New Corvette Stingray (C7) Review

MOTORTRENDmitch

MOTORTRENDmitch

3,531
Canada
London, Ontario
Starky513
The Apex​

Welcome to The Apex. Here I will do single car reviews, rather than the multi-car comparisons I am more known to do. Main reason I am doing this, is because the other review series I have (Stock vs Tuned & Best in Class) take quite some time to produce, and I would like to have the freedom to make a quick review here and there in between the month(s) long hiatuses that seem to riddle series.

I will review anything from; Stock cars, Tuning Garage's cars, Race cars, and what ever else is requested. My other review series have been quite successful (Especially SvT) and I intend that these will do just as well. A normal review will consist of an overview, looking at the powerplant and looks. Performance testing, seeing what it will do in a straight line. As well as track testing, to see if it handles and how well the car works. There will be a lap board (generic... I know) keeping track of the fastest cars we see here. Laguna Seca will be the benchmark track that we use.

I hope you enjoy your stay here. Any requests?

Episodes
2014 Corvette Stingray Final Prototype
 
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Dodge Viper '06 (I think)
I believe it's the least appreciated of the Vipers. Especially since many GT5 players I know choose the ACR Viper over the '06 Coupe.
 
Don't have a specific example, but if you can find a car that's rather old (1980's to 1990's), small, cheap, have a high mileage, poor looks, rarely seen online... but turns out to be one hell of a ride! You could call it "Devil in disguise", or "The quest to find a hidden gem".
 
eran0004
Don't have a specific example, but if you can find a car that's rather old (1980's to 1990's), small, cheap, have a high mileage, poor looks, rarely seen online... but turns out to be one hell of a ride! You could call it "Devil in disguise", or "The quest to find a hidden gem".
Click to expand...

I'll look into it :P
 
Welcome to The Apex, reviews by MOTORTRENDmitch. Rather than the group reviews of 3 or more cars I usually do, I am going to do more consistent single car write-ups here. On with the show.

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Welcome to the replacement of the mighty C6 Corvette, the 2014 Stingray. I'll start off with two things. 1: This is far from a simple update, it's a complete revamp of the Corvette brand. 2: This isn't the latest Z06, this is the C7 base model of Corvette (as far as we know?) and it has much more power than the Base C6. So we aren't actually taking a power loss from the last gen or Vette.

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Power comes from a 6.2 Liter LT1 V8, producing 464hp and 475ft-lb which makes a great, deep & throaty sound. The red line starts at 6500 and will take you to a 7000 fuel cut-off. The transmission is one of the biggest change-ups that Chevy has throw at us in a while; a 7 Speed Manual with "auto-blip". Much like the 370Z's transmission the car will blip the throttle upon downshift. Let's hit the track.

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In a straight line, the Corvette is certainly no slouch. Launching the C7 is actually easier than I had expected, it hooks up like few others. 0-60 goes by in 4.1 seconds, the 1/4 in 12.4, and you hit the 1 mile mark in exactly 30 seconds. Top speed is a big surprise too... 211mph was reached when we tested it. Which I will point out is faster than the current Z06. The scary thing is, it will go to 205 in fifth gear. It has 2 more to go!! Clearly the Stingray has the drag coefficient of ... well, a stingray. Let's see how this marine animal handles.

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The C6 Corvette was always a decent handler, however it was a little sketchy on the limits. The new C7 out handles anything General Motors has ever produced with ease. Turn in is so crisp and grippy you might forget you're in a Corvette all together. Mid corner in this car is just as you'd expect, neutral as hell. Coming out of a corner is great too, tons of grip and easy to control. The balance this car possesses is worlds better when compared to any car America has produced. By far! This may come from the fact that it has a 49-51 weight distribution, which is only 15KG biased toward the rear. Having fun with this car isn't a hard feat to achieve. Slides are so easy to control with the Stinger that connecting 5-6 turns with this car wouldn't even surprise me. This car is just so predicable and planted that you can go into any kind of turn at any speed with huge confidence, and confidence on the track is speed. Around Laguna Seca, the C7 managed a 1:34.5 while the late Z06 was only able to run .8 of a second better. Not bad for the base model. This isn't just a new Corvette. This is Chevrolet's American game-changer.

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Compared to any Corvette from the last 30 years - and possibly ever, this generation is on a new level when it comes to looks. Functional vents alongside much more aggressive curves give it much more of a super car look rather than an American Muscle. The brake lights have to be one of the meanest luminescent structures I've seen in quite some time, and the LED accents in the headlights give it much more class than the late model. Chevrolet has hit a home run with the styling on the newest member of the Corvette Family, but knowing how the automotive industry works they will come under fire for trying to look exotic...

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A pretty important aspect to the new Corvette (although not so important to the game itself) is the interior. Chevy has always seen massive critiquing directed toward the 2nd .. or 3rd rate interior they have always fitted the car with. They have been clearly listening, as we are seeing huge changes to the cabin-quality of the automobile. Most noticeable in game, being the LCD gauge cluster.

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So all in all, that is what I feel about the 2014 Corvette Stingray's final prototype. Obviously being a prototype this isn't going to be exactly what we see when it hits dealers, some of the most flamboyant features may see the door. As unfortunate as the case may be, don't be surprised if it happens. I've never been a huge fan of Corvettes, but what we have here is a complete change in direction for the Corvette name. It is going from being an big American cheeseburger, to a NY Strip Steak, and I like steak. See you at the next Apex.

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Photographers

zzz_pt
MadMoss
anthaliscious
jBhlpS
TopGearHamster
kaede
NDBESIGNZ
 
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Well done sir. An entertaining and informative write up.

How did one of the photographers take an interior shot like that?
 
Great review of the new C7 Vette MOTORTRENDmitch. ;)

Thanks to put one of my shots in your work. :)
 
An exellent review, very well written, bravo!


👍
 
Great writeup, really enjoyed reading it. Well laid out with enough pictures to break up the text and keep it separate.

Do you have the DLC? If so can you do a write-up on the Lamborghini Aventador?
 
Thanks for all the feedback!
Is there anything different you think I should do for the next one?

kennylmao
Wait, what? Top speed is... 211mph?!! That's miles per hour?!! :dunce:
Click to expand...

Indeed, it blew my mind.

Articuno
Great writeup, really enjoyed reading it. Well laid out with enough pictures to break up the text and keep it separate.

Do you have the DLC? If so can you do a write-up on the Lamborghini Aventador?
Click to expand...

I can definitely do the Aventador 👍

Any GTP Tuner garage tunes people want to see reviewed?
 
If I may make a few suggestions...

Stay with "stock" cars for a bit. I like to read about the positive and the negatives about each car out of the box per se.

I second the Aventador.
 
maxpontiac
If I may make a few suggestions...

Stay with "stock" cars for a bit. I like to read about the positive and the negatives about each car out of the box per se.

I second the Aventador.
Click to expand...

Looks like there will be an Aventador Write up next haha 👍
 
Nice writeup Mitchell, very professional ;). Those pics are great too, credit to the photographers.
 
maxpontiac
Nice. I really like that car so I am interested to see wht your team comes up with.
Click to expand...

Should be good.
Thing is, Stock vs Tuned and Best in Class are the team efforts. The Apex is just a quick write-up I do on a car. LV drives with me to test and Turbo edits.
 

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