2014 Corvette Reveal Live at 6pm eastern

[Lord T]

Side note: Motor Trend put the ZR1 against the Viper GTS. They said the Viper was 2 seconds slower. But the ZR1 had carbon ceramic brakes and the tires are basically street legal race tires. So its not quite a 1:1 test because the viper has steel brakes and Pirelli. Not quite a fair test.

It was as fair as could be I think. Both of them were the fully loaded versions: SRT Viper GTS (the track package)
BASE PRICE-$124,990
PRICE AS TESTED-$141,990

and Chevy Corvette ZR1 3ZR package.
BASE PRICE-$113,595
PRICE AS TESTED-$125,920


The two things you noted were mostly self inflicted wounds by Chrysler.

1) The Viper should have had Carbon Ceramic Brakes as an option. I think any sports/performance car that costs over $100k should have them standard or optional. Car And Driver's comparison of the two said that they noticed brake fade with the SRT Viper.

2) Chrysler (probably more likely Fiat) chose Pirelli tires over Michelins. The SRT Viper is running Pirelli Corsa's , which Ralph Gilles and others who worked on the SRT Viper, feel are as good as the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. It may be just the corporate line since SRT is owned by Fiat, and Pirelli is an Italian company that has almost always shod Fiat's high performance cars, but he and his marketeers appear to go out of their way to imply that the new Pirelli Corsas are superior to the PSCs they replaced. They also tested the tires back to back during the car's development (I assumed to make sure the Pirelli was superior to the PSC).

Funny thing is the ACR viper that broke the LF-A production record wore MPSC's. The Z06, and the ZR1 also wore the same tires when they went back to the ring and beat their own times after both were beat by the GTR with the stock Goodyear tires. While the Pirelli's have a lesser treadwear rating, the MPSC is generally thought to be perhaps the best cup tire.

I think it's more a matter of accessible performance, driver confidence and that unbelievably good Mag/Rheo suspension.

Maybe Chrysler is saving Ceramic brakes, MSPC, and some type of active suspension for the ACR version coming soon.

It was pretty much "run what you brung" (or have as an option).

 

[Lord T]

There doesn't seem to be a hp advantage for the Viper.

(From InsideLine)

Dyno-Tested: 2013 SRT Viper GTS and 2012 Chevy Corvette ZR1
The Baddest Viper Yet Meets the ZR1 on the Dyno

Few cars adhere to their ancestry more securely than the 2013 SRT Viper GTS. Here's a voluptuous rear-wheel-drive sports car offered exclusively with a manual gearbox that relies on sheer galactic-grade, normally aspirated cubic inches to deliver its thrust. The stars and stripes practically erupt out of its side pipes. Oh, and — side pipes!

Last go-round, Chrysler called this sports car "SRT10." Now it wants you to say its manufacturer is SRT, which is as likely to catch favor as The Rock's attempts to be called Dwayne. It's a freakin' Viper, and that's that.

Because what it needed was more power, Chrysler upped this latest Viper's output to 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque as measured at the engine's flywheel. We headed down to MD Automotive's Dynojet chassis dyno to glean more insights on the reptile's power delivery as measured at the wheels.

The Viper's 8.4-liter pushrod V10 power plant is a leviathan, its sheer acreage dictating the packaging of nearly everything else about the car. There are still just two valves per cylinder, but what this engine lacks in valve curtain area it makes up for with enormity. Yet the V10 is not entirely devoid of innovation, sporting an elaborate multipiece camshaft that allows independent adjustment of exhaust and intake valve events.

Our best premium fuel here in Southern California is lowly 91 octane. Normally this would be cause for some mild concern when it comes to a 600-hp engine. It is, however, likely that the Viper's big, understressed mill is less octane-sensitive than more highly strung ones. Here's what we measured on the chassis dyno:

Torque rises progressively between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm, reaching a maximum of 528 lb-ft at a relatively lofty 5,100 rpm. It noses over just as gradually, reaching its peak 558 hp just before the abrupt 6,400-rpm fuel cut. Big cubes mean lots of air no matter what the tach shows. More than 400 lb-ft is available at any revs above 2,200 rpm. Mat the gas right off idle and it's already producing north of 300 lb-ft of torque. Crazy, right?

