The Corvette C7 is a show stopper. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Every other unveiling during the 2013 North American International Auto Show falls into the Stingray’s sharp shadow. Even vehicles like the Audi RS7 and BMW M6 Gran Coupe can’t even come close to matching the hype of America’s latest performance car. But there are a few things we’re skeptical about…
1. The Design
It’s not that we don’t love the design — we do. We’re just not sure how well its revolutionary looks will age, especially the rear fascia. The two-tone color scheme (on certain trim levels like the Z51) and sharp angles are definitely striking to look at now because of how radical they are. But will we feel the same a year from now? It’s definitely something to monitor as the hype begins to settle.
2. The Electronic Emergency Brake
Seriously. Why is such a neutering feature present on a car like the Corvette Stingray? The device is now useless for anything other than parking. Plus, a motorized system adds unnecessary weight thanks to the extra parts, and loses a bit of sexiness at the same time.
3. Still A Conservative Color Palette
So, the new Corvette comes with red leather now. Sweet. But that’s simply not enough. This is the Corvette we’re talking about here. If there’s ever going to be a demand for loud, bold colors, it’s going to be with the Corvette. Blue leathers and purple leathers (or stitching)… something. The bar needs to be raised a little higher here. The same goes with the exterior colors of the C7, which are nearly the same as the C6, sans Inferno Orange. At the very least, we wouldn’t mind seeing some of the outspoken hues offered in the Spark for the new Stingray. It doesn’t really have to be Techno Pink, but we’re not out of line here.
4. Whether Or Not The C7 Raises Corvette’s Brand Equity Is Still A Mystery
We can’t help feeling that while the Corvette team seemingly fixed every complaint in the book, the perception of the Corvette brand will not improve by much. Will its enhancements attract snooty Porsche buyers? Or will it simply be enough to keep the die-hard Corvette customers coming back for more? We like to think that the Corvette’s brand equity is bullish, but at this point it’s tough to be sure.
5. The Lack Of A Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
The Corvette’s exclusive, all-new steering wheel looks amazing, but we were really hoping for a racing-oriented flat-bottom steering wheel this time around. A flat-bottom wheel setup adds that extra bit of leg clearance for entry and exit of the low-slung vehicle, which is always preferable, while making it that much more maneuverable.
An earlier version of this story only listed four gripes over the new Stingray. After glancing at it a bit more, we now have a fifth. What sticklers we are.
Comments
1. I think this design will age well, like the C2 will still look good in 50 years.
2. It’s a rear drive car with a buttload of power, the e-brake is not necessary for hooning. Use the throttle for that.
3. Purple interior? Do want it to match your hat, cane, and coat pimp-daddy?
4. My wife was floored as we watched the reveal. She said this is the first Corvette she ever wanted. I can imagine she’s not the only one.
I don’t think it would look great in the rear especially with monotone
A purple leather? mmmm naww..
Bold spark like colors, like the pink metallic. I’m sure Barbie would one.
The blue leather might be nice with a light grey like a two tone leather scheme.. But that’s just a thought.. About the exterior colors they can still show more. When the camaro came out I remember they brought more colors out every year it seemed like for awhile.. But only one that was kind of important is the electric e brake..
8-speed? Where are you!? Other than that… Blue leather would be cool. How about some white stitching? I’d like to see start/stop sometime soon as most other manufacturers are doing it. I’d also like some cool interior lighting. I also am not a huge fan of the exhaust. Ill always prefer exhaust pipes exiting from each side but it’s not a deal breaker for me, I still love it.
8 speed auto is supose to be on the 2016 Corvette .
You are brave for doing this. Most people seem to love the car, and they aren’t afraid to tell you how wrong you are if you don’t love everything about it too!
Having seen it in person, you’ve got a better handle on what it looks like; but I’m satisified with what I’ve seen in pictures so far. My gripes with the design are more minor and have to do with the tail, the amount of visilble black plastic on it; the reflectors; the side markers; and I’m not sure that the nose is “aggressive enough,” come to think of it. And that chrome strip in the grille looks like one gigantic retainer. The nice thing is, all of these issues could be addressed with the coming Z06 & ZR1 quite easilly (presuming they’re coming, of course).
Inside the car is where I think it’s going to date fast. I’m sure most materials are first-rate, but the design is busy and lacks sophistication, IMO. Some brushed metal accents, knurled knobs, etc. would’ve given it a more premium look and feel. So would more leather and less carbon fiber, but you can’t please everyone. The ZR1 must take things to another level, IMO.
