Automotive Editor
LET’S TALK CARS
So much praise has been heaped upon the new C-7 platform Corvette Stingray that I decided to ask my friend and fellow auto writer Bob Kroupa what he thought of the car. Bob is one of the foremost authorities on Corvettes and publishes a comprehensive annual pricing guide called Vette- N-Vestments <abkroupa@aol.com>.
“I would have to agree that it is the best Corvette ever,” Kroupa told me by phone from his home in North Carolina. “It’s quite a machine and it’s truly magnificent from a styling perspective, but it’s not radically different from earlier Corvettes as it relates to a daily driver — the seats are more comfortable, there’s some improvement on the dash design. Of course, the real guts of the thing are in the performance — zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds, the amazing cornering and handling capability — and the base price of the car.”
Kroupa also noted that this latest Stingray shares only two parts with the previousgeneration Corvette, incorporating an allnew frame structure and chassis, a new powertrain and supporting technologies.
He added that the new Stingray has a perfect balance of technology, design and performance, noting that with 455 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque it is the most powerful standard Corvette model ever. It’s also the most capable standard Corvette ever, with Z51-equipped models clocking a quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 119 mph and capable of stopping from 60 mph in just 107 feet.
Other highlights include:
• An all-new 6.2-liter LT1 V-8 engine that combines advanced technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system that delivers more power while using less fuel (17 mpg/29 mpg) and a new sevenspeed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed.
• Lightweight materials, including an aluminum frame; carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel on coupes; composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels, and a new aluminum frame for an optimal 50/50 weight balance.
• A sculpted exterior with advanced high-intensity discharge and light-emitting diode lighting and race-proven aerodynamics that balance low drag for efficiency and performance elements for improved stability and track capability.
• An all-new, fully electronic top on the convertible that can be lowered remotely using the key fob and operated at up to 30 mph.
• An interior with carbon fiber, aluminum trim, leather, dual eight-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens and two new seat choices with a lightweight magnesium frame for excellent support.
The MSRP on the Stingray Coupe starts at $51,995 and $56,995 for the Convertible.
Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext. 261, or by addressing email correspondence to <LetsTalkCars@aol.com>.