Incredibly, the Viper is not the torquiest production car we've ever tested. In addition to a few luxury sedans, the Viper gets pipped by the 638-hp 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 that we happened to run on the dyno that same day. Have a look:

This is one of those cases where peak numbers definitely don't tell the whole story. Sure, the 'Vette squeaked out a few more ponies at the peak. But look at the difference in torque through the midrange — the ZR1's supercharged 6.2-liter V8 simply puts down a whole lot more of it than the Viper's aspro V10. At 3,600 rpm the ZR1 is belting out 85 lb-ft more than the Viper. Though the Viper enjoys 2.2 liters more displacement, it just can't ingest as much air as the ZR1's blower heaves through its valves.

With the windows down, the side pipes assault your eardrums with the V10's off-kilter, dueling-five-cylinder percussive pummeling. It's never been a pretty sound, but in this newest guise it doesn't remind you quite so much of brown delivery trucks. Want thrills? Relish the Viper's absurdly potent acceleration.

The ZR1 is no less vocal. Once its exhausts flap open midway through the rev range, the plastic fantastic's audio track wakes the hell up. In the confined space of the dyno room, the bellow grows downright ear-splitting.

Easter egg: As the Viper's tach starts to approach the rev limiter, the whole gauge gradually glows brighter and brighter red while the car's cartoon snake face emerges in the center. Yeah, it's goofy and over the top. This is a car with an 8.4-liter V10. You expected restraint?

 

[BDR]

Man chevy came with that work for mofos... jesus

 

[pete334]

Damn just got through paying my 2008 Escalade off. I might have to get into some more debt. Or I might wait a few years and get a 2017 model. Midlife crisis. The new one will probably run you around 55k. monthly payment around 1000 a month.

 

[BDR]

Damn just got through paying my 2008 Escalade off. I might have to get into some more debt. Or I might wait a few years and get a 2017 model. Midlife crisis. The new one will probably run you around 55k. monthly payment around 1000 a month.

a grand? man put some more money down lol

 

[J.E.T.S]

Umma bout to go cash out on a viper... I hit da lotto!!



























































I wish.

Lol


Sent Collect from the Fulton County Correctional Facilty using pay phone.

 

[Deezz]

 

[Lord T]

Here is a video of the center console screen retracting and showing the cubbyhole space behind it with USB ports. Nice!
http://bcove.me/zni0k14i

 

[Lord T]

 

[M3MD]

It was as fair as could be I think. Both of them were the fully loaded versions: SRT Viper GTS (the track package)
BASE PRICE-$124,990
PRICE AS TESTED-$141,990

and Chevy Corvette ZR1 3ZR package.
BASE PRICE-$113,595
PRICE AS TESTED-$125,920


The two things you noted were mostly self inflicted wounds by Chrysler.

1) The Viper should have had Carbon Ceramic Brakes as an option. I think any sports/performance car that costs over $100k should have them standard or optional. Car And Driver's comparison of the two said that they noticed brake fade with the SRT Viper.

2) Chrysler (probably more likely Fiat) chose Pirelli tires over Michelins. The SRT Viper is running Pirelli Corsa's , which Ralph Gilles and others who worked on the SRT Viper, feel are as good as the Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. It may be just the corporate line since SRT is owned by Fiat, and Pirelli is an Italian company that has almost always shod Fiat's high performance cars, but he and his marketeers appear to go out of their way to imply that the new Pirelli Corsas are superior to the PSCs they replaced. They also tested the tires back to back during the car's development (I assumed to make sure the Pirelli was superior to the PSC).

Funny thing is the ACR viper that broke the LF-A production record wore MPSC's. The Z06, and the ZR1 also wore the same tires when they went back to the ring and beat their own times after both were beat by the GTR with the stock Goodyear tires. While the Pirelli's have a lesser treadwear rating, the MPSC is generally thought to be perhaps the best cup tire.

I think it's more a matter of accessible performance, driver confidence and that unbelievably good Mag/Rheo suspension.

Maybe Chrysler is saving Ceramic brakes, MSPC, and some type of active suspension for the ACR version coming soon.

It was pretty much "run what you brung" (or have as an option).

I agree

Chrysler should have never replaced those Sport Cups. Those are by far the best street legal tires available right now (counting the days till my M3 needs new tires) and they should have kept them on the Viper.

