When it comes to the design of the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, nothing draws out more opinion than the new angular tail lamps, which are very, very different from Corvettes past. But in our eyes, the new lamps are a good thing — just as it is in the eyes of Tom Peters, GM exterior design director of performance cars, full-size trucks, and large crossovers. In the Autoweek video below, he stands firm on the decision of angular tail lights.
To note, Peters and his team tried the look of rounded tail lights when designing the C7, but they “didn’t work” and made the car look old. And, as we’ve stated here, there are big differences between the Chevy Camaro tail lights and those of the Stingray, despite what many claimed initially.
Comments
I like them…They work well as a part of the overall design. Round tail lights would look out of place. This car is creased, angular. Not rounded, coke bottle like the Ferrari.
The new tail lights are ugly, but then I don’t like the new angular design, don’t like all the black plastic trim and think the black painted wheels are a joke.
Lot of love for the Chevy brand on here lately 🙂 they are one of the many sponcers for Manchester United FC the most successful English football club & one of the worlds most famous. As the season draws to a close Manchester United are a massive 15 points clear of second placed Manchester City who we also could meet in the FA cup semi final. Could be an interesting couple of months 😀
Agreed – they did a great job.
As a much younger buyer, I would have no qualms driving this car from an “image” point of view. It looks GOOD.
The old design, at this point is stale and kind of screams “I’m 60 years old trying to re-live the glory days”
If you asked me before if I’d rather have Camaro or Corvette, I would have been Camaro all the way. With this new design, I”d rather have corvette.
Too bad a base stingray is going to go for around $70k
@a
This is precisely my sentiment:
“The old design, at this point is stale and kind of screams “I’m 60 years old trying to re-live the glory days”
If you asked me before if I’d rather have Camaro or Corvette, I would have been Camaro all the way. With this new design, I”d rather have corvette.”
I didn’t find the design of the C6 distasteful… but I definitely prefer the Camaro. Now, its a toss-up when it comes to design, with the difference in the driving experience between the two being the biggest differentiators to me.
The shape of taillights has nothing to do with a person’s age. Lets hope when you get to 60 you actually have some “glory days” to relive. I’m not there yet myself, but I have owned many Corvettes over the last 20+ years, and I bought them all because I liked the design & the performance. The fact is, you have never owned a Corvette (or even a Camaro), so you should be careful about insulting those who do. It takes more than proclaiming yourself the “GM Authority” to actually have any credibility.
“he shape of taillights has nothing to do with a person’s age. Lets hope when you get to 60 you actually have some “glory days” to relive. I’m not there yet myself, but I have owned many Corvettes over the last 20+ years, and I bought them all because I liked the design & the performance. The fact is, you have never owned a Corvette (or even a Camaro), so you should be careful about insulting those who do.”
Because round tailights or the Corvette look dated, you choose to take someone else’s opinion on the public perception of the Corvette as a personal insult.
Grow up. The number of Corvette’s you’ve owned doesn’t mean your opinion of the Corvette and it’s public appearance has any more weight than anyone else on this forum.
I get the feeling Chevrolet chose be one of Manchester United’s sponcers a head of Manchester City & FC United of Manchester because of the fact there the biggest, most successful & world famous thus probably matching their own ambitions as to where Chevrolet is and wants to be.
Must be a lot of negative feed back if Tom Peters feels he has to “defend” the design. Would like to see how the black frame around lights looks on a black car. Not sure about that droopy vent opening on the ends of the tail lights. Have to see in person. Wasn’t going to buy one anyway.
New Corvette seems to be one of them cars that although not too struck at first, grows on you.
GM needs to let this go.
People complained when the pop up headlights vanished and a couple months later after the road test results everyone forgot all about it.
By the time the cars hit the dealers only a handful of old timers will complain but they will also complain about other things too.
Every new Vette has a split and over a short time the split advances to more acceptance. Nothing new.
GM shut up and finish the other models and get them to the track. a 3 sec 0-60 ZR1 will only leave the Viper owners complaining about the tail lights since that is all they will see.
Having had corvette posters on my wall when I was a kid like most involved in this website, I think that finally this new corvette will garner respect not just for insane performance but for being novel and innovative and honest. You can tell just looking at it how deeply they thought this car through. For me despite any cosmetic changes this is a step closer to its heritage. Of course, I can’t afford it yet and I’m saving up for a Camaro SS no upgrades. First the new Camaro. Now this new Corvette. GM is incredibly fortunate to have Tom Peters. I really hope he never retires.
I like the look. I’m sure there will be an aftermarket kit available for those that don’t. I’m more worried about the price. Gm used to sell more that 30k corvettes a year but the last few its only sold around 15k. If they are truly going tho price it around 70 I think they are going to eliminate a large percent of their fan base.
They’re growing on me too. You know what? Show me another car that has rear lights that look like that.
Show me a rear tail light design that’s new.
I think maybe they’ve nailed it.