Not offering more paint colors is inexcusable. Your company’s flagship deserves better. Matching the competition will never be enough when it comes to luxuries such as a sportscar.
Call me old-fashioned but I would also want a real emergency brake, just in case I should, oh, I don’t know, have an emergency. And I don’t care about most of the electronic stuff, but that’s just me.
There are a few other things I would change if I had the power, but overall I do like this car. And I have to admit, the greatest car on the planet–the C6–looks a little dated now because of it.
They already said there will be a Z06 and ZR1 coming ! They also mentioned that they were planning to see about ofering the Z06 and ZR1 as convertibles when next generation that is known as the C7 comes out .
Now, When the potential Z06 and or ZR1 are being developed, will the horsepower top out the ring leading Ford Mustang GT500?!?!?!
“ring leading”? as in when bragging at the bar? so far the ONLY thing the GT has proven itself good at is smoking tires. it isn’t even faster around a track that it’s heavier less powerful rival the Camaro ZL1 [in fact it got it’s a$$ handed to it] than there’s the issue of the GT500 being a ‘compromised car’ by nature – it is based of the lowly live axle mustang after all.
I’m sure the Z06 and ZR1 will have more than enough power to shut down the GT500, (in parctice they already do) especially considering that the base Stingray’s target is Ferrari and such; the Mustang never even garnered consideration.
Ring leading as in the rope you put around your neck after you buy a GT500 and realize you got an inferrior car ?
Who uses the e-brake to hoon a Corvette? Who? This isn’t a G6.
I think we got about all that Chevrolet is capable of in it’s present state. Did you see the guys they trotted out to take credit, and yes I’ve seen them all before. Felt like saying, “Thanks a lot we’re just looking?” Ebrake is just stupid in a car that has a track setting and Joe makes the point well about an Emergency Brake being just that. As to the design, the car just looks forced and a little on the dated side. I know no one expected another C2 but I thought that picture of the 4 rotor in the design studio might have had a little more influence.
That A pillar has got to be body color!
My biggest complaints are the black vents and the square Camaro-esque tail lights.
Is a handbrake really needed in a hi-po rwd car?
if you are about any kind of regular highly controlled “tail out” driving, why yes, yes it is. in fact no RWD car of any type should be without a MANUAL traditional E Brake; if that’s the sort of thing you are into.
with throttle control you can hang and keep the rear end out without the assistance of an e-brake. I’m all for not locking up my tires
At Chevrolet the Success of the 5th gen Camaro ruined a lot of cars(2013 malibu 2014 Impala) and now the C7,i said it time and time again Chevrolet designers need to stick to designing every car with its own style & character,making every car with something from the Camaro isnt gonna cut it,Everybody doesnt like the Camaro especially the interior,so why would they base every upcoming vehicle off of designs from the Camaro? GM need to have a SERIOUS pep talk with its designers because they are slacking
the rear looks HIDEOUS!!!!
I got complaint 5: that song from the 1960s they used in the reveal, who is the target demo, age 63? The rock song they picked should have been from the last 5 years MAXIMUM, maybe from Nickelback. American Woman? Cool song, but the target buyer isn’t Easy Rider. Ad Agency team should be fired for that, but I suspect the GM old-timers don’t know any better.
Optional complaint 5: the pictures make the car look like the body has 45 pieces to it, complicated and not clean and flowing. The all black top and black vents add to this pieced-together look. Maybe the aftermarket can “fix” this. The Mitsubishi 3000 GT had this problem. I have not seen it in person, so this might not be valid. From what I have seen, I LOVE it though.
Ho Hum
Gotta agree on the electronic e-brake. I’m not even happy about it in my Regal. I’m used to being able to pull it for certain handling maneuvers, like say in my old Cooper S. In a car like a Vette, an electronic e-brake…..really? That kind of thing is cool in a car like a BMW 7 Series, but needs to be kept far away from a Vette.
The only thing I dislike about this is the lack of manual parking break. If they wanted to include the electronic unit as an option, that would have been better. I dont think in the end the electronic break will be a deal breaker for the vast majority of people.
As far as the color options, I see where youre coming from. The exterior options arent bad, they just need a couple more of them. Im very partial to the green because it different. So far I cant find anything beyond red, tan, and black. So what other color options are there, if any, for the interior? If thats it, then yeah, that is a bit of a knock against it, but like with exterior colors, nothing that cant be fixed with a few additions.
I have to say, I really love this design, especially the back end. Its different and very forward thinking. Its a radical departure from the C6. In fact, I dare say that its revolutionary. And in that, I think its going to be one of those cars that even after its been replaced by the next Vette, any one who has one will still spend many long hours staring at this thing because of just how stunning it is. Especially those taillights.
