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What Does NASA Have To Do With The 2014 Corvette Stingray?

The 2014 Corvette Stingray may look like a spaceship from some angles, but that may be by sheer coincidence. Though that’s not to say that a certain space agency shouldn’t be thanked for a certain attribute the C7 features. And that is a substance called Aerogel.

Developed by NASA for use in space suits, Aerogel is considered to be one of the lightest materials in existence, composed of 99.8 percent air, and yet capable of retaining a solid form. At the same time, this substance insulates 39 times better than even the best fiberglass. It is with Aerogel that GM chose to line the C7’s transmission tunnel, with a 10-mm (0.4-inch) layer applied to its sides, and another 5 mm (0.2 inch) on the top. The goal is to keep the heat of the transmission tunnel from transferring into the cabin — a certain undesirable feature found in the outgoing Corvette C6.

If that bit of trivia wasn’t enough, head over to Car & Driver to read more tidbits. Including the fact that the 2014 Corvette will be wearing new Michelin Super Sport ZP tires. These run-flats feature asymmetrical sidewalls, and are engineered using the same computer models used to create tires for both Le Mans and ALSM race cars, even incorporating many of the same rubber mixes in their construction. The 2014 Stingray also discards cross-drilled rotors for grooved units, which is said to improve braking feel.

Former staff.

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Comments

  1. Hell I used NASA technology years ago in my GMC Sonoma.

    In the winter I would put a Space Shuttle main landing gear tire in the bed. It fit under the cover and added enough weight for winter. Also the 190 pounds would improve the ride.

    Since I sold the truck it makes a nice table.

    Reply
  2. The Corvette cannot operate in space because it needs oxygen to burn gas. The Chevy Spark Ev will work in space and on the moon (with bigger tires)!

    Reply
    1. I hope you are joking. If not you are starting to scare me.

      Reply
  3. So all these space age technologies and the car uses an ancient steel torque tube and ends up weighing 100 pounds more than the predecessor.

    Reply
    1. Hey iook at the bright side, it could’ve weighed more.

      Reply
      1. If you go with Z51, it does weigh even more.

        Reply
  4. Aerogel was first created by Samuel Stephens Kistler in 1931. Not NASA. NASA started n 1958. I’m a Corvette fan (had 2) but don’t make it sound more than it is, get your facts straight.

    Focus on making them more reliable than in the past and I’ll get another.

    Reply

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