Return of the Stingray: The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet is redefining modern performance with today’s
debut of the all-new Corvette Stingray. And only a Corvette with the perfect
balance of technology, design and performance can wear the iconic Stingray
designation.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard
model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque
(610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard model ever, able to accelerate
from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip.
It is expected to be the most fuel-efficient Corvette, exceeding the
EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model.
“Like the ’63 Sting Ray, the best Corvettes embodied
performance leadership, delivering cutting-edge technologies, breathtaking
design and awe-inspiring driving experiences,” said General Motors North
America President Mark Reuss. “The all-new Corvette goes farther than ever,
thanks to today’s advancements in design, technology and engineering.”
The all-new Corvette Stingray shares only two parts with the
previous generation Corvette. It incorporates an all-new frame structure and
chassis, a new powertrain and supporting technologies, as well as completely
new exterior and interior designs. Highlights include:
An interior that includes real carbon fiber, aluminum and
hand-wrapped leather materials, two new seat choices – each featuring a
lightweight magnesium frame for exceptional support – and dual eight-inch
configurable driver/infotainment screens
Advanced driver technologies, including a five-position
Drive Mode Selector that tailors 12 vehicle attributes to the fit the driver’s
environment and a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching
that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed for perfect shifts
every time
An all-new 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine combines advanced
technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously
variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system that delivers more
power while using less fuel
Lightweight materials, including a carbon fiber hood and
removable roof panel; composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels;
carbon-nano composite underbody panels and a new aluminum frame help shift
weight rearward for an optimal 50/50 weight balance that supports a world-class
power-to-weight ratio
A sculptured exterior features advanced high-intensity
discharge and light-emitting diode lighting and racing-proven aerodynamics that
balance low drag for efficiency and performance elements for improved stability
and track capability
Track-capable Z51 Performance Package including: an
electronic limited-slip differential, dry-sump oiling system, integral brake,
differential and transmission cooling, as well as a unique aero package that
further improves high-speed stability.
“Stingray is one of the hallowed names in automotive
history,” said Ed Welburn, GM 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.”
The new Corvette Stingray will be built at GM’s Bowling
Green, Ky., assembly plant, which underwent a $131-million upgrade, including
approximately $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the aluminum frame
in-house for the first time.
“We believe the Corvette represents the future of modern
performance cars because it delivers more power, more driving excitement and
better fuel efficiency,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “The
result is better performance by every measure. The 2014 Corvette delivers the
fastest acceleration, the most cornering grip, the most track capability, the
best braking performance and what we expect to be the best fuel economy ever
for a standard Corvette.”
The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale in the third
quarter of 2013.
Handcrafted, high-tech interior
Premium materials including genuine aluminum and available
carbon fiber trim
More connected driving experience through the
smaller-diameter steering wheel and two new seat choices
Advanced technologies including standard dual,
high-resolution information screens and available color head-up display.
The new Corvette Stingray interior blends fine materials and
craftsmanship with advanced technologies that contribute to a more connected
and more engaging driving experience, said Helen Emsley, interior design
director.
“Every feature and detail in the interior is designed to
enhance the driver’s connection to the Corvette,” Emsley said. “It starts with
the fighter jet inspired wraparound cockpit; continues to build with the
smaller steering wheel, more supportive seats, and high-definition,
configurable screens, and is finished in gorgeous materials.”
The smaller, 14.1-inch-diameter (360 mm) steering wheel
fosters a more direct, immediate feel to directional inputs. The attention to
the driver extends to the smallest details, including the flat, precise
stitching on the steering wheel designed to provide a smooth, consistent feel.
Precise and elegant stitching also is seen in the available
Napa leather trim of the all-new seats.
Two seating choices will be offered: a GT seat for
all-around comfort and a Competition Sport seat with more aggressive side
bolstering which provides greater support on the track.
The frame structure for both seats is made of magnesium for
greater strength and less weight than comparable steel frames. They’re also
more rigid, contributing to the enhanced feeling of support during performance
driving.
