The american icon

Photo courtesy General Motors
The Chevrolet Corvette is always a part of these rare icons of the automotive industry that inspires boundless admiration of the enthusiasts of performance and exoticism.

Jacques Welcome

Sunday, 8 October, 2017 19:14

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Sunday, 8 October, 2017 19:14

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Several motor sport marked the imaginary of the people, but rare are those that have managed to persist. This is the case of the Chevrolet Corvette. Since its launch, in 1953, year after year, it provokes the admiration of the lovers of performance and exoticism.

Since sixty years, the Chevrolet Corvette has fascinated the enthusiasts of high performance cars. Its brand image, always very strong, largely depends on the evolution is more or less maintained that its constructor has made him suffer over the years. Without this, it would have disappeared like many others.

Also, remember these Corvette of the 80s. At the time, they enjoyed a clientele that is well-defined. But never would we dare to compare the Porsche 911. These “Vettes” of yesteryear had proud pace, and the humming hoarse in their big V8 was drooling onlookers, as their acceleration ability. But their road behavior and the quality of their construction were no match to German standards. They were uncomfortable, noisy and balourdes. In addition, a few laps on the track were sufficient to expose the limits désolantes of their brakes, their tyres and their management.

Photo courtesy General Motors

With the advent of the seventh-generation Corvette, launched in 2014, the interior of this car has finally become a space that is comfortable and welcoming, offering a high level of sophistication.

RADICALLY NEW

The appearance of the seventh generation Corvette in 2014, has contributed to enhance its brand image and to align it to products that are more refined and sophisticated that attracts a rich clientele younger. It is therefore a car that is radically different than is now produced by the factory of Bowling Green, Kentucky, home of the Corvette since 1981. A factory repeatedly enlarged and modernized since GM bought Chrysler, which manufactured air conditioners for vehicles of a forgotten era.

The Corvette of the 21st century — nice way to distinguish it from its predecessors — has a chassis that is all aluminum, which is 20 % more rigid than the steel of the Corvette generation earlier. Its body is always manufactured with composite materials, but it also uses some modern materials such as carbon fibre. About its powertrain, they are able to an international competition. So that now the standard-bearer for Chevrolet, stands comparison with the Audi R8, Acura NSX and, of course, the Porsche 911.

The Corvette family includes three versions very distinct. Each is available as a coupé and a cabriolet. Each also offers a level of comfort and performance.

As well, the Corvette Stingray, entry-level version, is a car grand touring performance that puts more emphasis on the comfort and the pleasure of everyday driving. Corvette Grand Sport (GS for the intimate) refers rather to the lovers of sporty driving with its suspension firmer, tires of larger size, etc, in short, of the equipment, providing a smoother edge. Finally, there’s the Corvette Z06. The monster. A model of exception that are very powerful that it can easily substitute for a Ferrari 488 GTB.

Photo courtesy General Motors

It can take the form of the coupe or the convertible, very stylish, the Corvette is one of those automobiles that never pass unnoticed.

MODERN ENGINES

Under the hood, always as long, but made of carbon fiber, houses a V8 6.2 L ohv. This architecture of the cylinder head is the only concession to the past of this car, since the engine now uses a variety of devices, modern as well as direct injection, a variable valve timing system of valves and a piston cooling oil jets, all of this to be for the diapason of his time.

We are talking about an engine, but, in reality, there are two of them. The V8 LT1 air book 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque to the Stingray. For the Grand Sport, but also the Stingray equipped with the exhaust system performance optional (1 380 $), it gives 5 hp and 5 lb-ft. For its part, the V8 LT4 supercharged Eaton reserved for the Z06 produces 650 horsepower and as many pounds-foot of torque. This allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 s and dust, with an automatic gearbox too ! The manual transmission extends about 3 tenths of a second of the acceleration, according to the manufacturer. And the other two Corvette ? Their acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is close to 4 s with the automatic transmission, they share, moreover, with the Z06. But at least go check it out on a race track, who care ?

Manual transmissions 7-speed (that is, the Z06 has a tiered separate) aim of course the drivers are more conservative. For others, they are simply concerned about comfort and simplicity, or most progressives, there is this automatic transmission 8 reports, a proposed option for 1 990 $ for the three versions of the Corvette. Personally, this is the one I prefer, by far. First, it eliminates the need to use a clutch, which is still a little firm and persistent, although the gear lever, to him, offers a precise handling. However, in the rush hour traffic, it will happen. Then, the automatic transmission has a manual mode, controlled by paddles fixed to the steering wheel, which reacts with precision and speed. Finally, for fans of pure performance, it is she who delivers the best. Why do without them ?

