The Stingray has returned in the 2014 Corvette.
True to form, The C7 is highly influenced by the 2009 Corvette Stingray Concept (CSC), first seen as Sideswipe the Autobot featured in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.
Still, as with the Transformers franchise, some criticism is merited. It's hard not to be critical of any Corvette, it being Chevrolet's flagship model.
Here’s one review on the newly released C7 design:
Baby’s got back. The Vette’s rear valence panel is, uh, wide. We’re talking Kardashian bump-in-the-trunk. For now, Chevy is leaving the paint off, which makes it stand out all the more. Sure, the centrally mounted exhaust definitely breaks up the rear, but one has to think that a matching (painted) tail would complement (or hide) the design better.
See me now. The C7 has a fixed quarter window, a first for a Corvette. Until one gets to test out the blind spots, if any, it’s hard to say if this glass is necessary. Yes, the pointed quarter glass blends with the sleek roof line taper, but one would think Chevy engineers could have eliminated this. And what about those tacked on side view mirrors?
Grilled to perfection. Up front is a grill reminiscent of the ‘50s Corvettes, its chrome bar adding a hint of nostalgia. Hard to imagine on paper, but this successfully blends the old with the new.
Lights on, lights off. LED (Light Emitting Diodes) have become standard fare in automobile circles in recent years. But is it just me, or are designers going way overboard with lights these days? Do we need to be blinded by piercing headlights from a mile away, as if to forcefully announce to the world the newest form of lighting technology? The trend seems to be heading towards rope lights being standard equipment up and down cars of the future (wait for more UFO sightings). Just because LEDs save energy doesn't mean you need to offer twice as many per square inch.
Stop again. Taillights are clearly similar to the CSC, though the boomerang/90 degree angles tucked deep into their sockets are now more flush-mounted. The lights themselves became larger and more rectangular, flowing better with the C7 design. But what’s with the black vent-like trim that drips down into the quarters? Is this another air extractor design?
Emblem-atic. Some of the most revered production models were Stingrays, starting first with the second-gen (’63-’67), then becoming increasingly curvier throughout the C3 era, ending in ’82. But one thing is for certain: The Stingray nameplate is not used lightly. Its badge being used on the C7 represents more than a departure from the Corvette norm: it declares a new beginning.The redesigned emblem (just aft of the front wheels) is a cool reminder of how far the Corvette has come in the performance car world.
Goodie Hoodie. The Stingray’s hood is aggressive, with a cowl bump similar to the newest Camaro. The functional air extractor at the leading edge is a bonus, as the design conjures the double budge hood found on big block cars of ’68-’72 and LT1 small block of ’70-’72.
Look out. The rear split-window treatment of the CSC is gone, an inevitable production model concession, but disappointing nonetheless. The roof is lower, but not as extremely raked as the CSC, and of course, the back window still offers a hint of the legendary taper. Perhaps offsetting this nixing is the extra cool carbon fiber roof (available in: painted carbon fiber, visible carbon fiber, and transparent).
For more information on the 2014 Stingray Corvette, visit the official site:
http://www.chevrolet.com/new-2014-corvette/
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