Wrong. The 2014 Corvette Does Not Have “Camaro Taillights”
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You’ve probably seen, heard, or read the misinformed notion that the 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray has “Camaro taillights”. Having read yet another comment stating this to be the case, I decided it was time to set the record straight and put an end to this “Camaro lights” lunacy once and for all.
For starters, it’s important to recognize the concept of a design language. Sometimes known as a design vocabulary, a design language is an overarching theme that guides the design of a complementary set of products (or other elements of the product). Since both the Corvette and Camaro are performance vehicles from Chevrolet, it should come as no surprise that the two vehicles might utilize some common inspiration in their respective designs.
But that’s not to say that the C7’s lights are the same as those found in the Camaro. While they may appear to have a similar design aesthetic, the lights on the Corvette are much more intricate, with a three-dimensional and sculpted lens housing using indirect LED lights. In fact, Corvette designers drew inspiration for the C7 from fighter jets and the stingray animal, so while the overall aesthetic of the rear lights might appear similar to that of the Camaro thanks to common elements of a design language, the pieces don’t share any parts.
And for those who need quantitative proof that the C7’s rear lights don’t share any physical elements with those of the Camaro, look no further than the rear ends of both vehicles: the C7’s lights have five (six on the outside) distinct corners, while those of the Camaro have four. That’s pentagonal vs. tetragonal, for you math geeks. Knowing this, would someone ever compare the design of the Pentagon to that of a shipping container? No, they wouldn’t.
So can we stop with the insane Camaro comparisons? At the least, don’t call them “Camaro taillights”.
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So what as they both look great.
I like the new tail lights and I think design wise they did the right thing because if they left the round lights it would be you same people saying the didn’t change anything
People tend to forget that it is design language, not necessarily a copy and paste.. If you look at BMWs they almost all have same design language, but who is complaining there?.. It’s a new generation of cars.. The hate is just childish though.. I liked the round tail lights, but I still love the new C7..
Because they are not Camaro taillights………does that mean everyone should like them?
Nope, it means people should stop calling them “Camaro tail lights”.
I guess they remind people of Camaro lamps, yet I bet they know they are not the same……great write up and wonderful photograghs.
I can’t recall a topic that has generated so much ‘spirited’ discussion. It underscores that there are a whole lot of car enthusiasts that subscribe to this site, and that our beloved Corvette is very close to our hearts – even its little tail lights. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the opinions and different perspectives. Thanks go out to Alex for generating the discussion.
To go into that much detail to describe the difference in their tailights, only underscores the fact that this is the biggest mistake GM has ever made. The round Corvette tailights are iconic. You’re entire article is like a speech from the UN. Who cares what you think, GM Authority, you cannot be serious. When you take the greatest American sports car, and retro fit it with something inferior, it remains inferior. I guarantee the sales of it will back me up. You and those tailights are a joke
Btw, I’m a proud owner of a 1972 Corvette that my late father bought for me as a birthday present around my actual birthday of December 1971. So dont tell me anything, cause I cant even hear you. The 2014 ‘vette is a disgrace. We should demand our bailout money returned, if this is the best that GM can come up with.
@Andrew- is Porsche hurting? Dont be an idiot
Alex, You can defend the tail lights all you want. Two things are certainties. One; Why if you are trying to maintain the edgy theme do you have round exhaust tubes matched with angular tail lamps? Two; Who wants to wager that the 2015 has a new variation of tail lamps that are derived from arcs not angles?
Jeff [email protected] ..
I have a 1996 LT4 and its tail lights are square with rounded corners. Corvettes have had circles, ovals and squares for tail lights. My headlights pop up and my gas cap is in the center of the back deck (can’t believe no one is whining about the side gas cap on the C7 yet – wasn’t that one of the holy sacraments of Corvettology?).
I really like the look of the C7 and hope to trade up.
If you require a car that looks the same decade after decade get a 911 or a VW Bug.
