Chevrolet has revealed the 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible for the American market today at the New York Auto show. It features a fully-electronic top that can be lowered using a button on the key fob. The top can be folded or released when the car is in motion, for up to 50kph.
GM says the convertible and regular model were developed together and there's no drop in performance, technology or design.
The performance and technology content have been transferred from the coupe to the convertible. The changes in the structure of the car is limited to the folding roof and the repositioning of the seat belt mounts. Compared to the outgoing model's steel structure, the convertible has a 57% stiffer and 45 kg lighter aluminium frame.
The Corvette Stingray convertible is packed with a LT1 6.2L V-8 engine that produces 450hp and 610Nm of torque. The power-to-weight ratio is identical to the coupe. The engine is loaded with technologies like direct fuel injection, active fuel management and variable valve timing and is more fuel economical than the current model.
The car sports a three-ply thick fabric top, with extra sound-absorbing padding and a glass rear window.
Highlights of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible
- LED lights
- Genuine carbon fiber interior trim, aluminium trim and hand wrapped leather
- Dual 8-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens
- Drive Mode Selector that changes 12 vehicle settings and a new seven-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching that anticipates gear selections and matches engine speed.
- Track-honed Z51 Performance Package that gets an electronic limited-slip differential; dry-sump lubrication system; integral brake, differential and transmission cooling and an special aero pack for better high speed stability.