ALL FOR CUSTOMIZE

In order to satisfy the clientele targeted by the meteor, the manufacturer has multiplied the opportunities for customization. It is logical. After all, when you offer a toy that cost from 70 000 to more than $ 100,000, you will most likely want the single out. For this, the buyer has the choice of a wide range of options for embellishing the appearance of the exterior and the interior. One thinks, for example, the five colors offered for the soft-top convertible, the 21 models of alloy wheels listed in the catalog and in the 24 fixtures proposed for the interior (combining different seats, different coating and different colours). The buyer also has the choice of a dozen decorative strips for the body and five different colors of brake calipers ! Naturally, the offer is not limited to the appearance of the car, because Chevrolet also offers a variety of amenities designed to highlight the capabilities of the Corvette, as the Performance package Z51 offered for the Stingray (ideal for the amateur autocross), or disks of ceramic brakes and suspension, high-performance Z07 with its system of management of the driving Magnetic Selective Ride Control, which adjusts the tip of the fingers.

The Corvette of today is light years ahead of the versions of the past. It is manufactured with materials of high quality and its finishing is neat. This beast is finally became comfortable and the cabin is well appointed and makes driving all the more enjoyable. Many devices to aid the conduct also mean that the Corvette modern forgives more wrongdoing — to the extent reasonable, of course. And on the track, even after several hours of driving, the driver as the car come back for more. Quite a feat for… a sexagenarian !

Featured in the Indy 500

Photo courtesy General Motors

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport 500 Miles of Indianapolis 2017.

In the United States, the automobile manufacturers have an adage associated with the world of racing : “Win on Sunday. Sell on Monday. “win on Sunday and sell on Monday. Chevrolet has reinterpreted by placing the Corvette Grand Sport 2017 at the head of the peloton from the start of the 101st edition of the 500 Miles of Indianapolis, on the 28th of may last.

Serving as a leading car (” Pace car ” in English), the Corvette GS has led the participants of the event to the green flag. It was a perfect way to give him unparalleled visibility during the moments crucial to the beginning of this race, which was attended by more than 300 000 spectators, not counting the 5.5 million viewers who were glued to their small screen.

It was the 14th time that a Corvette was used as the leading car for this race since 1978 and the 28th time for a car of brand Chevrolet. A spanking-new Fleetmaster convertible Six was the first Chevrolet to play this role in Indianapolis, in 1948.

Remember that the brand with the bow tie was founded in 1911 by the brothers Louis, Gaston and Arthur Chevrolet, the same year that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway introduced its first race, an event in which Arthur participated, but without success.

Chevrolet Corvette

Base price

64 795 $ (Stingray); 76 295 $ (Grand Sport); 93 145 $ (Z06).

Transport and preparation

2 100 $

Powertrain

Stingray and Grand Sport : V8 LT1 SET, 6.2 L, 455 hp at 6,000 tr/min (Stingray), 460 hp at 6,000 tr/min (Grand Sport); 460 lb-ft at 4,600 rpm (Stingray), 465 lb-ft at 4,600 rpm (Grand Sport). Z06 : V8 LT4 SET supercharged, 6.2 L, 650 hp at 6 400 rpm, 650 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm. Manual gearbox 7-speed or automatic 8-speed. Rear-wheel drive.

Features

Four-wheel independent Suspension. Disc brakes to all four wheels. Anti-lock braking system series. Tires : Stingray : 245/40ZR18 (front), 285/35ZR19 (rear); Grand Sport and Z06 : 285/30ZR19 (front) 335/25ZR20 (rear).

Ratings

Wheelbase : 2 710 mm; length : 4 493 mm; width : 1 965 mm; height : 1 234-1 237 mm. Weight/Grand Sport : 1 555-1 582 kg. Tank Volume : 70 litres. Cargo Volume : 425 L (coupe). Average consumption (test; PVA) : 14,3 L/100 km.

Competition

Acura NSX, Audi R8, BMW M6, Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and Demon, Ferrari 488 GTB and Spider, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Lamborghini Huracan , Lexus LC, McLaren Sport Series, Mercedes-AMG GT, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911

Strengths

• Silhouette very successful
• On the road impressive
• Superior construction quality

Weak Points

• Rear visibility reduced
• Trunk Volume limited
• Clutch closes (manual transmission)