The C7 rear does in fact look like a Camaro, a fact that is upsetting to many of us who have loved and owned Corvettes for many generations. I presently own a 1982 Collector’s Edition, 1984 Z51 (unbelievable handling), 1988 and 1990 with plans to buy more. But not a C7. I had hoped and planned to treat myself to one,but the Camaro back end is a deal breaker. The designers said they wanted to do something different, and they did. The car does not look like a Corvette from the rear, it looks like a Corvmaro or Camarovette. It is nearly as bad as replacing pop up headlights with Toyota style exposed lights, the thing that kept me from buying a C6. GM needs to assign Corvette people to the Corvette, not good capable designers and engineers who have no evident history or connection to the Corvette, and certainly no respect for the iconography and traditions of the car. I hate to say this, but I hope the C7, like the New Coke, does not sell well, and prompts GM to go back to basics and design a Corvette that looks like a Corvette from any angle.
I’m a car designer mytheyself and the first thing I saw on these taillights was thatthey look a lot like Camaro taillights. The round or oval, seperate taillights is a staple to Corvette , and the thought of seeing them changed and resembling the new camaro lights is a step in the wrong direction for GM. They never should have given the Camaro the taillights we see now in this car…i was very surprised that they did this and was kinda hoping they shouldhave saved today’s camaro lights for the c7. And whats with the new z28’s Prelude taillights too???
This article is lunacy. The new rear tail lights absolutely follow the Camaro’s “design language”. Corvettes have almost always been circular and Camaro’s more rectangular / angular.
If someone first looks at this new Corvette Stingray from the rear and instinctively sees a Camaro then they are noticing that “design language”. Get it straight!!!
Absurd…
I could SWEAR I saw a Camaro with identical lights to the new Stingray!!!!
I’m also a very, VERY visual person, being an artist and all…
But I will not argue. I only just saw the “ass” of the new Vette and only observed the Camaro as it was turning quickly a day after seeing a published Corvette photo.
I will say one thing though… All these people (myself included) have gotta be seeing something! Perhaps a Corvette tail light kit for Camaros….
Yes, they essentially are Camaro tail lights. Perhaps the part numbers are not identical, but the ‘design language’ or ‘vocabulary’ is disturbingly close between both cars. And for Corvette to even obliquely imitate a Camaro is unpardonable. Also, it isn’t just the incredibly ugly tail lights. The entire back end of the C7 Corvette is a design abortion, ugly, ugly and ugly. And not the least bit Corvette like. The rear hatch looks like one from a 1980s Celica GT. The scowling eyebrows around the Camaro Tail Lights are in a word, well, ugly. Nothing about the back end of the C7 says Corvette. It says horrible design mistake. GM should fire everyone involved, crush every C7 built so far, and delay production until the C7 can be made to look like a Corvette, not a batmobile with Camaro Tail Lights.
I agree with you 100%, J Taylor. The back end of the C7 is a horrible design mistake. The front end resembles a Jaguar, the side view resembles a Ferrari and the back end resembles a Camaro. What were they thinking? The Corvette is no longer America’s True Sports Car. What a shame. Also, where is the wide body. The wide body and wide tires on my C6 Grand Sport are more appealing to me than the narrower body and narrower tires on the C7.
All of the comments on this topic, right now are simply everyone’s opinion. It will be very interesting to see how the C7 sells in the year after the product launch. I would expect 1st year sales to be satisfactory to GM because of those diehard Corvette folks who just have to have one. I’m not so sure 2nd year sales of this horrible design mistake will be what GM had hoped for.
I’ll stick with C6 Grand Sport, thank you.
Andrew, it’s those Ford idiots I’d say!
Please don’t let this guy write another article after insulting his readers.
Maybe I’m missing it. Where are the insults you speak of?
All I saw was a logical clarification of a misconception…
The biggest problem with the Corvette tail lights is that they have ALWAYS been round and they now change that? Why?
If you don’t like the damn thing don’t it…..so simple.