Chevrolet has debuted the 2014 Corvette Stingray at the Detroit Motor Show, the most powerful – and fuel efficient – Corvette to date.
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Revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, the new Corvette – which gets the fabled ‘Stingray’ moniker – comes as standard with a 6.2 litre V8 delivering 450 horses and 450lb/ft of torque which translates in to a properly swift 0-60mph of under four seconds, and yet conspires to offer official economy of 26mpg – just not at the same time.
But it looks like the new Corvette may be able to go round corners as well as it goes in a straight line, with a new seven-speed manual ‘box with rev matching driving the power to the rear wheels, and a five position Drive Mode Selector that’s said to tailor 12 vehicle attributes to suit intent and environment.
Lightweight material abound with a carbon fibre bonnet and removable roof panel, composite wings, doors and rear quarter panels, new aluminium frame and carbon-nano composite underbody panels all conspiring to keep weight in check and providing an optimal 50.50 weight balance.
Also on offer will be a track Z51 Performance Package that includes an electronic limited slip diff, dry sump, integral cooling for brakes, diff and transmission and a body kit. There will also, of course, be more powerful versions of the new Stingray to come.
Ed Welburn, GM’s Design boss, said:
Stingray is one of the hallowed names in automotive history.
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 recognisable as a Corvette the world over.
The new Corvette Stingray is die to go in to production at GM’s Bowling Green Plant later this year and on sale before the end of 2013 in the US. There’s no official word yet on whether the Stingray will come to the UK, but there are rumours GM are considering a RHD version.
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