Chevrolet · 2013–2019

Chevrolet Corvette C7

The Chevrolet Corvette (C7) is the seventh generation of the Corvette sports car manufactured by American automobile manufacturer Chevrolet from 2014 until 2019. The first C7 Corvettes were delivered in the third quarter of 2013. The racing variants include the C7.R, which won the GTLM 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Chevrolet Corvette C6

All Chevrolet Corvette C7 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Development and introduction

GM executives began planning the next-generation (C7) Corvette sports car in 2007. The car was originally planned for the 2011 model year, but by then it was delayed. Mid-engine and rear-engine layouts had been considered, but the front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform was chosen to keep costs lower. The lead exterior designer of the C7 Corvette was Hwasup Lee, whose team completed the design between 2010 and 2011. The design director for the C7 was Kirk Bennion and the design was approved by the division's design director, Tom Peters, in 2011. The 2014 Corvette debuted on Sunday, January 13, 2013, in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show. Chevrolet also showed the new crossed flags logo for the Corvette. While overall the C7 attempts to provide an evolutionary redesign to an iconic theme, the car's designers incorporated aggressive angular elements. The C7 received criticism for some of the more styled elements of the car. "The rear contains what will surely be the C7's most controversial styling elements. It's all creases and vents back there, with aggressive trapezoidal taillights similar to those found on the current Camaro and quadruple-barreled tailpipes lined up in a neat row in the center of the rear valance", wrote Jason Kavanagh for Edmunds. Functional aerodynamic aids are tacked on or cut into every body panel of the C7, often juxtaposed against sharp creases. This is a radical departure from the prior generations of Corvettes, whose styling had no spoiler, few body panel creases, and only semi-functional gills for front brake cooling. In addition, past Corvette models minimized the size of headlamps or even hid them altogether. The C7 reverses that minimalist styling language with intricately styled headlamps with integrated LED daytime

2014 model year

=== Production === Production and customer delivery of the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe began in September 2013. Corvette assembly plant tours in Bowling Green, Kentucky, began in October 2013. Production of the Stingray Convertible began at the end of 2013. The fifth generation of the small block engine used in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was built in GM's Tonawanda Engine Plant. The first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible was sold in 2013 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach to Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick for US$1,000,000 in a Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer institute charity lot. A month after the first 2014 Corvette Stingray, 485 vehicles had been delivered. Of these early orders, 38% included 7-speed manual transmission, and 75% included the Z51 Performance Package (54% also selected the magnetic ride suspension system). Equipment. The 2014 Corvette features a carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel. Its fenders, doors, and rear quarter panels remain fiberglass composite. The C7 uses Aerogel, a material developed by NASA, to keep heat from the transmission tunnel from transferring into the cabin. The under-body panels are made of "carbon-nano" composite. The chassis is made of hydro-formed aluminum. The rear tail lights use indirect LED technology. Despite the increased use of aluminum and other light weight materials, the overall weight of the car remains the same as that of the previous generation (C6). The C7 Corvette offers a seven-speed manual transmission made by Tremec that implements active rev matching. The Corvette also provides a driver mode selector with five settings: Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport, and Track mode. The hood and side vents and inlets assist in cooling and aerodynamic stability. The interior features a driver

2015 model year

=== Production === In 2015, the 8L90 eight-speed automatic transmission was available as an option for all Corvette models. The 8L90 is built at GM's Toledo, Ohio, transmission facility. Equipment. Major changes for the 2015 model year, in addition to the reintroduction of the Z06, were limited to the introduction of the 8L90 automatic transaxle (replacing the 6L80 transaxle), as well as the dual mode exhaust becoming standard on Z51 cars. Performance Data Recorder. The Performance Data Recorder (PDR) is an optional system that allows Corvette drivers to record performance data while driving and review the results. A 720p high-definition camera mounted within the windshield header trim records the driver's point-of-view through the windshield, with audio recorded via a dedicated microphone in the cabin. The system uses a dedicated GPS receiver more precise than the one in the navigation system. The recorder can access vehicle information, ranging from engine speed and transmission-gear selection to braking force and steering-wheel angle. It uses a dedicated SD-card for recording and transferring video and vehicle data. The PDR system can record video with three data overlay options, each rendered in real time. "Track Mode" shows the most data on the screen, including speed, rpm, g-force, a location-based map, and lap time. "Sport Mode" shows fewer details but includes key data including speed and g-force. "Touring Mode" shows no data; it simply records and displays video and audio of the drive. Additionally, "Performance Mode" records performance metrics, such as 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration, 1/4-mile speed and elapsed time, and 0–100–0 mph (0–161–0 km/h) runs. The PDR vehicle data can be viewed in the included "Cosworth Toolbox" software. The application overlays

