The car you see here was unveiled just hours ago by Chevrolet at the Detroit Motor Show. This is the Corvette C7.
The ZR1 Corvette is faster around the Nurburgring than a Ferrari Enzo or Porsche 911. The Z06 can give any BMW a hiding around almost any race circuit. The V8 growl of a ‘Vette turns heads whenever it shows up.
The Corvette isn’t a supercar or ‘world class’. Those words are too crude for the big, plastic American car. It’s just too loud and too brash.
These may all have been true with the current Corvette, the C6, but last night Chevrolet unveiled the all new C7 Corvette at the Detroit Motor Show. My goodness, it’s a looker!
Lets start with the looks. The iconic short tail and long nose are there, as well as the jet-fighter inspired dual cockpit. From there, there are a number of changes. People have compared it to such disparate designs as the Ferrari 599 and Nissan GT-R, thanks to the blacked-out A-pillar, elongated greenhouse, and completely new kinked rear. This is a car for people who like vents. There are a lot – vents on the bonnet, vents on the side, vents on the wheel arches and vents on the tail.
Around the rear we find the traditional twin tail-lights but they are more square, more Camaro-esque. Corvette fans are upset, but they will need to accept it and frankly, I think it suits the car rather nicely. I also like the multifunction HID headlamps which, again, have upset the Corvette fans.
The interior of the C7 is a massive upgrade – it no longer looks like I made it, it looks like a car which belongs in the 21st century. The central dash is dominated by an all digital gauge cluster which allows the driver to select the desired information and a larger, integrated digital dash (with redundant controls). The wheel insert is even in the shape of… a Stingray!
The rest of the interior is a leather and carbon fibre sex chamber. There are completely redesigned seats, switch gear and dashboard with only 2 mirrors and the dash air-vents being carried over from the C6.
Finally, the mechanics. The Corvette C7 will come with a new 6,2l V8 producing 335kW featuring cylinder deactivation to improve the American sports car’s fuel economy to something a little more acceptable. The engine is coupled to a 7-speed manual transmission, similar to the new Porsche 911, or a 6-speed automatic.
The new Corvette will be offered in 2 trim options: Stingray and the returning Z51 nameplate. he Stingray is the base and gets the stingray badges above the front vents. The Z51 adds larger Brembo brakes, larger wheels, and optional variable-damping Magnetic Ride Control.
No word from Chevrolet SA if we will see the C7 here, but with the definite European character added to the car, it seems plausible to expect an RHD version. WIll it happen? Well, with Australia, UK and South Africa all nagging for the Camaro in RHD to no avail, we have no idea if the ‘Vette will ever make it here.
Anyone up for picketing the Chevrolet offices in Detroit?
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