And, they're charging $140k for that Viper without ceramic brakes? FOH! That's laughable!

 

[Deezz]

Here is a video of the center console screen retracting and showing the cubbyhole space behind it with USB ports. Nice!
http://bcove.me/zni0k14i

I think this is an industry first. Very slick...

 

[Lord T]

Some of the Stingray colors

Black

Cyber Grey Metallic

Laguna Blue

Velocity Yellow

Arctic White

Night Race Blue Metallic

Lime Rock Green

^^Glad to see green back again! Hasn't been a green Vette since the C5 with Fairway Green

and Dark Bowling Green Metallic

 

[Lord T]

With the chrome bar in the grill blacked out (or removed)

 

[Deezz]

Never knew Vettes ever came in Green.

That White w/ the Red interior is sick.

I would still go with the Gray/Red combo.

 

[Lord T]

Never knew Vettes ever came in Green.

That White w/ the Red interior is sick.

I would still go with the Gray/Red combo.

Green is an old color

And I really love the Lime Green Stingray because it is close to "British Racing Green", one of my favorite car colors. Unfortunately the Green will probably be the lowest selling color and get canceled after a year of production, making it rare. Give me the Lime Rock Green with the Tan Guts

 

[Lord T]

In black!

 

[Lord T]

A PS of blue, I think someone is trying to guess what the Laguna Blue is going to look like on the Stingray. Looks more like Grabber Blue from Ford, but it still looks great, I like it!

 

[Deezz]

Holy Shit...

That BLK/RED with the HRE is killin' it.

 

[Lord T]

Holy Shit...

That BLK/RED with the HRE is killin' it.

I know! BTW, I like the new sig!

 

[Deezz]

I know! BTW, I like the new sig!

Been obsessed with this car since it came out. Keep posting up the pics and info.

 

[will_right]

As someone who actually sees a Camaro rear everyday, I can tell you that doesn't look like it.

C/S this looks WAYYYYYYY better

 

[will_right]

That bitch is nasty...

Hellz to da fuck YEAH!

 

[Rossini]

Damn right I can't wait

 

[J.E.T.S]

In black!

Omggggggg!!!





Sent Collect from the Fulton County Correctional Facilty using pay phone.

 

[Deezz]

 

[DreDee]

that's a sexy bitch right there! My new favorite car of 2013, maybe if I hit the lotto I'll have this beast right next to my 570z

 

[M3MD]

First 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray Sells For $1.1 Million


The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with VIN ending in #0001 has sold at auction for an incredible $1.1 million, more than 20 times the expected cost of the latest ‘Vette.

Of course, getting to own the very first example to be sold to the public has its premium, and all proceeds from the sale will be going to benefit the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Nevertheless, the amount paid is still staggering.

The final bidder at the Barrett-Jackson auction held yesterday in Scottsdale, Arizona, was NASCAR team owner and avid Corvette collector Richard Hendrick.

The weekend’s auction has been a busy one for Hendrick, who also dropped another $270,000 on a rare 1958 Chevrolet Corvette owned by GM CEO Dan Akerson, and close to a million dollars on the 1968 Owens/Corning L88 Corvette race car.

Corvettes have done surprisingly well at auction in the past, so the latest figures aren't all that surprising. The very first C6 Corvette ZR1 went for a million dollars back in 2008 and more recently the first C6 Corvette 427 Convertible went for $600,000. By comparison, the first 2013 SRT Viper only garnered $300,000 at auction, making it a relative bargain compared to these 'Vettes.

Hendrick will now have to wait until Corvette production officially kicks off at the car’s plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the third quarter of the year. The red example seen here was the same showcased at the opening of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show last week and is destined to be used solely for testing and promotional duties.

The launch of the 2014 Corvette, or C7 as it’s called by fans, marks 60 years since the first Corvette made its debut at GM's Motorama exhibit in New York City back in 1953. It also marks the revival of the legendary Stingray nameplate and the setting of a new benchmark for entry-level performance.

The new Corvette Stingray is destined to be the most capable ‘base’ Corvette yet. Its new LT1 6.2-liter V-8 engine is promised to deliver at least 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, enough for a 0-60 mph time of just 3.9 seconds, yet it will still return better than the current model’s 26-mpg gas mileage thanks to a host of technology.

