Wednesday, January 23, 2013

How did Chevrolet Design the 2014 Corvette Stingray?



Designing the seventh-generation Corvette was never going to be easy. The Corvette is one of, if not, America’s most iconic car. GM designers were given the difficult but enviable task of fusing the old with the new, while giving Corvette owners a sense of the vehicles history.



After debuting at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, it would seem the 2014 Corvette Stingray did just that. With a completely redesigned body sculpted for high aerodynamic efficiency and bold, aggressive styling, it really is an all-new Corvette. No design details were carried over from the C6 model, but the new C7 is distinctly Corvette.

When designing the new C7, exterior design director Tom Peters relied on two markedly different concepts; aerospace and nature, or more specifically, fighter jets and stingrays. It’s through the Corvette’s design that it’s similar to both. Like a stingray and fighter jet, it’s body is designed to cut through the air or the water as efficiently and fluidly as possible.



The C7 features a huge front intake and as with the C6, has a roof attached to a pair of blacked-out A-pillars. Both the hood and roof are constructed out of carbon fiber, while the hood features a functional air extractor. For the headlamps, the Corvette is equipped with front light clusters and features LED daytime lights and turn signals. The doors feature wing-style mirrors and curves to enhance aerodynamics.

In the back of the vehicle, the Corvette design team really took some chances; none greater than the new tail lamps. Gone are the traditional rounded tail lamps that have been a Corvette staple. As discussed earlier, the fighter jet theme is back. The new rear tail lamps are inspired by fighter jets with dual element rear lamps. On the C7 they provide an aggressive, three-dimensional appearance thanks to the sculpted lens’ having indirect LED lights. These indirect light are illuminated by hidden LED lamps which indirectly cast light from the bottom housing of the lighting into a reverse reflector, which creates an even, three-dimensional glow.


Why is lighting in the 2014 Corvette Stingray so important? It doesn’t matter what perspective you’re looking at the vehicle from, the dynamic signature lighting bring the new Corvette to life. At nighttime, there will be nothing like it on the street.

The exterior is just as much about function as it is about showmanship. As mentioned before, the C7’s design is based of aerodynamics and nature. Every curvature and cut has a point. Engineers at GM spent countless hours predicting the airflow on all aspects of the car. The team also incorporated some design principals from the Corvette Racing team to help balance the front and rear grips to maximize high-speed stability. The 2014 Corvette is a marriage of track and street.



Here are some highlights of the Corvette Stingray’s functional exterior according to GM Authority:

"
·         A new grille/radiator arrangement and hood vents are standard on all models. These elements vent air out of the hood to reduce total front-end lift for improved steering response at high speeds.

·         Front fender side coves assist in venting under-hood air pressure to reduce aerodynamic drag. These are immediately followed by Stingray badges on the fenders.

·         For models equipped with the automatic transmission or the Z51 Performance Package, a functional vent on the driver’s side direct air over a heat exchanger to cool transmission fluid; on the passenger side, a similar arrangement is used to direct air over a heat exchanger for the electronic limited slip differential.

·         You may have even noticed the small diffuser-like pieces on the outside of each rear taillight. These aircraft-inspired elements serve as outlets for the available differential and transmission heat exchangers, as do the air outlets located on the lower rear fascia.

·         Models equipped with the Z51 Performance Package include brake-cooling ducts, a unique rear spoiler, and additional air deflectors for enhanced track capability.                 "

Every inch of the 2014 Corvette is designed to enhance high-performance driving.  With its muscular but finesse design, refined dynamics and aggressive styling, GM has referred to the C7’s design as “controlled aggression”.




For more information on the 2014 C7 and when it will be coming to Jim Butler Chevrolet,  you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. To view our current inventory of Chevrolet vehicles click HERE