Additional performance-enhancing details of the interior
resulted from designers’ “field trips” to GM’s Proving Ground in Milford,
Mich., where high-performance driving experiences spurred the design and
implementation of several features, including a steel-reinforced grab bar on
the center console for the passenger and soft-touch materials on the edge of
the console, where the driver naturally braces during high-load cornering.
High-performance driving also influenced elements of the
configurable display screens and available head-up display, which vary
depending on the driving mode, including the Track display inspired by the
C6.R.
The performance-supporting elements inside the new Corvette
Stingray are complemented by unprecedented attention to detail and build
quality, including the sweeping arch motif over the driver cockpit trim and the
seamless transition of the line from the instrument panel to the door.
All models feature a fully-wrapped interior, where every
surface is covered with premium, soft-touch materials. Available materials,
depending on the trim level, include Napa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and
micro-suede.
A blend of hand craftsmanship and machined precision is
intended to ensure the fit, finish and ambience of the cabin is first-rate. The
leather-wrapped instrument panel, for example, features hand-selected and
hand-stretched materials for better grain matching with stitching performed by
robots that deliver perfect seams.
There’s even a micro-LED screen for the passenger’s climate
control placed below the vent on the on the dash away from the performance
features on the instrument panel.
“To ensure the high quality of the interior, we spent time
working on the line alongside the team that builds the Corvette every day at
Bowling Green Assembly Plant,” said Ryan Vaughan, interior design manager. “And
thanks to that collaboration between design, engineering and manufacturing, we
were able to make adjustments that allowed us to maintain the integrity of the
design, improve the assembly process and ultimately deliver what we believe to
be a world-class interior.”
Driver-oriented technologies
Driver Mode Selector optimizes 12 vehicle attributes
Configurable screens and head-up display can be tailored to
the driver’s preference
Central touch screen uses gesture-recognition technology.
At the core of the Corvette Stingray’s driver-focused
technologies is the cockpit-mounted Driver Mode Selector, which allows drivers
to optimize the car for their driving preference and road conditions via five
settings: Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track.
“The all-new Corvette Stingray is really three cars in one:
It provides the comfort and functionality of a long-distance GT car, the
connectedness and infotainment of a daily driver and the acceleration, grip and
braking of a capable track car,” said Harlan Charles, product manager.
“With the Driver Mode Selector, we wanted to give the driver
an easy way to tailor virtually every aspect of the car to fit their driving
environment. The result is a more rewarding, more confident experience, whether
you’re commuting in a downpour or charging through the corkscrew at Laguna
Seca.”
The Driver Mode Selector is easy to use via a rotary knob
near the shifter. The Tour mode is the default setting for everyday driving;
Weather mode is designed primarily for added confidence while driving in rain
and snow; Eco mode is for achieving optimal fuel economy; Sport mode is for spirited
road driving and Track mode is for track use.
“Early in the development process, we spent time on the
track, driving Corvettes hard. That experience shaped many parts of the
interior, such as the instrument display in Track Mode,” said Vaughn. “At 120
mph, you experience a sort of tunnel vision, as you concentrate on the next
turn. At that moment, you don’t need to know the next song playing on the
radio.”