2016 model year

=== Production === A mid-year production change involved the phasing out of 4 exterior colors and the addition of a new color, Admiral Blue, at the end of the 2016 production run. Models and special editions. Three "design packages" were offered: the Twilight Blue Design Package, Spice Red Design Package, and Jet Black Suede Design Package. They were available on 3LT and 3LZ trim models. The Twilight Blue and Spice Red packages included full-color instrument panel, doors, and seats, chrome badges, and Shark Gray painted exterior vents. Convertible models included a blue, red, or black top matching the package. The packages included special aluminum wheels, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear, painted Pearl Nickel in the Twilight Blue and Spice Red packages for the Z06, and Satin Black in the Jet Black package. The design packages were offered with white, gray, and silver exterior colors, along with a color matching the package (Night Race Blue, Long Beach Red, and Black, respectively). Z06 C7.R Edition (ZCR). Available only with 3LZ trim, the Z06 C7.R Edition is primarily an appearance package. Interior features include a Jet Black leather trimmed and faux suede-wrapped interior, competition sport seats, faux suede-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, yellow contrast stitching, carbon fiber interior package, C7.R Limited-Edition interior plaque (includes racing victories) and Corvette Racing sill plates. On the exterior, changes include black Z06 Wheels with yellow stripe, yellow brake calipers, Corvette Racing wheel center caps, visible carbon fiber, Spectra Gray grille and vents, C7.R graphics, and the Z07 Performance Package with carbon ceramic brakes. The package is available in either Black or Corvette Racing Yellow exterior colors. It included its own sequential VIN sta

2017 model year

=== Production === Production for the 2017 model year began on July 11, 2016, and ended on May 29, 2017, with the 2018 model year production officially beginning the following week. Models and special editions. ==== Grand Sport (Z15) ==== In April 2016, at the Geneva Auto Show, Tadge Juechter, the chief engineer on the C7, introduced the new Grand Sport model for the 2017 model year. The Grand Sport is a hybrid of the Z51 Stingray and the Z06; sharing much of the wide body work of the Z06 (except the hood) with the Z51 LT1 dry sump engine. The Grand Sport features: Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires: 285/30ZR19 (front) and 335/25ZR20 (rear) unique Grand Sport wheel design: 19x10 inches (front) and 20x12 inches (rear) Brembo brake system: 14 in (356 mm) rotors and six-piston calipers in front, and 13.4 in (340 mm) rotors and four-piston calipers in the rear magnetic ride control, specific stabilizer bars and unique springs electronic limited-slip differential LT1 V8 engine rated at 460 hp (343 kW), with dry-sump oiling system and active exhaust 7-speed manual transmission, with active rev match and available eight-speed paddle-shift automatic with specific performance calibration Grand Sport models are offered as a convertible or coupe with either a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. An available Z07 package adds carbon ceramic-matrix brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires. An available Heritage Package includes interior brushed aluminum hash marks, and floor mats with the Grand Sport logo. Grand Sport Collector Edition (Z25). As part of the introduction of the Grand Sport, Chevrolet also introduced a Grand Sport Collector Edition, which was meant to be limited to 1,000 vehicles, with 850 allocated to the US market. 784 coupes and 151 convertibl

2018 model year

=== Production === Production for the 2018 model year officially began on June 5, 2017. Production was suspended on July 28, when the plant shut down for new paint facility upgrades as well as the addition of a new assembly line for the 2019 ZR1 model. Plant tours were suspended for 18 months as a result of this shut down. The plant resumed production on November 6, 2017. The 2018 model year ended on January 26, 2018. Models and special editions. The Stingray, Grand Sport and Z06 models continued into the 2018 model year. Carbon 65 Edition (Z30). Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Corvette, Chevrolet offered the Carbon 65 Limited Edition for the 2018 model year. This edition was limited to 650 units globally, painted exclusively in Ceramic Matrix Gray. It was available on Grand Sport 3LT and Z06 3LZ trims in both convertible (blue top only) and coupe bodies. The Carbon 65 Edition option package included unique fender stripes and door graphics, black wheels with machined grooves on summer-only tires, blue brake calipers, a Jet Black faux suede-wrapped interior with blue stitching, and various unique badges. Carbon fiber applications included visible ground effects, hood section and roof (coupe) or tonneau inserts (convertible), spoiler, steering wheel rim, and gloss interior trim.

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Specifications

name: Chevrolet Corvette (C7)
Manufacturer: Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production: September 2013 – July 2017 (due to temporary shutdown of plant), November 2017 – November 2019
Model years: 2014–2019
Assembly: United States: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Designer: Hwasup Lee
Class: Sports car (S)
Body style: 2-door targa top coupe, 2-door convertible
Platform: Y-body
Layout: Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related: IsoRivolta GTZ Zagato, Equus Throwback
Engine: 6.2 L LT1 V8, 6.2 L LT4 supercharged V8 (Z06), 6.2 L LT5 supercharged V8 (ZR1)
Transmission: 7-speed Tremec TR-6070 manual, 6-speed GM 6L80 automatic (2014), 8-speed GM 8L90 automatic
Wheelbase: 106.7 in
Length: 176.9 in
Width: 73.9 in
Height: 48.6 in
Kerb weight: 1518 kg (Base), 1562 kg (Z51), 1598 kg (Z06), 1615 kg (ZR1)
sp: us
Predecessor: Chevrolet Corvette (C6)
Successor: Chevrolet Corvette (C8)