America’s sports car. A brutally effective track weapon. A favorite of hairy-chested, gold-chain-wearing old dudes. Or simply one of the world’s best dollar-for-dollar performance bargains. The Corvette is at least a little of all of those, and that’s why any word of a major overhaul sets the enthusiast world on fire. Going beyond gearheads, it’s also one of the few cars on which everyone has an opinion.
We’ve just spotted the first physical evidence of the next-generation C7: Two mules, a convertible and a coupe, caught testing on public roads while wearing current C6 bodies. While the pictures themselves don’t tell us much, we have some good ideas about what you’ll find in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette.
Do the Evolution
The current C6 Corvette underpinnings are pretty ancient by automotive standards. Introduced in 2004 as a 2005 model, it was only a small evolution of the previous C5. The C6 is an extremely capable machine, but the C7 won’t receive the dramatic shift to a mid-engine layout many predicted. (That could be in the cards for C8, however; GM commenced work on such a platform, although it was put on hold during the company’s bankruptcy brouhaha.) The front-engine layout will carry over—as will the rear transaxle, helping to retain optimum weight balance—and we believe the current suspension, transverse leaf springs and all, will appear on the 2014 model. We also don’t expect any drastic dimensional changes; while the mules here appear to have a narrower track, their bodies were donated by C6 Grand Sports, which have wider fenders and tracks than do base Corvettes. Besides, it wouldn’t be logical for the Corvette to get narrower without a commensurate shrinkage in overall length and wheelbase. The C7 is likely to shed some mass, which will yield a better power-to-weight ratio.
The engine room, however, should see more-significant changes. GM already has invested nearly $1 billion in the American plants that produce its small-block V-8, and the fifth-generation of the powerplant should appear in the C7. Downsizing is almost a given for efficiency reasons, so expect a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter in place of the current 6.2 in the base model. (As for the oft-rumored twin-turbo V-6? We’re thinking C8.) The 5.5 will continue to use an aluminum block and should make roughly the same 430 hp as the current 6.2, however, with a higher compression ratio and direct fuel injection. The V-8 also may get cylinder deactivation, variable-valve timing, and could even have stop-start functionality—the latter not exactly ideal for stoplight tête-à-têtes. GM has already announced that its next-gen small block would have an “all-new advanced combustion system,” which we take to mean it will feature Viper-esque ‘cam-within-a-cam’ variable valve timing. Finally, the Z06 and ZR1 models—with their larger and supercharged eights, respectively—should return.
A Radical New Look?
In the looks department, we hear that CEO Dan Akerson and design chief Ed Welburn are in agreement that the current Vette’s rear is simply too wide, and so you can expect the C7 to get slimmer and tauter there. A split-window treatment may also be offered as an option, paying homage to the ’63 Sting Ray coupe. The cabin is expected to be of a similar size and layout, and we’re optimistic that it will make use of higher-quality materials. Interiors across the rest of the Chevy lineup have steadily improved of late, so the company has shown that it has the know-how.
Chevrolet is keeping a very tight lid on all things Corvette, but the C7 ought to debut sometime in late 2012 or early 2013, with sales commencing in the first quarter of 2013. Prices shouldn’t change much from current levels, with the base car starting in the neighborhood of $50,000. We’ll undoubtedly learn more about the C7 as development progresses, so stay tuned to this space.
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