 

[Lord T]

^^Saw that auction Saturday night Rick Hendrick strikes again!

 

[RoomService]

that white vette

 

[Lord T]

Goodbye Goodyear Run Flats....hello Michelin's!


(press release)

Michelin Chosen As Standard Original Equipment Fitment For 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

DETROIT, -- Michelin, the world's leading tire manufacturer, marks a milestone at the 2013 North American International Auto Show with the announcement that, for the first time, MICHELIN tires are the exclusive original equipment tire on the complete line-up of 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models.

All 2014 Corvette Stingrays will come equipped with the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire, an ultra-high performance tire that was co-developed by Michelin and Corvette through a relationship that began on the racetracks of the American Le Mans Series.

Being selected as the fitment on the 2014 Corvette Stingray marks a significant achievement for Michelin after the tire giant also gained tire fitments for the 2009 Corvette ZR1 and 2011 Corvette Z06.

"The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire exemplifies Michelin's commitment to innovation and our aim to deliver the best possible performances in every tire we make," said John Moloney, vice president of original equipment marketing at Michelin North America. "The proof is in the performance; owners of the 2014 Corvette Stingray will enjoy a tire that is tuned specifically for their vehicle and delivers the road-handling, grip, cornering ability and progressivity of drive they expect."

Michelin earned the opportunity to outfit the 2014 Corvette Stingray and then worked closely with the Corvette vehicle development team to design and engineer a tire that matches the vehicle performance. During the vehicle development process, Michelin performed more than 12,000 hours in tire design using state-of-the-art computer tire modeling and completing thousands of miles of subjective test driving. Harnessing its full arsenal of experience and technology, the company developed two MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tires unique to the Corvette Stingray, one for the standard car and another for the Corvette Stingray with Z51 Performance Package.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP summer tire technical advancements include:

-- Michelin's most innovative ultra-high performance technology, including advances in the tread compound adapted for improved levels of both dry and wet grip.

-- Footprint shape designed by sophisticated computer modeling and analytic tools traditionally used to predict the stresses occurring in racing tires. This is the first time these tools have been used to achieve higher performance in a street tire.

-- A new, advanced Aramid cap ply specially tuned for optimum contact patch control for high speed and high performance tire handling and wear life.

-- A new specially adapted internal rubber compound to reduce rolling resistance and maximize overall vehicle fuel economy without compromising other performances.

-- Asymmetric run-flat inserts and carcass configuration are designed to broaden and emphasize a range of tire performances by focusing distinct functions to the appropriate sidewall.

"When given the opportunity to develop a tire for the breakthrough next-generation Corvette, we knew we had to bring the best technology Michelin had to offer," said Lee Willard, lead Michelin technical engineer for the Corvette project. "The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire represents a significant advancement in what is possible for an ultra-high performance tire."

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire for the Corvette Stingray with Z51 Performance Package is different from the tire found on the Corvette Stingray. Because the Z51 Performance Package takes the Corvette Stingray to a more aggressive level of performance, Michelin was tasked with designing a version of the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire to Corvette's specifications.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire delivered as original equipment for the Z51 Performance Package is aggressively tuned to provide outstanding handling and grip and road-holding capability. The design was derived from a combination of technologies found on the MICHELIN Pilot Sport Cup ZP tire that helped the 2012 Corvette ZR1 post a 7:19.6 Nurburgring lap time and from the significant gains from the development of the MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport tire.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire also features the next-generation of racetrack-born tread compounds found in the record-setting Pilot Sport Cup ZP of the C6 ZR1 and Z06. Unlike the MICHELIN tire fitted to the standard 2014 Corvette Stingray, the Z51 tire features a custom dual-tread compound and pattern that achieves near-racing-slick grip and handling levels, while providing longer tread life and wet handling capabilities.

Like the tires found on the standard Corvette Stingray, advanced computer-modeling techniques used to design American Le Mans Series racing slicks were applied to the Z51 Performance Package tires. The process resulted in tire structure and contact patches optimized specifically for racetrack-critical tire performances.

The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tires are manufactured in Greenville, S.C., in state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed for high-performance, high-intensity tires.

For detailed information on the MICHELIN tires engineered for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray visit: www.michelinmedia.com

 

[J.E.T.S]

First 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray Sells For $1.1 Million

Sent Collect from the Fulton County Correctional Facilty using pay phone.