Twelve performance parameters are adjusted with the
selection of each mode, including:
Gauge cluster configuration: The Tour, Eco and Weather modes
feature displays for trip data, audio and navigation; Sport mode shows classic,
easy-to-read sports car gauges; and Track mode’s configuration shows a gauge
design based on the Corvette Racing C6.R race car display with lap timer
ETC (Electronic Throttle Control): Adjusts the throttle
input curve for the selected mode for improved responsiveness
Paddle-shift automatic transmission: Adjusts shift comfort
and shift points
Active Fuel Management: in normal mode, the LT1 engine uses
V-8 power during acceleration and V-4 power when coasting; in Eco mode the
engine remains in V-4 mode to improve fuel economy until aggressive
acceleration is needed
Exhaust (active exhaust system): The system adjusts the
timing of the electronically controlled exhaust valves to enhance audible
feedback from the V-8 depending on the drive mode
Electronic limited-slip differential (Z51): Adjusts the rate
at which the limited slip engages, to balance between steering response and stability
in different driving conditions; more aggressive performance in Sport and Track
modes
Steering: Assist effort is adjusted in the modes to provide
the driver with the correct steering feel for the driving condition
Magnetic Ride Control: Adjusts shock damping based on road
conditions, from optimized comfort to performance driving
Launch control: Available in Sport and Track modes for
manual and automatic transmissions, providing maximum off-the-line acceleration
Active handling (StabiliTrak stability control): A
“competitive” setting is available in Sport and Track modes and is more suited
for on-track conditions. It can also be disabled, giving the driver complete
control
Traction control: Weather mode tailors traction control and
engine torque for driving in inclement conditions
Performance Traction Management: Available in the Sport and
Track modes and offers five settings of torque reduction and brake intervention
for track driving.
Three configurable displays, including a pair of eight-inch
screens and color head-up display, deliver personalized information and convey
the different performance parameters of each drive mode.
The two eight-inch screens offer excellent visibility in direct
sunlight, with 650 cd/m2 of brightness for the one integrated into the
instrument cluster and 1,000 cd/m2 of brightness for the one in the center
stack, making it among the brightest screens in the industry. The screen in the
center stack also features touch-screen control with gesture recognition and
can be lowered to reveal a hidden storage that includes a USB input for device
charging or uploads.
The Corvette Stingray delivers an advanced infotainment
system, featuring Chevrolet MyLink and high-definition radio, as well as
enhanced OnStar with 3D navigation maps. An additional USB port in the center
console, a stand-alone audio input jack and an SD card slot provide seamless
connectivity.
An available premium 10-speaker audio system includes a bass
box and two subwoofers – and speakers with rare-earth magnets that deliver
greater sound quality with reduced weight and size.
Every line counts on Corvette Stingray’s functionally
elegant exterior
Aerodynamic design integrates strategies from Corvette
racing
Signature lighting includes distinctive frosted
light-emitting diode daytime driving lights, high-intensity discharge headlamps
and indirect-LED taillamps
Carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel enhance
front/rear weight balance
Corvette Stingray’s provocative exterior styling is as
functional as it is elegant, said Ken Parkinson, executive director of global
design.
“Developing a new Corvette, while every designer’s dream, is
not an easy task,” Parkinson said.
“The goal was a bold design statement that embraced the advanced
technology of the car, while enhancing its overall performance in everything
from the wind tunnel to the track. The result is a new Corvette Stingray – a
fantastic car that breaks new ground yet remains true to the fundamental
elements that make a Corvette a Corvette.”
While no single detail is repeated from previous
generations, the new Corvette Stingray include the distinctive profile defined
by a long dash-to-axle ratio and the greenhouse evoking the canopy of a fighter
jet with dual-element taillamps. To this foundation, designers built a form
vocabulary from two very different sources: aerospace and nature.
“For the new Corvette to be called a Stingray, it had to
deliver an incredible, purposeful visual impact – just as the original did in
1963,” said Tom Peters, exterior design director. “That visual impact is
evident in fighter jets and the Stingray animal itself. Their beauty comes from
their purpose, designed to cut through air or water as quickly and efficiently as
possible. As with aircraft and living forms, every transition on every surface
of the Corvette Stingray serves a purpose executed with beauty and proportion.”
Lighting is a signature element of the Corvette Stingray’s
design and reinforces its high-tech aesthetic. At the front, indirect white LED
lamps form a distinctive daytime styling cue. They are set in a black-chrome
lamp housing with standard HID projector headlamps. The turn signals feature
edge-lit amber LED lighting.
All-new, dual-element taillamps represent the greatest
departure from tradition and are among the car’s most dramatic elements. The
three-dimensional, sculpted lenses house innovative indirect LED lighting. The
state-of-the-art lighting uses hidden LED lamps that cast their light up from
the bottom of the housing into a reverse reflector, creating an even glow. LED
lamps are also used for the white backup lamps. The taillamps integrate
functional aircraft-style air outlets for the available differential and
transmission coolers.
