that suggested grace or style without shouting. The shape of a windshield, the iconic shape of the side panels and the pert, protruding, yet stylishly understated rear deck made the Corvette something special. Nowadays, they just want to SELL as many as possible.
Unfortunately that means putting all the company's resources into the biggest moneymakers. Cars that are short, stocky and well 'branded'. Don't get me started....
.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)My choice would be the '63 split window coupe
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)I think that one looks more Italian than American.
I'm partial to American muscle cars.
In fact, I drive a Mustang.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)I learned to drive o a '73 with a 351 CL and some years later owned another one very similar to that first one. Also had a '90 for a while.
Defiantly my favorite vehicle.
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)they market the Vette to 50+ yr old men, its a substitute for testosterone.
I owned one in my 20's the new ones well are hard on my back.
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)Did you know that over a third of Corvette customers are women? Mostly convertibles with an automatic, but still, 506HP at less than $70K and maybe you'll think about that comment a bit in the future.....
If I had the money a ZL1 Camaro and it has NOTHING TO FUCKING DO with testoseroney. Not being a gear head you'd never understand. OH and I'm 62 shortly, bury my wrinkled old ass in the dirt when I start to spew shit like that.
flvegan
(64,407 posts)Cheers, friend!
And I'll take a ZR1 and a CTS-V wagon to go, brother!
RandiFan1290
(6,229 posts)More low T sufferers to ride my ass down the road.
DainBramaged
(39,191 posts)Those of us who have suffered from brain tumors or cancer NEED Testosterone substitute, and your reply is crude and truly evil.
Just because you don't get cars doesn't mean you have the right to disparage seniors or recovering cancer patients.
flvegan
(64,407 posts)Good to see you as well.
Response to DainBramaged (Reply #27)
Post removed
crazyjoe
(1,191 posts)but its too bad GM long ago (early 80's) lost the plot, where the 'vette was supposed to be a sports car the average guy could afford.
Its no wonder it isnt selling very well.
justanidea
(291 posts)I was skepitical when the renderings leaked a year ago. However after seeing actual photos I am loving it.
GM said they are targeting a younger dempgraphic with the C7. Being a 22 year old, I think I fall right into the dempgraphic they wish to target. (Or will be in that demographic in a few years)
The styling this time around is much more exotic than the outgoing model. Lamborghinis have long been my dream cars, however this Corvette is making me reconsider. Plus the fact that a new Corvette is ~$60k vs. a new Lamborghini Gallardo's ~$200k helps.
Some hi-res pics from the show:
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[IMG][/IMG]
[img][/img]
Also in gray!
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
Rob H.
(5,351 posts)I like the gray one a LOT more than the red. It just looks sleeker, somehow. Maybe because the black bits on the body don't stand out as much? Now if only I had a pile of cash sitting around that I no other use for.... (And if I did, make mine the 7-speed manual, please.)
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)mako shark bodies. God, those things are sexy.
flvegan
(64,407 posts)LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)flvegan
(64,407 posts)And even the L82 at the time was barely 200hp.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)Well, it can't, 'cause my dad took it out to get rebuilt and the truck it was in the back of was stolen on the way to the shop. In like 1991. We suck at prompt completion of projects. Which is why like two years ago we were talking crate motors.
He made noises about yoinking the engine out of the El Camino, you can guess what my response sounded like.
edit: And the silly rear spoiler just messes up the aerodynamics and the lines of the car, both.
flvegan
(64,407 posts)It was an L48 to start. Then it ran 8's. Scared the hell out of me and I sold it.
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)Dad knows you had one and asked me ages ago to ask you something, but I forget what the eff it was.
Victor_c3
(3,557 posts)I'm glad I did the work, but I never want to do that again. It took me about two years to get everything apart, cleaned, and put back together. I was really proud of myself for what I managed to accomplish - especially since before doing any of the work I knew absolutely nothing about cars. I sure learned a lot. I even rebuilt the transmission (TH350) on my own.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
For the engine, I ended up with a 465 hp, 450 tq, 383 cubic in, 6.2 liter V-8. It made a huge difference over the stock L-48 that the car used to have.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)and will get to see it up close and personal then.
Looks pretty great from those pictures.
Honestly though, I am more interested in the new line of Ford Hybrids and EVs.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)Evasporque
(2,133 posts)Kolesar
(31,182 posts)I don't need a garage queen, though. I will buy a sailboat or something to go camping with.
Paladin
(28,254 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)I'm looking for 45 mpg.
Floyd_Gondolli
(1,277 posts)The UK version of the show, not the shitty American version.
It's nice to see someone call these plastic laden shit boxes what they are.
justanidea
(291 posts)Hmm nice try. I would be more subtle next time though. Your trolling is too obvious.
Floyd_Gondolli
(1,277 posts)Don't brew up a fondu in your panties.
freethought
(2,457 posts)about some the of the more recent Corvette models. He didn't put them up there with Aston Martin or Ferrari, but they had some qualities he liked.
davesliberal1977_gg
(22 posts)I've always liked the Corvettes, especially the newer ones. They provide near-supercar like performance at a fraction of the cost. Plus, they're very reasonable to maintain.
taught_me_patience
(5,477 posts)That sucks. Where is the turbo V6 or turbo 4 banger? This is 2013... why are they using 50 yo technology?
Looks good, though.