 

[Lord T]

Deep Dive: The High-Quality, High-Tech Interior Of The 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray

In case you didn’t already know, the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray is a technological tour de force. From its all-new LT1 V8 engine to its purposefully-sculpted exterior, the seventh-generation of the ultimate American sports car means business. Big, serious, and absolute business. And it’s no accident that the C7 Stingray’s interior takes the all-American super car to new heights, all in the name of a better car with a better driving experience.

Corvette product managers took into account complaints voiced by customers (and pretty much everyone with a keyboard and access to the web) about the cabin of the sixth-gen Corvette, and delivered an interior worthy of being in a world-class supercar such as the C7. In fact, the team used the “Respect the Craft” and “Truth in Materials” taglines when revealing the all-new Corvette, referring to holding engineering, design, and delivery of a world-class cabin in high regard. These qualities only scratch the surface of describing the interior of the sixth-gen Vette.

The Devil Is In The Details

The new Corvette’s cabin features genuine materials and precise craftsmanship, as well as advanced technologies for a more connected and engaging driving experience. And since the Vette is, and always has been, a driver’s car, designers paid an unprecedented amount of attention to the smallest and most intricate details to make the vehicle an even better driving machine with a no-compromises cabin.

The result is that every C7 model features a fully-wrapped interior in which every surface is covered with premium, soft-touch materials. You won’t find any plastics pretending to be aluminum, either: if it looks like metal, then it’s real aluminum; if it looks like carbon fiber, then it’s carbon fiber; the same goes for micro-suede and genuine Napa leather.

One of the first things the driver will notice upon entering the C7 is the wonderful sweeping arch element over the cockpit, as well as the seamless transition of the arch from the instrument panel to the door. The driver will also notice that the instrument panel is wrapped in leather, with the materials being hand-selected and hand-stretched for better grain matching. Stitching, meanwhile, is performed by robots to provide perfect seams. In effect, the C7′s interior is a combination of hand craftsmanship and machined precision to ensure the interior is first-rate in fit, finish, and ambience.

“Every feature and detail in the interior is designed to enhance the driver’s connection to the Corvette,” said interior design director Helen Emsley. “It starts with the fighter jet inspired wraparound cockpit; continues to build with the smaller steering wheel, more supportive seats, and high-definition, configurable screens, and is finished in gorgeous materials.”

To further fine-tune the cabin, the Corvette design and development team took “field trips” (can we come?) to GM’s Milford Proving Ground and engaged in some high-performance driving, resulting in the implementation of several new features, like the steel-reinforced grab bar on the passenger side of the center console that (you guessed it) serves as an excellent oh shit! handle. The attention to detail during the team’s field trips to Milford also carries through to the soft-touch materials lining the edge of the console, where the driver naturally braces during high-load cornering.

When it comes to assembling the all-new Vette at GM’s Bowling Green plant in Kentucky, a significant amount of collaboration took place between design and manufacturing for the C7′s cabin: “To ensure the high quality of the interior, we spent time working on the line alongside the team that builds the Corvette every day at Bowling Green Assembly Plant,” said Ryan Vaughan, interior design manager. “And thanks to that collaboration between design, engineering and manufacturing, we were able to make adjustments that allowed us to maintain the integrity of the design, improve the assembly process and ultimately deliver what we believe to be a world-class interior.”

The Steering Wheel

The C7′s wheel is no longer the same as the unit found in a $20,000 Chevy Malibu (can you say parts bin?). Instead, the 2014 Corvette gets a smaller 14.1-inch diameter (360 mm) steering wheel that, according to GM, contributes to a more direct and immediate feel to directional inputs.

The wheel also has buttons galore, including controls for cruise control, voice/Bluetooth, and the eight-inch color display in the gauge cluster (more on that in a bit). The wheel isn’t a flat-bottom unit, but having to yet drive a C7 around the track (or elsewhere, for that matter), we’ll reserve judgement on this matter… for now.

The Seats

Since we brought up the Malibu, have you ever noticed that the leather adorning the seats of the sixth-gen Corvette matched that of Chevy’s midsize sedan? That will no longer be the case with the C7, as grade-A Napa leather adorns the Vette’s two seats. The precise and elegant stitching found on the new steering wheel is also present on the leather trim of the all-new seats.

