Motoring News
Today, 15 January 2014Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray first drive review
The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is better in every respect than its predecessor, though traditional character traits remain intact
The seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette. The return of the Stingray; in name, at least.We’ll have to see if the new Corvette warrants the iconic title that Chevrolet, only after production was signed-off, decided it could attach to the car. It’s so good, they think, it deserves it.The 2014 ‘Vette is a new car from the ground up, with only two parts carried over from the previous generation. Apparently that’s not ‘the chassis’ and ‘the engine’, either, merely a cabin filter and roof latch.The new chassis is an aluminium backbone structure, with composite body panels hung from it. Suspension is by double-wishbones all-round, retaining the trademark transverse springs, and with magneto-rheological dampers.All European-sold Corvettes get what’s called the Z51 Performance Pack as standard, which is optional in the US. Left-hand drive is standard everywhere.The motor is the one you’d expect to find: a 6.2-litre small block (yeah, I know) V8, here making 460bhp and 465lb ft and driving, as standard, the rear-wheels through a seven-speed manual gearbox. There’s an auto too, of course, and a convertible.
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