“From the front or rear, the signature lighting brings the
new Corvette to life,” said Peters. “It looks beautiful, sinister and more than
a little intimidating. It gives the Corvette a nighttime appearance unlike
anything else on the street.”
When it comes to aerodynamics, the new Stingray is in a
league of its own. Advanced computer-aided modeling programs were employed to
predict and track airflow over, under and through the new Corvette’s body.
Engineers and designers also relied on data gleaned from the Corvette Racing
program – the most successful program ever in the American Le Mans Series and
the 2012 GT class champion – to help balance front and rear grip for high-speed
stability.
Many hours were spent in the wind tunnel hand-sculpting
surfaces for aesthetics and performance. Functional exterior elements include:
All models have a new grille/radiator arrangement and hood
vents. Venting air out of the hood reduces total front-end lift for improved
steering response at high speeds
The front fender side coves also help vent underhood air
pressure to reduce aerodynamic drag
Models with the automatic transmission or Z51 Performance
Package feature a functional vent on driver’s left side directing air over a
heat exchanger for the transmission fluid and a similar arrangement on the
passenger side that directs air
over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip
differential
Airflow through the differential and transmission heat exchangers
exit through the aircraft-inspired taillamp vents and lower-rear fascia air
outlets
The Z51 Performance Package also includes brake-cooling
ducts, a unique rear spoiler and additional air deflectors for enhanced track
capability.
“Every square inch of the 2014 Corvette’s exterior is
designed to enhance high-performance driving,” said Kirk Bennion, exterior
design manager. “The team delivered a great balance of low drag for efficiency
and performance elements for improved stability and track capability – all in a
sculpted design that excites in all the ways that a Corvette has for six
decades.”
Engineered to race, built for the road
New aluminum frame structure is 57-percent stiffer and 99
pounds (45 kg) lighter than the current steel frame
Innovative use of composite materials, including carbon
fiber the hood and roof panels, lightweight Sheet Molded Compound for the
fenders, doors and rear quarter panels, and carbon-nano composite for the
underbody panels help reduce the weight of the body by a 37 pounds (17 kg)
New LT1 V-8 uses advanced technologies to produce more power
with less fuel and is paired with an industry-exclusive seven-speed manual
transmission with Active Rev Matching for more precise up and down shifts.
The new Corvette Stingray takes advantage of lightweight
materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and technology transfer from the
Corvette Racing program to produce an ideal 50/50 weight balance and to deliver
a world-class power-to-weight ratio.
“Chevrolet has a long history of using racing to improve
production cars, and nowhere is that more evident than with Corvette,” said
Jeuchter. “We continually apply
technologies and strategies developed for Corvette Racing directly to the production
car. That influence can be seen in virtually every aspect of the new Corvette
Stingray, from the aerodynamic design to the use of carbon fiber, to the
cooling techniques and even in the brake system.
The technologically advanced foundation is an all-new
aluminum frame structure that is 57 percent stiffer and 99 pounds (45 kg)
lighter. The greater torsional rigidity reduces unwanted noise and improves
ride and handling.
Compared to the previous generation, which used continuous
hydroformed main frame rails with a constant 2mm wall thickness, the new
Corvette’s frame features main rails composed of five customized aluminum
segments, including aluminum extrusions at each end, a center main rail section
and hollow-cast nodes at the suspension interface points. Each segment is tuned
– varying in thickness from 2mm to 11mm – tailoring the gauge, shape and
strength properties to optimize the requirements for each frame section with
minimal weight.
The frame is assembled at an all-new welding shop at the
Bowling Green Assembly Plant using a unique laser welding process in which a
computer-controlled beam of high energy joins the components with exceptional
precision and tolerances of about 0.001-inch.