That’s right, the seats are all new. No longer will drivers (and passengers) have to endure the extreme “give” during spirited acceleration and cornering that were too common with the chairs of the C6, since Corvette engineers created two entirely new seats. The chairs use a magnesium frame structure for greater strength and weigh less than comparable steel frames. The new seats are also more rigid, resulting in increased support during performance driving.

The standard “GT seats” are great for all-around comfort, while the optional Competition Sport seats deliver more aggressive side bolstering for greater support on the track.

A Few Buttons For The Passenger

If the act of merely sitting in the passenger seat of a 2014 Corvette isn’t enough, and the passenger begins to feel left out thanks to the driver-oriented cockpit, fear not: the co-pilot can be entertained with a few buttons on a micro-LED screen placed below the passenger-side air vent. The buttons allow for the adjustment of passenger-side climate control and seat ventilation.

Even better, the screen is positioned away from the performance features of the center stack panel, negating any and all reasons for the passenger to use mess with interfere with any of the performance features in the center stack. That’s the way it should be.

The Technology

The C7′s driver-focused cockpit is made up of four primary features: the Driver Mode Selector, standard dual high-resolution re-configurable screens, and a Head-Up Display.

Driver Mode Selector

At the core of the Corvette Stingray’s driver-focused technologies is the Driver Mode Selector (DMS). The rotary knob, which is positioned directly behind the shifter, allows drivers to optimize 12 vehicle attributes to suit their driving preference and road conditions. Five settings are available, including Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track.

-Tour mode is the default setting and is meant for everyday driving

-Weather mode is designed for added confidence while driving in the rain or snow

-Eco mode is for those concerned with achieving optimal fuel economy

-Sport model is for spirited road driving

-Track mode is for, you guess it, the track

“The all-new Corvette Stingray is really three cars in one: It provides the comfort and functionality of a long-distance GT car, the connectedness and infotainment of a daily driver and the acceleration, grip and braking of a capable track car,” said Harlan Charles, product manager.

“With the Driver Mode Selector, we wanted to give the driver an easy way to tailor virtually every aspect of the car to fit their driving environment. The result is a more rewarding, more confident experience, whether you’re commuting in a downpour or charging through the corkscrew at Laguna Seca.”

The Driver Model Selector adjusts twelve parameters with each selection, including:

-Gauge cluster configuration: the Tour, Eco and Weather modes feature displays for trip data, audio and navigation; Sport mode shows classic, easy-to-read sports car gauges; and Track mode’s configuration shows a gauge design based on the Corvette -Racing C6.R race car display with lap timer

-ETC (Electronic Throttle Control): adjusts the throttle input curve for the selected mode for improved responsiveness

-Paddle-shift automatic transmission: adjusts shift comfort and shift points

-Active Fuel Management: in normal mode, the LT1 engine uses V-8 power during acceleration and V-4 power when coasting; in Eco mode the engine remains in V-4 mode to improve fuel economy until aggressive acceleration is needed

-Exhaust (active exhaust system): the system adjusts the timing of the electronically controlled exhaust valves to enhance audible feedback from the V8 depending on the drive mode

-Electronic limited-slip differential (Z51): adjusts the rate at which the limited slip engages, to balance between steering response and stability in different driving conditions; more aggressive performance in Sport and Track modes

-Steering: assist effort is adjusted in the modes to provide the driver with the correct steering feel for the driving condition

-Magnetic Ride Control: adjusts shock damping based on road conditions, from optimized comfort to performance driving

-Launch control: available in Sport and Track modes for manual and automatic transmissions, providing maximum off-the-line acceleration

-Active handling (StabiliTrak stability control): a “competitive” setting is available in Sport and Track modes and is more suited for on-track conditions. It can also be disabled, giving the driver complete control

-Traction control: weather mode tailors traction control and engine torque for driving in inclement conditions

-Performance Traction Management: available in the Sport and Track modes and offers five settings of torque reduction and brake intervention for track driving

Taking all of this into consideration, the claim that the 2014 Corvette Stingray is really three cars in one begins to make that much more sense.

Configurable Screens & Head-Up Display

Outside of pretty LED-based head- and tail-lamp treatments, the hottest trend in the automotive industry these days is to stuff as much technology into a vehicle’s instrument cluster and center stack as possible. But Corvette engineers and designers didn’t just stuff the 2014 Vette with tech wizardry for the sake of doing so.

