Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

Even before the Chevrolet Corvette C7 started the design process, the Corvette C6 had already set the bar very high for a successor. It was ultimately successful, and it was produced in good numbers between 2013 and 2019. Only two parts remained of the old Corvette, the air filter and the hood release lever; the rest was completely new.

The base Corvette C7 was already a perfect car, the Z06 was an accurate track tool, and the ZR1 made the transition to a sledgehammer. Of course, the new generation had to go a step further in order to convince the trade press!

The development history of the C7 began shortly after the introduction of the C6 in 2007. Chevrolet wanted to take the Corvette brand to an entirely new level with the C7, so a rear-engine layout, similar to the 911, was considered along with the mid-engine option.

 

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

However, the financial crisis and the associated insolvency of the parent company General Motors in 2009 thwarted all plans. Although bankruptcy could be averted, GM simply could not afford a completely new development as initially planned in the situation at the time. 

As said, the group had only just been rescued, and General Motors had significant debts to the American government. It would have been a wrong signal to spend tons of money on complex new development of a niche model compared to the number of units in the rest of the GM portfolio.

So it was decided not to discontinue the Corvette altogether but to retain the old front-engine concept with rear-wheel drive in order to save costs. Due to financial problems, the planned market launch for 2011 had also been postponed.

The design team at Hwasup Lee was responsible for the design of the new Corvette, as well as design director Kirk Bennon. The whole thing was overseen by the design director of GM Performance Car Studios, Tom Peters, who was also responsible for the design of the C5 and C6. 

The design team around Lee worked between 2010 and 2011 on the final design, which was then subsequently blessed by Peters. With that, the creation of the Corvette was already set. The final design for the series was unveiled at the New York Auto Show in early 2013.

 

Production

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

The new design was once again much more angular and futuristic than the C6. Not everyone in the trade press liked this! Some especially reviled the rear, with its now rectangular taillights and four central tailpipes. 

Since the C6 had already reached the limits of what was feasible in terms of mechanical grip, much more value was placed on aerodynamics in the design of the C7. As modern as the new design may have appeared, the roots were not denied. 

The shape was inspired mainly by the Corvette C2 in line with the reintroduction of the Stingray name. Stingrays first appeared on the C2 chassis, and the sloping rear and fender bulge were made to imitate a manta ray; tradition doesn’t change in this generation. 

Of course, the seemingly infinitely long bonnet has remained. The look was very aggressive with the narrow headlights, the pointed nose, and the standard aerodynamic package. The powerful, up to 20-inch wheels contribute to this.

 

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

A spoiler had now been integrated into the styling in order to take the issue of downforce into account right from the start. The C7 also worked closely with the Corvette racing team again, so street and racing versions were developed hand in hand with the corresponding advantages.

The chassis of the C7 was a new development and not a pure evolutionary step like its predecessor. Nevertheless, the traditional layout that has been used since the C4 was chosen; a separate lightweight tubular frame with a pulpit in the middle. 

The dimensions of the chassis have been increased in length and width by a good inch each. This lengthened the track width and wheelbase accordingly. The Corvette's new frame was made entirely of aluminum this time, not steel. 

The floor panels were now made of carbon nanocomposite material, and the chassis was again produced according to the hydroforming principle. All of this not only saved weight but also made the chassis even stiffer than before. 

The basic recipe with the double wishbones on both axles was retained, but the wishbones were completely redeveloped. The lower wishbones were now hollow, saving a total of 8.8 lbs in weight.

 

Technology

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

Where the chassis was further improved, the engine could not take a back seat. Nothing came of the mid-engine concept due to the insolvency. And with that, the rumors about a 5.5 liter DOHC V8 died. Instead, the LS Small Block was further developed into the 5th generation. 

This new small-block generation was the LT engine family. The LT1 was developed for the Stingray; incidentally, the third time Chevrolet used this name for a small block. Like the LS1 and its successor generation in the form of the LS2 and LS3, the LT1 was also an all-aluminum engine. 

The basic version of the C7 received the LT1 engine with a displacement of 6.2 liters presented in 2012, which could develop a maximum torque of 465 lbs-ft and had an output of 466 hp. Therefore, the C7 was the most powerful basic Corvette to date when introduced.

 

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

A particular sound engineering system is used for the first time in the Corvette Stingray C7. When switching between eight and four-cylinder operations, Tenneco exhaust valves optimize the exhaust flow and regulate the exhaust noise with targeted opening and closing processes.

On the transmission side, the Corvette now got a 7-speed manual transmission as standard. Friends of automatic transmissions were also served again. In the first model year, the 6-speed converter transmission that was introduced in the C6 was used, but this was then replaced by a brand new 8-speed automatic for the 2015 model year.

Overall, a lot has changed inside also, and for the better. The quality was now at a much higher level. The deep seats with seat heating and ventilation are comfortable and offer sufficient lateral support. Additional storage made sense too, with the 8-inch touchscreen disappearing at the touch of a button to reveal a "secret compartment".

 

Sales

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

With a delay of a good two years, the C7 was officially launched on the US market at the end of 2013 as a 2014 model year. The C7 was traditionally built at GM's facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, although the new LT1 engines were produced at the Tonawanda engine plant. 

A total of almost 180,000 pieces rolled off the assembly lines, which means that the production and sales figures remained at a relatively stable level. The drop in production can be explained by the conversion of the plant in 2018 and the resulting shortened model year. 

Less than 10,000 pieces rolled off the assembly line that year. With an average of 30-40,000 cars that rolled off the assembly line in the years before and after, it reached very similar production figures to those of the C6.

 

Protecting a Chevrolet Corvette C7

 

The Chevrolet Corvette C7 will become a classic one day because it was the last of its kind. GM developed the long-awaited mid-engine sports car for the C8, and it was finally determined with the C7 that the front-engine/rear-wheel drive concept had reached the end of the road. More was just not possible!

If you own a Corvette C7 and take care of it properly, this future classic may do much more than keep its value; it might even become a good investment. Corvettes are traditionally not so hard to maintain, but you must use OEM items for the best fit. That’s why Chevrolet has a partner company ( Coverking) for protection items like car, seat, and dash covers.

 

 

If you check out the company’s site, you will find excellent options like the SatinStretch car cover. There are also two toughest options for the best protection. You can pick up an Autobody Armor Car Cover for indoor protection and a StormProof Car Cover for outdoor protection.

The Corvette C7 looks like an Italian exotic with aggressive shapes. However, the windshield is still flat, and you still need a sun shield to protect your exquisite interior. In our opinion, your car should be proud of being a Corvette should mention that with an original Corvette Printed Sunshield.

 

 

Resources

 

Coverking Links

 

Tankut Basar

Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.

Share