Supporting the frame’s greater strength and lower weight are
complementing chassis elements, including hollow-cast aluminum front and rear
cradles that are approximately 25-percent lighter and 20-percent stiffer than
the solid cradles used on the previous structure.
The innovative use of materials includes a standard carbon
fiber hood and roof panel, as well as underbody panels created with carbon-nano
composite technology, an advanced blend of traditional composite material and
carbon fiber, which allows lighter underbody panels without a loss of strength
or stiffness. Fenders, doors, rear
quarter panels and the rear hatch panel are made with lighter-density Sheet
Molded Compound than the previous generation. Combined, these materials save
approximately 37 pounds (17 kg) versus the previous body structure.
The lightweight elements of the Stingray contribute to the
ideal 50/50 weight balance. Combined with its estimated 450 horsepower (335
kW), the new Corvette delivers a better power-to-weight ratio than the Porsche
911 Carrera or Audi R8.
Those 450 horses are generated by an all-new LT1 6.2L Small
Block V-8 engine, which produces an estimated 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm).
More importantly, it generates 50 lb.-ft. more low-end torque than the previous
6.2L engine, matching the 7.0L LS7 engine from the 2013 Corvette Z06 from 1,000
to 4,000 rpm.
The engine’s performance comes from combining advanced
technologies like direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously
variable valve timing with an advanced combustion system. More than 10 million
hours of computational analysis went into the new Small Block’s design,
including more than 6 million hours alone on the combustion system.
The LT1 is backed by a choice of active exhaust systems that
are less restrictive than the previous generation, due in part to an increase
in diameter from 2.5 inches to 2.75 inches. The standard system offers a
13-percent improvement in airflow and features a pair of butterfly valves that
contribute to greater refinement at cruising speeds when the engine is
operating in fuel-saving V-4 mode.
An available dual-mode active exhaust system offers a
27-percent improvement in airflow. It features two additional valves that open
to a lower-restriction path through the mufflers. When open, these valves
increase engine performance and produce a more powerful exhaust note.
The LT1 is mated to either a six-speed paddle-shift
automatic transmission or an industry-exclusive TREMEC TR6070 seven-speed
manual with Active Rev Matching. The Corvette retains its distinctive rear
transaxle layout for optimal weight balance.
The seven-speed manual incorporates rev-matching technology
for upshifts and downshifts. This driver-selectable feature can be easily
engaged or disengaged via paddles on the steering wheel. The seven-speed is
used with a new dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch, which deliver greater
shift quality and feel through lower inertia. The transmission with the Z51
Performance Package includes specific close-ratio gearing for more aggressive
driving.
“Active Rev Matching makes the new Corvette easier and more
fun to drive in performance conditions,” said Jeuchter. “It anticipates the
next gear selection and electronically ‘blips’ the throttle to match engine
speed for a seamless gear change.”
A six-speed Hydra-Matic 6L80 paddle-shift automatic is also
available. It is optimized for use with Active Fuel Management and features a
lower-inertia torque converter for improved shift quality and shift speeds. In
addition, shift feel and shift points can be adjusted through the Driver Mode
Selector.
More direct, more connected driving feel
Third-generation Magnetic Ride Control for greater comfort
and control
Electric power steering system tailors steering response and
feel
Electronic limited-slip differential delivers optimal traction
The new Corvette Stingray’s chassis and suspension are
designed to take advantage of the lighter, stiffer structure. The reduced
structural flex allowed engineers to more precisely tune the suspension and
steering for a more nimble and responsive driving experience.
“An important goal for the seventh-generation Corvette was
to create a more intimate and connected driving experience, said Mike Bailey,
chassis vehicle system engineer. “Whether on the open road or on the track, we
wanted drivers to feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel.”
While the Corvette Stingray retains the racing-proven
short/long-arm suspension design, front and rear, the components are all-new.
Improvements to the suspension include hollow lower control arms which save approximately
nine pounds (4 kg) per vehicle and new aluminum rear toe links which save 2.4
pounds (1.1 kg) over previous steel links.