Instead, they carefully added three configurable displays — a pair of eight-inch screens that are part of the latest incarnation of Chevrolet MyLink, along with a color head-up display (HUD) to convey different performance parameters of each drive mode — an approach not unlike that taken with the Corvette’s functional exterior to enhance the driving experience, especially at high speeds.

And remember those field trips taken by the Corvette team to Milford? Well, they also resulted in tweaks to aspects of the configurable digital screens in the instrument panel.

“Early in the development process, we spent time on the track, driving Corvettes hard. That experience shaped many parts of the interior, such as the instrument display in Track Mode,” said Corvette Interior Design Manager Ryan Vaughan. “At 120 mph, you experience a sort of tunnel vision, as you concentrate on the next turn. At that moment, you don’t need to know the next song playing on the radio.”

The fully reconfigurable instrument cluster offers three different modes, including:

-Sport Mode: made up of an analog-like tachometer on the outside and reconfigurable areas inside of the cluster. The driver can add the reconfigurable area to contain a digital speedometer, radio station/track/track number info, a friction bubble (which tracks lateral and longitudinal G-forces), along with other information.

-Touring Mode: slides the tach to the side and makes it less dominant, while adding infotainment displays, navigation, and other info.

-Race Mode: dominated by an easy-to-read bar graph tach inspired by the C6R (exemplary of track-to-street transfer). It includes a digital speedometer, the drive gear, and a reconfigurable area beneath the bar-graph tach.

Not only are the two eight-inch screens in the C7 informative, but they were designed to deliver excellent visibility in direct sunlight. The screen in the instrument cluster delivers 650 cd/m2 of brightness, while the unit in the center stack provides 1,000 cd/m2 — making it among the brightest screens in the industry.

Center Stack Display

And even though drivers may have all the information they may possibly need in the instrument cluster, they can operate the touch screen unit in the center stack using gestures, as the system contains gesture recognition support. Drivers can also lower the center screen to access a hidden storage compartment that includes a USB input for charging devices or uploading data.

The C7′s advanced MyLink infotainment system offers high-definition radio and enhanced OnStar with 3D navigation maps. An additional USB port is located in the center console, as are a stand-alone audio input jack and an SD card slot.

Rounding out the feature list is the memory driver’s seat, along with available Bose audio, push-button door releases, and a push-button parking brake.

Bose Speakers

An optional 10-speaker Bose audio system includes a bass box and two subwoofers. According to GM, the speakers “deliver greater sound quality with reduced weight and size.”

Push-Button Door Releases

Continuing with the trend established by the C6, the C7 features electric push-button door releases, rather than traditional pull handles. In the rare case of a system failure, a mechanical release lever is available on the outboard of each seat.

Push-Button Park Brake

Those looking to hoon around corners using the e-brake are out of luck: the new Corvette does away with the mechanical lever-based braking system in favor of a push-button electric park brake. For what it’s worth, the set-up saves space in the cabin, while professional race car drivers and instructors would be quick to point out that if you’re using the e-brake to get around a turn, you’re doing something wrong.

Push-Button Start

In case you haven’t yet noticed, all of the switches in the 2014 Corvette are “push-button” — including the switch to start (and stop) the engine. The system is integrated with a keyless access system, which is mighty convenient.

Frameless Rearview Mirror

Rounding out the interior goodness of the 2014 Vette is the (sweet) frameless rearview mirror first introduced on the 2013 Chevy Camaro. We’ve already sung the praises of this particular feature, but in case you haven’t seen it yet — the mirror finally takes these otherwise boring appliances into the 21st century. Looks like we were right about it making its way to other models in the GM stable.

All in all, the interior of the seventh-generation Corvette is the embodiment of respecting the craft of designing a fine automotive interior. Not only is it high in quality materials and fine design, but it also serves to enhance the driving experience of the vehicle, allowing an even greater connection between human and machine — the way it should be.

 

[Lord T]

A couple out testing in the wild.

 

[Lord T]

The Stingray at the Barrett-Jackson auction

And next to a Veyron at the auction

 

[Lord T]

HRE seems to really like the C7 The wheels look perfect on it!