2014 Corvette: Stingray Returns, ‘Breaks From Tradition’
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General Motors(NEW YORK) — It is the iconic American sports car. Six decades of Corvette is now celebrated with an all-new, next-generation Stingray, introduced this week in Detroit and New York, and sold everywhere this fall.
This is the first Corvette to be dubbed the Stingray since the 1980s.
“Stingray is one of the hallowed names in automotive history,” said Ed Welburn, General Motors’ vice president of global design. “We knew we couldn’t use the Stingray name unless the new car truly lived up to the legacy. The result is a new Corvette Stingray that breaks from tradition, while remaining instantly recognizable as a Corvette the world over.”
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The new Stingray seems tighter in design, with a nose that seems more integrated to the frame than the last generation. And a rear-end that reminds one of a Ferrari.
The automaker hopes to distinguish this Corvette from previous models not only in name, but also in almost all of its components. The Stingray uses an aluminum frame, which is 57 percent stiffer and 99 pounds lighter than the steel frame used in the 2013 Corvette. It shares only two parts with the 2013.
The new Corvette boasts a carbon fiber hood and roof panels, lightweight compounds for the fenders and doors, and a carbon-nano composite for the underbody panels. The use of these composite materials reduces the weight of the car by 37 pounds. There are no EPA figures yet, but Chevrolet engineers are hoping for low 30s on the highway and confidently report that this will be the most efficient Corvette ever.
The new engine, a 6.2 Liter V-8, includes direct injection, continuously variable valve timing and a combustion system the company says will deliver more power while using less fuel.
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On the inside, the Stingray includes two standard dual, high-resolution information screens and a smaller race-style steering wheel. The impression for the driver is all leather and carbon fiber, with a strip of aluminum on the doors. For the first time, Chevrolet will offer two styles of seats, the standard sport model and a Competition Sport option with side-bolstering to provide greater support on a track, begging the everyday driver to hit maximum g’s in the corners.
There are only two 2014 Stingray’s in existence today, both hand-made … and for display. So no driving allowed so far. ABC News has been promised a test drive this summer.
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