The Corvette Stingray rides on new 18 x 8.5-inch front and
19 x 10-inch rear wheels, while models with the Z51 Performance Package roll on
19 x 8.5-inch front and 20 x 10-inch rear forged aluminum wheels. New Michelin
Pilot Super Sport run-flat tires developed specifically for the
seventh-generation Corvette deliver comparable levels of grip than the wider
tires of previous models.
As a result, the track-oriented Corvette Stingray with the
Z51 Performance Package is capable of 1g in cornering acceleration – comparable
to the 2013 Corvette Grand Sport. Significantly, that is achieved with narrower
and lighter wheels and tires. The reduced “footprint” reduces rolling
resistance, steering effort and road noise, contributing to a more nimble feel,
more immediate steering response and greater touring comfort and efficiency.
Dimensionally, the new Corvette’s wheelbase is approximately
an inch longer than the previous generation, with front and rear tracks that
are almost an inch wider. Those changes provide a more stable feel,
particularly at high speeds, while the turning radius is decreased by
approximately two feet for greater maneuverability in tight turns.
The Corvette Stingray features standard 35mm-piston Bilstein
monotube shocks that connect to dual-path aluminum shock mounts that separate
the shock rod and shock body load paths. The Z51 Performance Package comes with
45mm-piston Bilstein dampers for more aggressive body control and track
capability. Z51 is available with the third-generation Magnetic Ride Control,
which features a new twin-wire/dual-coil damper system that reacts 40 percent
faster, enabling improved ride comfort and body control.
The new electric power steering system offers variable
ratios and variable effort to tailor responsiveness and feel for each driving
situation. It also delivers more precise control and feedback to the driver,
along with greater variability of effort for high-performance driving and
greater on-center sensitivity and linearity. Steering feel was further improved
by increasing steering column stiffness by 150 percent, increasing intermediate
shaft torsional stiffness by 600 percent, and mounting the steering gear to the
front cradle structure. As a result the steering system is five times stiffer
than the previous generation.
A smart electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) is
included in the Z51 Performance Package and continuously makes the most of the
torque split between the rear wheels. The system features a hydraulically
actuated clutch that can infinitely vary clutch engagement and can respond from
open to full engagement in tenths of a second. It shifts torque based on a
unique algorithm which factors in vehicle speed, steering input and throttle
position to improve steering feel, handling balance and traction.
“The electronic limited-slip differential transforms the
Stingray by optimizing handling for the driving situation,” said Mike Bailey,
vehicle systems engineer, chassis. “By continuously modulating the torque split
between the rear wheels, the eLSD can improve traction accelerating out of
corner, improve stability on the highway and enhance steering turn-in and
responsiveness.”
The eLSD is fully integrated with StabiliTrak and
Performance Traction Management systems. Its calibrations vary among three
modes, based on the Drive Mode Selector setting:
Mode 1 is the default setting for normal driving and
emphasizes vehicle stability
Mode 2 is engaged when electronic stability control is
turned off in the Sport or Track Driver Modes. This calibration enables more
nimble turn-in and traction while accelerating out of a corner
Mode 3 is automatically selected when Performance Traction
Management is engaged. This calibration has the same function as Mode 2, but is
fine-tuned to work with Performance Traction Management.
Standard Brembo brakes, with four-piston fixed calipers
derived from racing, deliver exceptional stopping power on the street or track.
System highlights include:
12.6-inch (320 mm) front rotors and 13.3-inch (338 mm) rear
rotors are standard and have 35 percent more swept area than
previous-generation brakes. Consequently stopping distance is improved 9
percent
Dual-cast, slotted 13.6-inch (345 mm) front rotors and
13.3-inch (338 mm) slotted rear rotors are included with Z51 Performance Package.
They have 6percent more swept area than the previous-generation Grand Sport and
are cooled front and rear for improved track capability. Consequently stopping
distance is improved 5 percent
All brake packages have fixed front and rear calipers are
stiffer for more even pad wear, reduced drag and improved modulation.
