Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on display in Frankfurt
All-new sports car celebrates German debut at IAA 2013
- Seventh-generation Corvette ready to stun enthusiasts
- Zero to 100 acceleration in 4.2 seconds
- European sales of Corvette Stingray convertible to begin in early 2014
FRANKFURT – Chevrolet’s brand new top-of-the-line sports car, the Corvette Stingray, is making its first appearance at a major industry event in Germany at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. While sales of the Corvette Stingray kicked off in the U.S. this summer, select Chevrolet dealerships across Europe are gearing up for the arrival of the coupe toward the end of the year.
“Corvette has achieved dream-car status among generations of automotive enthusiasts around the world. The all-new Stingray is a statement of intent by drivers who want the pure exhilaration that’s tantamount with the name Corvette,” said Dr. Thomas Sedran, President and Managing Director, Chevrolet Europe.
The most capable and powerful standard Corvette ever
The Corvette Stingray will be equipped and tuned to meet the needs of customers in the highly competitive European markets, where it will feature the Z51 performance pack and the latest magnetic ride control suspensions as standard.
Power is supplied by the new 6.2L LT1 V8 engine that provides 460 hp (343 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 630 Nm (465 lb-ft) of torque at 4,600 rpm with the performance exhaust system.* The Corvette Stingray has achieved the highest standard power ratings ever for the Corvette; performance figures include 0-100 km/h acceleration of 4.2 seconds and more than 1g in cornering grip.
The Corvette Stingray incorporates a host of advanced technologies, including:
- a new 7-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching which anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed for perfect shifts every time
- Active Fuel Management, which enables the Corvette Stingray to cruise on only four cylinders during light load conditions such as highway cruising
- an all-new aluminum frame that is 57 percent stiffer and 45 kg lighter than the steel frame used in the predecessor model
- a dry-sump oiling system, differential and transmission cooling
- a five-position Drive Mode Selector that tailors 11 vehicle attributes to the fit the driver’s environment
- launch control: available in Track mode, for maximum off-the-line acceleration
- an entirely new exterior design that boasts race-track proven aerodynamics as well as a new interior with genuine carbon fiber and aluminum trim, hand-wrapped leather materials.
One of many highlights drivers of the Corvette Stingray can look forward to is the acceleration timer, which features a selection of programmable start/end speeds.
A new tablet-inspired state-of-the-art Chevrolet MyLink connected radio allows drivers to personalize a host of their car’s functions to match their ride every day, from relaxed highway cruising to high-performance laps at the track. The system consists of two eight-inch liquid crystal (LCD) display screens with a screen personalization option, USB port, SD card as well a center screen that lowers for device storage.
Up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices can be paired and several of them connected at one time. Voice recognition and text-to-speech are standard**, as is a rearview camera. In addition, customers can opt for an integrated navigation system. Owners will be able to upgrade the new systems with dedicated apps once they become available.
In Germany, prices for the coupe and convertible variants start from €69,990 and €72,990, respectively. The coupe will arrive at select European dealerships toward the end of this year, slightly before the convertible, which will be available in Europe as of spring 2014.
From sports car to pop culture icon
Though the new Corvette Stingray represents the latest and most capable model in the long and proud history of this iconic sports car, Corvette has offered state-of-the-art features, technologies and incredible performance over a period spanning more than six decades.
The Chevrolet Corvette has set many industry firsts and has taken a leading role in establishing the safe use of a wide array of innovative technologies, ranging from anti-lock brakes to windshield heads-up display to magnetic selective ride control.
Traction Control and four-wheel disk brakes – features once exclusive to Corvette – are now offered on many Chevrolet and GM car lines. Other features, such as extended mobility tires, also known as run-flat-tires, have yet to be offered by most manufacturers but seem likely possibilities for the mass market.
For the first 10 years, Corvette was produced only as a convertible. The very first Corvette – the legendary C1 launched in 1953 – was among the first mass-produced fiberglass automobiles in the world while the fixed-roof 1963 “split-window” Corvette Stingray launched the second generation Corvette and debuted the independent rear suspension in America.
Corvette went on to lead the industry in its use of innovative plastic and composite parts, such as the composite monoleaf rear springs introduced on the 1981 Corvette – the first of their kind in the world.
The new spring weighed 80 percent less than the one made of steel it replaced and was immune to corrosion, making it five times more durable than a comparable steel spring. The 1984 Corvette also featured radiator tanks and supports as well as a hood made from plastic – the largest plastic part ever made for an automobile at the time.
Selective Ride Control was first introduced on the 1989 Corvette and represented a first for any American-built car. The system allows the driver to adjust shock absorber damping for different driving modes. The automatic damping system reads the road surface and performs instantaneous changes to suspension damping.
While Corvette stands for one of the most iconic American sports cars, some of its fans are equally famous. The list of illustrious Corvette owners is long and includes John Wayne who purchased the 51st Chevrolet Corvette C1 made in 1953, Tom Cruise, American actress Farrah Fawcett, Neil Armstrong and his fellow Apollo program astronauts, as well as musicians Paul McCartney and Jeff Beck.
