The new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is an incredible car. Mounted with a V8 and no less than 455 bhp in it. The new generation Corvette had been in development since 2007. Originally set to be introduced for the 2011 model year. But unfortunately it was delayed for three years and was released in January during the Detroit motor show.
The next Detroit motor show is due to happen in January and The Telegraph has done a good job of unveiling what is to come in the 2014 show.
The last six generations were not cars that were fuel economic. The first Corvette was designed by Harley Earl and introduced in 1953. Now we are 60 years further and the time changed. No more classic lines and the first Corvette can’t be found back in the new Stingray.
60 years of development has been put into the new Stingray and the eight speed gearbox new technology is still to be added to the new car. Now with the new generation Corvette there was time for a change. As said, the previous cars weren’t that fuel economic. It has always been a funny though to think that that the Corvette Stingray shares only two parts with the previous generation Corvette, but such has been the change to the car.
There will be an eight-speed automatic gearbox mounted in the Corvette Stingray which will reduce the fuel consumption dramatically. Not only had the gearbox taken care of a better fuel consumption. Also the new developed engine was part of it. The 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine includes direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system that delivers more power while using less fuel.
Another point that could have helped to decrease the fuel consumption was the saving of weight. Chevrolet said they used an all new frame structure and chassis. But compared to the Chevrolet Corvette C6 R1 the C7 Stingray weights the same. People didn’t understand this as Corvette Extensively used Carbon fiber but that didn’t turn out what they expected to do. Perhaps we can expect a lightweight version of the Stingray in the future. This can be done by reducing weight by using more lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastics and less comfortable seats.
According to the EPA the C7 Stingray with the six-speed automated gearbox does 16 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. We are really interested what the 8-speed gearbox will do to this numbers. The gearbox will not appear before 2015 unfortunately. GM is still developing the gearbox that is capable for high speeds and fast accelerations in lower gears and lower fuel consumption in the last two gears that will be added.
A video released by Hennessey shows the full speed of the Corvette and it is a marvel to view.
Car fans who will be wanting to get their hands on a fuel efficient Corvette needn’t wait any longer, as this car is a true masterpiece. The icing on the cake would be taking out insurance on the car from a Greener Insurance company, such as from the green insurance company, a brand set up in August 2007.
It will be a great addition for the people who don’t want to race in the Corvette all the time but also want to make some longer trips. More details will emerge in april when the SAE will release their full tech paper. Till then we have to wait on more details that will emerge from the well known sources. Fact remains that a Corvette never will be economic in fuel consumption as the big V8’s aren’t developed to be economic. If Corvette wants to make economic cars they might have to look in forced induction.
