The Chevrolet Corvette, colloquially known as the "Vette", is a two-door, two-passenger sports car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet across more than 60 years of production and eight design generations. From 1953 to 2019, it was front-engined, and since 2020, it is mid-engined. With its generations noted sequentially from C1 to C8, the Corvette serves as Chevrolet's halo vehicle and is widely noted for its performance and distinctive plastic—either fiberglass or composite—bodywork.
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| Courtesy of carspotdx.tumblr.com |
In 1953, when GM executives were looking to name the new Chevrolet sports car, assistant director for the Public Relations department Myron Scott suggested Corvette after the small maneuverable warship—and the name was approved. The first model, a convertible, was introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953 as a concept and was followed ten years later by the 1963 second generation, in coupe and convertible styles. Originally manufactured in Flint, Michigan, as well as St. Louis, Missouri, the Corvette has been manufactured since 1981 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The Corvette has since become widely known as "America's Sports Car." Automotive News said that after 'starring' in the early 1960s television show Route 66, the Corvette became synonymous with freedom and adventure," ultimately becoming both "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history."
Engine
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| C7 Corvette Engine. Courtesy of southencarparts.com |
The Stingray uses a new version of the LS based GM small-block engine derived from the C7 Stingray's LT1, now called the LT2. The new naturally aspirated V8 is rated at 490 hp (365 kW; 497 PS) at 6,450 rpm and 465 lb⋅ft (630 N⋅m) of torque at 5,150 rpm, an improvement of 40 hp (30 kW; 41 PS) and 10 lb⋅ft (14 N⋅m) over the outgoing C7 Corvette Stingray. The engine uses dry sump lubrication system. Like the C7, the C8 features Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, which is used when the car is subjected to low load scenarios such as highway cruising.
The optional NPP sport exhaust system brings the total power output to 495 hp (369 kW; 502 PS) and torque to 470 lb⋅ft (637 N⋅m). Chevrolet claims that the C8 can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.9 seconds when equipped with the optional Z51 package; Car and Driver recorded a time of 2.8 seconds.
Transmission
The Stingray is only offered with an 8-speed dual-clutch automated transmission made by Tremec, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. No manual transmission option is available. The only other model not offered with a manual transmission was the 1953–1955 C1. The manual was dropped due to lack of customer demand, though structural concerns were cited as well.
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| Courtesy of onallcylinders.com |
Suspension
The base model of the Stingray comes with unequal length double wishbone suspension at the front and rear axles made from forged aluminum. Monotube shock absorbers are standard at all four wheels. The car can be equipped with a front-axle lifting height adjustable suspension system that can add 2 in (40 mm) of ground clearance at speeds under 25 mph (40 km/h).
The Z51 package adds a performance-tuned adjustable suspension setup with threaded spring seats for further setup customization, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential. Additionally, the top-of-the-line FE4 trim level includes the fourth generation of GM's magnetic ride adaptive suspension system.
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| Corvette C5 Suspension. Courtesy of tech.corvettecentral.com |
Wheels
The Stingray is equipped with alloy wheels with diameters of 19 inches (48 cm) at the front and 20 inches (51 cm) at the rear. The standard tires are Michelin Pilot Sport ALS, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S available as a part of the Z51 performance package. All-season tires are used on base models for better grip. The exact tire dimensions are 245/35ZR-19 at the front and 305/30ZR-20 at the rear. The standard brakes are four-piston Brembo ventilated discs with diameters of 12.6 in (320 mm) at the front and 13.6 in (345 mm) at the rear. The Z51 package provides upgraded and enlarged brakes measuring 13.3 in (338 mm) at the front and 13.8 in (351 mm) at the rear.
