[1]By now you’ve no doubt heard the news, and seen the official pictures from GM [2] of the all-new-from-the-ground-up 2014 Corvette C7. But what you haven’t seen yet, at least from us, are live pictures from GM’s large Corvette display at the Cobo Hall showroom. For GM, the North American International Auto Show was ALL about the 2014 Corvette Stingray, and their booth placed a lot of emphasis on that.
For those not in the know, we’ll rehash all the important details of the 2014 Corvette, starting with the all-new, 6.2 liter LT1 engine. GM has a cutaway engine model on display, showing off some of the new features like direct injection, Active Fuel Management, as well as an all-aluminum design. Horsepower is estimated to be 450 ponies, with torque in the 450 ft-lb range. Torque from 1,000 to 4,000 RPM follows the same power curve as the large LS7 engine from the current Corvette Z06.
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GM gave the Corvette C7 a hydroformed aluminum and magnesium frame which is twice as stiff as the steel frame in the Corvette C6, while weighing 99 pounds less. The body panels are made from carbon-fiber and composite material, helping to contribute to the overall goal of weight loss for the C7 Corvette. GM hasn’t said exactly what the C7 weighs, but with the new frame alone trimming almost 100 pounds from the C6 curb weight, the C7 could come in under 3,000 pounds if GM really did their homework.
There’s been a renewed focus on improving the interior of the Corvette, with softer materials and a lot of focus on driver positioning. The system that delivers steering info from the steering wheel to the tires is said to be five times stiffer, for a greater sense of control. Drivers opting for a stick-shift will get a seven-speed transmission with Active Rev Management (which can be turned off) while slushbox owners will get a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. These two transmissions will contribute to an expected fuel economy of 26 MPG highway.
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Aerodynamics played a large role in the design of the Corvette, with all those vents and gills serving a functional purpose; there is no exterior fluff here, save the Stingray and Corvette badges. Massive brakes (12.6 inch in the front, 13.3 inches in the rear) are behind rims that range in size from 18 to 20 inches. The tires are Michelin Super Sport run-flats up to 285 mm wide, helping provide supercar-esque grip for the C7.
That is enough blathering from us though. Enjoy our gallery of 2014 Corvette C7 pictures, and pray GM seems fit to give us some track time to test it out soon…