GM obviously realizes they have a big problem on their hands with the taillight/rear fascia design of the C7. That’s why they’ve put on the “full court press” trying to “defend” their design. The trouble is, a design isn’t something you can “defend”! Either it looks good, or it doesn’t . And they know what the truth is. You don’t see them having to “defend” the rest of the C7 design, do you?
I wonder what the demographic is for new corvette sales? I bought mine used when was in my 20s. I would think a large percent would be older men given the price.
I wish people would drop this meme about the Corvette. Fact is, NO sports car in the high 40 thousand dollar and up range is bought overwhelmingly by young people. And the higher the price the older the clientele. I love hearing guys complain how Vettes are midlife crisis mobiles, yet to date; most every 911, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Ferrari, ect, I’ve ever seen in person on the street was driven by…YEP an old guy!
I’m not saying used or older high end sports cars aren’t driven by youthful enthusiast, nor young well to do guys don’t drive Porsches and such. I just know that I know guys in their mid 20s- early 30s who drive C5s and C6 vettes, most heavily modified. And the reason they do is because short of being a millionaire, it’s one of the few cars that is accessible to a younger gearhead with a will, and or the where with all to throw 30-50 grand at a car. Even the supposed “youth magnet” Nissan GTR is more likely to be driven by a 40+ year old well established guy. I have seen 3 on MacDill AFB in Tampa and two of them are driven by older guys (and possibly one ate 30s guy that I could tell).
@jzEllis Thank you!!! I too am tired of people complaining about vettes being an old guy car. Yeah, the people in my club are overwhelmingly over 60, but who cares!! I think it is awesome that they are still out there in convertibles living life like they want to. Besides, they have great stories!!
@Vt Don’t forget, these are Corvettes we are talking about. I would love to see where any other car has such a well loved reputation for such a wide variety of people! From the 80 year old lady that still comes to our yearly vette rally in WI to a neighbor (He’s 25) who just put in his money for a place in line for the C7, Corvettes are loved. Then you have people like me, who are big into the aftermarket for these cars. I have never seen a entire catalog the size of Mid Americas dedicated to one car except the Corvette. The possible mods are endless!! Trust me, it is just as amazing beating the pants off a guy in a Viper with a 14 year old car as it is with a brand new car! Especially when he finds out he was beat by a GIRL! 🙂
Nothing like some new design talk to get the blood going!
I really like the new tail end of the new Vette, vents and all. I kinda dig it more than the front. I wish they had gone a bit more angular in the front, like the rear, but I totally understand pushing the functionality aspect of every piece.
I don’t really understand the talk about not being able to have an opinion b/c you’ll never own one talk. Heck, if that was the case, they’d have to shut down the whole car magazine/blog/journalist industry! I personally don’t care for most of the 2nd Gen Vettes, but that doesn’t discount those who to this day get excited about seeing them. But, that’s the nature of art, isn’t it? It’s subjective, whether its a painting, a sculpture of marble, or the marrying of steel, plastic, carbon fiber, and rubber.
Nothing wrong with having an opinion (owner or not). The problem is that certain people have to get insulting with their comments, about C6 owners being “60 years old trying relive glory days”. When a 20-something who drives a V6 Mustang, yet calls himself the “GM Authority”, makes a comment like that, he should expect to get called-out for it.
“The problem is that certain people have to get insulting with their comments, about C6 owners being “60 years old trying relive glory days”.
That’s because Alex is right.
http://www.sema.org/?q=node/1697
If you are talking about the chart with age break down, is that really surprising?
Every source I’ve looked at shows the average median age for a 911 owner is between 45-56 with the core demographic (new purchase wise) being in the early 50s. Which is just common sense. Except for outliers, young guys don’t have Porsche or high end anything money for that matter.
And Many “up and commers” are simply faking it, via acquiring their sports car used, as well as leasing. Just like many young Corvette owners. (not implying that something is wrong with that by the way).
No matter how anyone spins it, expensive-ass sports cars are an old man’s privilege. Us youngins make due with modified entry level cars, used past their prime sports cars or 25-40 grand; new muscle and sport coupes.
” I personally don’t care for most of the 2nd Gen Vettes, but that doesn’t discount those who to this day get excited about seeing them. But, that’s the nature of art, isn’t it? It’s subjective, whether its a painting, a sculpture of marble, or the marrying of steel, plastic, carbon fiber, and rubber.”
^ This. ^ Except for me, it’s the C1 and C3.
Art IS subjective, and there’s no reason for anyone to become inflamed over the opinions of others about art. Some people should’n’t prove to others that they have a hair trigger sensitivity about something as trivial as car design.
Although I like the new design, one thought comes to mind when I see it: Darth Vader your car is ready.
I really like them because they have worked awesome even on the design….thank GOD its not going to be same like others ROUND shape lolz
They can park one in my garage any day. I love them all! (Except the C4 but that’s another story.) 😉
Mr. Peters…….if your consumers are telling the rear panel is ugly…than it’s ugly.
Period.
Personally…… I find the entire C7 Butt F***** Ugly.
I owned a 2008 C6. It was a very clean beautiful design.
GM should never have let Bob Lutz walk. His designs were elegant.