New Corvette Stingray with pics

[Fiero+Solstice]

Unbelievable! At the Detroit Auto Show today I saw the new Corvette. Photo journalists can not capture the beauty of this new Corvette. I was stunned...........and this is from someone who loves the style of his Solstice Roadster! This Vette puts all the uber expensive sports cars to shame -- Ferrari, Maserati, Audi, etc. etc. I was not prepared to like this car after reading forum comments and viewing the press pictures. I have a warm not hot opinion of the prior years' Corvette style. I do appreciate the power delivered at the price point of the Corvette -- during its lifetime. I have enjoyed driving friends' Vettes. But......this new Corvette simply causes your jaw to drop when you stand next to it. I know this is an opinion and others may differ, but it is a significant, very beautiful car. If you have the chance to see it in person, I suggest you form your own opinion. The new aluminum frame is also on display. It is a work of art TOO!

[Texas2Gun]

We love it!

Will probably get a 2015 model, by then the most of the bugs will be worked out and any improvements should be complete. Unfortunately the Sky will go to a new home then. The coupe will be hanging around for awhile.

[ChopTop]

Originally Posted by Fiero+Solstice Photo journalists can not capture the beauty of this new Corvette.

I agree, 2D pics give an indication but you have to see the design in the real world to form a true opinion. My main concern is it's 177 length (read not width not height). Regardless of how well a car performs when it starts getting so long the first though is GT or land yacht (instead of sports car) then it may be time to consider what is a good length for a sports car? The Viper is 175, 2015 Honda NSX is rumored to be 170 which is right around the boundary between sports car and GT for me.

C7 convertible
Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own

I understand I may be in the minority when it comes to length but I can't help that in 50 years the lengths of modern sports cars will start being compared to the land yacht's of the 50s & 60s. The above link is a good indication of how long the vehicle appears to be compared to an average sized human occupant. First thought is GT not sport car.

The 63-67 mid-year Corvettes were 175. However, remove the chrome bumpers and the body itself is closer to 170.

First Look: 2014 Corvette Stingray - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube

[rob the elder]

Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

I still dont like it.

And I can hear Jerimy . .. "Its cheap plasticky and flimsy"

I like the simplicity and purity of design of the Solstice and the uniqueness of the late 50's and early 60's Corvettes. The new car has too many "things" sticking out and screaming for attention.

To me, its not pretty enough to overcome the stigma of being a Corvette owner. Many are very nice people but enough are butt head investment bankers who cant drive or be social to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

[rlhammon]

After having spent a very long time at the display for this yesterday at NAIAS, I have to say... pictures don't do this justice. The car is beautiful in person. Yeah... the taillights aren't round, but they look better in person than the pictures I've seen before going to the show.

I'd reserve comments until you see it in person.

[mem30075]

agreed, it's losing it's classic look. Looks it was designed in Japan...

Originally Posted by wspohn Doesn't do it for me. I'd rather have the new Jag F type shape.

[jeff465]

I like it for the most part. The vents and ducting serve their funtions well. The LT1 engine is CAFE friendly and more powerful than the LS. Too much Nintendo for me to ever own one. I'll take a '67 Vette coupe with the factory L88 with no radio or heater though.

[jeffgtx]

I wouldn't trade my sol for it but its awesome. A great technological engineering feat and a design triumph.

America still builds rockets.

[Spartan]

Styling reflects the attempt by GM to appeal to an international crowd. GM desperately wants the Vettes to compete with Europe's best on the track, and looks is a part of it. I like it though it is more "italianized" as a poster pointed out.

[ChopTop]

I'm thinking GM has chosen form follow function rather than function follow form. Not that it's not nice looking vehicle but this recent videos appears to emphasize performance first, form second.

2014 Stingray Revealed: EXTERIOR DESIGN | 2014 Corvette | Chevrolet - YouTube

Hate the rectangle taillights...no fear. Mid-year body kit to follow.
Retro Rear End Kit Brings Nostalgic Round Tail Lights to 2014 Corvette Stingray

[LatinVenom]

I really like that they change the tail lights, this way there is NO old designed anywhere.
I owned a few and the reason I stop getting any more after 1974 was the same old boring style. This one is a lot better, so much so I may end up with one instead of my beloved Viper.

[kd4pbs]

Definitely jumped the Mako Shark. Pun intended.
It's sad... The Corvette used to be the most amazing sports car in the world because it carried high-tech looks, performance, and "charisma" all on an everyman's budget. Now they're far too expensive, and look like they have a cheap ricer body kit slapped on them. I think ever since the C5, they have steadily declined. Even getting rid of that amazing clam-shell hood from the C4 was a terrible step backwards, IMHO. Gone are the pop-up headlights. Gone is the clamshell hood. Gone is the quad round tail lights. Gone is the chance for the average person to afford one. In other words, gone is everything that made the Corvette a Corvette.
-Matt

[LiquidPT]

What do you mean "gone is the clamshell hood"? Maybe we have different definitions, but the Corvette hood is still a reverse hood.

[ChopTop]

*83s-96s had a clam hood, Kappa's copied the same set-up.

You Tube

You Tube

Clam hood demo @ 14sec.

Generally speaking, C4s weren't heralded as design hits. However, C4s were finally beginning to be recognized and referred to as genuine sports cars by bias auto pundits as opposed to muscle-cars. Along with signaling that GM/Chevrolet was finally serious about beginning to take the Corvette up-market to be marketed as a world car instead of just an overweight, American, sports car.

*43 prototype 83s. 42 GM destroyed 42, kept 1 and is in GMs Heritage Collection along with GM/Chevrolet being able to market/claim the Corvette as being America's only continuous produced sports car since 1953.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvette (4th gen)

[LiquidPT]

So the distinction you're making then, is that the newer ones just have the center section raise up, not the fenders... didn't the C2 have that same design?