The 2015 Corvette Stingray brings increased refinement to an iconic throwback. This is an all new design introduced last year with several improvements in aerodynamics, interior and technology. We drove it around town for a few days, here is our take on it:
Chevrolet should be proud of the way they have gone back to their roots, pulled out the Stingray legacy and brought a new energy and dynamism to an already aggressive looking sports car. First, this is a lower and wider stance with exterior vents that improve aerodynamic airflow. Second, high intensity discharge (HID) lights combined with LED turn lights make for much more improved looking lights. This is also a much lighter Corvette (45 kilos to be exact) with carbon fiber components and increased usage of aluminum, all the while keeping weight distribution 50:50.
Massive improvements in the interior quality of material. Our full options test car came kitted with Grade A Nappa leather, making the seats best ever on a Corvette. Having said that, it's nowhere close to a proper 'luxury' car. You can still see some plastic in the center area and dashboard which really should have been taken care of. Then again, this is a sports car, not a luxury car so if you're looking for premium refinement, buy a Cadillac!
When it comes to interior space and visibility, it is what you can expect in a Corvette. For a sports coupe, space is not bad in terms of leg room and there is decent head room as well. Visibility is good all round except maybe rear visibility could be improved by enlarging the rear view.
In terms of interior technology, there are lots of much needed improvements and refinements. For one, you get seat cooling in the new Corvette so those hot laps at the track will come with some comfort to your bottom. Our full options test car came with electric seat controls, seat memory options, Bose sound system, head up display with 4 display options and a very intuitive infotainment system with very well designed audio controls on steering wheel. This is by far the most user friendly Corvette on the market.
The new Stingray V8 engine burns 460 HP and reaches 0-100 km in a mere 5 seconds on a hot afternoon. This is a 6.2 liter engine mated to an 8 speed automatic. The new aerodynamic vents and lightweight design combined with 8 speed transmission result in improved fuel efficiency as well. This is the first car in which we cruised at 140 km / h speed with RPM below 2,000. Torque delivery, while obviously not great at those economy modes, is fantastic when you hit Sport Mode. The exhaust growl is great but in my humble opinion, not menacing as Audi RS7 V8 we drove recently or the Jaguar F-Type V6 convertible we drove before that.
Forget about the common perception that American cars are not great at handling. The new Stingray has improved a LOT in terms of handling. It is not only great on track but on real roads take a few sharp turns at 100 km / h and it will duly oblige. The suspension, while adjustable through drive mode is a nice balance between sporty and relaxed. The magnetic ride control technology is the quickest reacting suspension technology in the market so it will detect bumps and thuds to adjust accordingly.
In terms of brakes, there are five levels of torque reduction and braking possible with the new Stingray. The Brembo brakes are very good indeed, our test runs of 100 - 0 km braking showed an impressive 2.5 seconds of brake time.
The new Stingray is a sure contender not just for regular track drivers but also for sports car enthusiasts. While the full options GT Coupe is priced in the same range as the Ford Shelby 500 GT, it is still a lower priced contender to more luxurious track GT offerings of German and Italian descent. In that respect the Stingray is a high performance, lower priced alternative. Now, a bit more comfortable inside.