And I think thats going to also be part of helping the brands equity. The other parts of it are going to come with the improvements in performance and quality. Performance has never been an issue, and it looks like theyve solved the quality part of it. I think though, its going to be until all the auto journalists and the public to get a hold of this car for that to happen.
After sitting back and reading some of the comments concerning an electronic e-brake, I can honestly see where people say to use the throttle. It just that I really think an electronic e-brake today sets to much of a standard of upscale luxury. To me it’s a nicety and now we are just getting lazy. Every time I pull into a parking spot, my wife jokes “Let down your landing gear!” That’s what it sounds like when you engage the electronic e-brake on my Regal. Yes, that much HP is more than enough to make this car handle, but some things are better left “old school” just because. Or maybe we could have an electronic e-brake WITH manual override!
jzEllis, Easy now. I’m a GM guy all the way. All I’m saying is that the GT500 has more horsepower and to some Ford guys, that’s all they need. Just friendly conversation guy.
My bad, not trying to fight. I actually like the SN95 GT500s. But in practice they’re not even in the same class a Vette.
I know some of the murcielagos have a lot of black exposed on the tail and I don’t think it takes away from the car at all. I like it the way it is actually. I never thought I would but those angles have grown on me just like the lines of the C6 did as time went on. This time, however, I have been looking at it for months! And I still have not seen it in person! I so can’t wait to see it in person!!!
whats wrong with a e-e-brake, if used like a e- brake, the only thing i would change is the chrome spear in the grill, make it black, It’s going to look cool in real life through.
Nothing, except this is a sports car. And when driving a sports car there are times when a good yank on the e-brake are necessary to adjust it’s attitude mid corner.
Also sports cars are about minimalism, not complication. Tech is cool when it enhances performance, but when it’s a tech for tech’s sake; it’s a distraction.
I agree. I don’t mind upgrading a lot of things. I have done a lot of that to my car but to get a certain higher performance out of it.
Actually, I am a little worried about that touch screen in there. I hope you can turn it off if you want to. I forgot about that little detail. =/ Talk about distraction.
Remember that yes this is a sports car and a fine track day car, but it is also a GT car.
A good yank on the e-brake mid corner? are you sure? Maybe if you’re Ken Block or Vaughn Gittin?
Just one complaint – the 6 speed auto.
You can taste the colours!
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18blhcxnyogvvjpg/original.jpg
Thank you! That is now my desktop at work!! =)
For the flat bottom wheel, I’m thinking that will come with the higher models. Z06 and ZR1 I bet will come with one.
Haha post #3, if you follow this link and select “specs” in the bottom right, you can choose the current wheel and colour options
http://www.chevrolet.com/new-2014-corvette/
My fave ‘vette had a torch red exterior with a torch red and black interior. It made my eyes hurt…which is good! Why isn’t torch red in the lineup?
If I could suggest just one thing I’d like to see is an upper dash that doesn’t reflect off the inside of the windshield into the driver’s eyes. Maybe try a flat black matte. I spend a lot of time behind the wheel and this one change would improve the fatigue factor.
If the dash is leather, or even the urethane/silicone (whatever it is that Buick is using on their fake leather-french stitch dashes), it should provide very minimal reflection. Typical it is just the hard plastics that do this, especially when people slather it up with Armour-All.
Even with leather, most people are under the impression shiny leather is good leather. This is false. Leather should have a matte/dull finish. Using all-in-one leather cleaner and conditioner is obviously a typical mistake. Leather is cow skin, so treat it as skin, you wouldn’t use soap as hand lotion or hand lotion as soap, so don’t do the same on your cars leather.
Another is people buying the wrong cleaner and conditioner altogether. Buying cheap greasy leather conditioners is going to do worse for your leather. That greasy film left behind not only reflex light off the dash, but it traps the sunlight an (radiation, UV) so it actually dries out the leather.
What you want is Lexol (my fav choice) or AutoGlym (much easier to find). And get separate cleaner, and a separate conditioner.
I don’t recommend putting the conditioner on the steering wheel or shift knob, but, since those are getting touched more than anything else in the car, what I do is apply a small amount of conditioner, then take a dry and clean microfibre and lighting buff those surfaces after the conditioner has sat for a few minutes.
The one thing that is very annoying for me is that god awful shift boot. That design is officially dead. Needs to be much more high tech. Now it’s a piece of leather with no rhyme or reason to it. Needs to be more sophisticated. I miss those rubber tiered shift boots from the past. Those were slick.