It’s going to be a painfully long wait for Corvette and car enthusiasts alike until Chevrolet pulls the covers off the seventh generation of America’s most famous sports car series on Sunday, January 13, 2013.
GM is making sure we don’t forget about it with a steady release of bits and pieces of information and imagery that continues today with some details about the C7’s aerodynamic properties and the new Gen 5 small block V8 that will power the base models.
Beginning with the design, GM’s people state that the every line, detail and surface on the 2014 model has been “optimized for performance”.
Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer, elaborates:
“The all-new Corvette integrates more high-performance aerodynamic features than ever before, many taken directly from Corvette Racing,” he said. “For example, the front grill and radiator flow paths reduce lift, improving vehicle stability at high speeds by keeping the car pressed to the pavement. In addition, functional vents increase track capability by channeling air to the brakes, as well as heat exchangers for the transmission and differential.”
Kirk Bennion, Corvette exterior design manager supports the same adding that the C7 will be exciting to look at as well:
“Its sculpted design excites in all the ways that a Corvette has for six decades, with elements carefully shaped in the wind tunnel to increase airflow potential and improve cooling for a system that is as efficient as possible,” stated Bennion. “It’s said that form follows function, but in the case of the aerodynamic 2014 Corvette, form and function work cohesively to produce beautiful purpose.”
Besides the news on the 2014 Corvette’s styling, GM also dropped a new video from the presentation of the new 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Dubbed ‘LT1’, the Gen 5 unit churns out 450HP and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) allowing the base coupe version of the C7 to hit 60mph (96km/h) in under 4 seconds, with the automaker also stating that it will return more than 26mpg on the highway.
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