Chevrolet Stingray: renewed American power at the Geneva Motor Show

My colleague Diego put it well when he referred to the live summary of the news we have been bringing you from the Geneva Motor Show. The Corvette Stingray is impressive. I know we have used that word many times throughout the day to describe the sports cars presented by the great names in the industry, but Chevrolet is not left behind, not by a long shot.

The new Corvette Stingray debuted at the 2013 edition of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, so now it is new to European eyes. The American brand revives a name with a long history in the muscle car segment and applies it once again to a product that is much more refined than the Corvettes we have seen in recent years. All of this is tied to the global strategy of the Stingray, as it will be sold worldwide.

Chevrolet has spared no expense in creating a sensation with the Stingray. To prove it, it is enough to mention that its new 450 CV, 6.2-litre LT1 engine combines technologies such as direct injection, Active Fuel Management (AFM), continuous variable valve timing, and an advanced combustion system that delivers more power using less fuel. It can take the Stingray from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds, yet it consumes around 9 l/100 km.

In line with the latest trends, the cabin features two fully customisable 8-inch touchscreens that display instrument and infotainment information. The interior has been redesigned with new seats and premium leather trim, and carbon fibre and aluminium inserts on the dashboard and centre console. The new five-position driving mode selector can be seen, which adjusts 12 vehicle attributes to suit the driver’s surroundings, and a new seven-speed manual gearbox with Active Rev Matching, which anticipates the next gear selection and matches engine speed for perfect shifts.

As mentioned at its presentation, the production Stingray will feature lightweight materials, including the rear spoiler and removable roof panel in carbon fibre, as well as a composite bumper, doors and rear exterior panels. The underbody panels are made of nanocarbon and a new aluminium frame, which help shift weight rearward.

You now have the data and some images, which we will show you when we present Chevrolet’s models in Geneva.