Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible [EU] (2021)

A supercar level of craftsmanship, premium materials, and attention to detail were critical in designing every component of the Stingray. The new location of the engine is truly the focal point for the car's design. It's the heart of this next-generation Corvette and it sits like a jewel in a showcase, visible in the coupe through the large rear hatch window. The added attention to detail optimized the appearance of every wire, tube, bolt, and fastener, similar to those found in modern track and all-road motorcycle design.

Some additional design touchpoints include:

• Low-profile headlamps designed around all-new projectors.
• Completely hidden door, hood, and hatch releases do not disrupt the sculpted design.
• Large side air intakes for engine cooling and aerodynamic performance.
• A-pillar shape that communicates speed and assists visibility.
• Large rear hatch in the coupe that showcases the engine with seven air vents.
• Quad exhaust tips located on the vehicle's outboard ends.
• Dual-element LED taillamps with animated turn signals.

True to its aeronautical and racing roots, the new Stingray's canopy-forward stance was inspired by F22s, F35s, and other modern fighter jets and Formula One racing. Other classic Corvette signatures adapted to the Stingray include a distinctive face that communicates the purpose of the vehicle's mission, a classic horizontal crease, aggressive front fenders, and familiar positioning of the dual-element headlamps.

The interior is further enhanced by:

• A cockpit that has not only migrated forward by 42 cm but envelops the driver, conveying the high performance and aeronautic theme.
• Vertical climate controls and ultra-thin vents minimize the height of the instrument panel, creating a low, spacious interior.
• A new, squared-off, two-spoke, small-diameter steering wheel that enables an unobscured view of the 12-inch reconfigurable cluster display.

The new Stingray boasts premium interior materials executed at a high level of quality and craftsmanship:

• Hand-wrapped, cut-and-sew leather components with thick press stitching.
• Generous use of real metal.
• Stainless steel speaker grilles with Bose Performance Series audio system.
• Carbon fiber trim on the GT2 and Competition Sport seats.
• The choice of either real aluminum or real carbon fiber for console and door trim plates.

Customers can create their own design statement, with the most personalization options ever for Corvette:

• 12 exterior colors - Torch Red, Arctic White, Black, Flare Silver, Ceramic Matrix Gray, Tactical Red, Elkhart Lake Blue, Rapid Blue, and Accelerate Yellow - plus three all-new colors: Caffeine Brown, Hypersonic Gray, and Amplify Orange.
• Six interior color themes: Jet Black, Sky Cool Gray, Adrenaline Red, Natural, Tension/Twilight Blue, and Morello Red.
• Six seat belt colors: Black, Tension Blue, Tan, Torch Red, Yellow, and Orange.
• Two optional stitch packages: Yellow and Adrenaline Red. Standard black interiors have Gray stitching.

Three seat options:

• GT1 - a sporty style that emphasizes comfort while providing good support for performance driving situations. Features Mulan leather trim, with standardtwo-way lumbar support, and wing adjustment.
• GT2 - a first for Corvette, these seats have a racing-inspired look with comfort for long trips courtesy of dual-density foam. They include carbon fiber trim, a Nappa leather insert, Mulan leather bolsters, a jet black-painted seat back, with standard two-way lumbar support and wing adjustment, plus heating and ventilation.
• Competition Sport - designed for the serious track-focused driver, these seats include aggressive bolsters, full Nappa seating surfaces, and carbon fiber trim on the headrest,standard heating, and ventilation, along with an all-new durable performance textile inspired by Kevlar vests.

Engineered to be a true supercar for every day

Corvette's structure is built around its backbone: the center tunnel. This enables a light, stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system to perform in an optimized manner. By removing unwanted body compliance, Corvette customers will experience the ultimate in ride performance with outstanding lateral grip capabilities. The car has a solid, connected-to-the-road feel with minimal vibrations at high speeds or on long road trips.

"Our mission was to develop a new type of sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.

The tunnel-dominant approach offers many advantages, including:

• Improved torsional rigidity with a solid, connected feel on both the road and track.
• Outstanding ingress/egress for a mid-engine vehicle. Unlike some competitors, there's no need for oversized rocker panels to bear structural and load weights, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.
• Excellent stability due to a low center of gravity and outstanding handling.
• Preservation of Corvette's beloved standard removable roof panel on the coupe, which can easily be stored in the rear trunk.
• The convertible's hardtop stows seamlessly into the body, not compromising the Stingray's impressive trunk space, even with the top down.
• A front storage compartment that can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag.
• Availability in both left- and right-hand-drive variants - a first for Corvette and a milestone for its distribution in the UK market one of the most important sportscar markets globally.
• Smart packaging with improved cabin comfort, including an additional 2.5 centimeters of rearward seat travel and almost double the reclining angle.
• The all-new Corvette Stingray is built with a smart mixed-materials strategy, enabling key features such as:
• A strong, stiff, and lightweight main structure of six high-pressure diecast aluminum parts, also known as the Bedford Six, which are manufactured at GM Powertrain in Bedford, Indiana. These minimize the number of joints within the vehicle, making a stiffer structure that aids in handling and track cornering.
• Industry-first carbon fiber curved rear bumper beam for weight reduction.
• Front and rear trunk tubs and dashboard molded from ultra-lightweight "float" derived from fiberglass and a proprietary resin. The material is so light that it can float in water. It works with other fiberglass and carbon fiber variants to lower mass and reduce noise and vibration.

Handling: core to Corvette's fun-to-drive DNA

The Stingray is designed for superior ride comfort on the highway and well-balanced handling on the track.

"Thanks to sophisticated suspension geometry, tailored tire technology, and exquisite attention to structural details, we have improved ride and handling," said Juechter. "No Corvette has ever felt so comfortable, nimble, and yet completely stable."

The new Stingray features coil-over dampers that create an entirely new ride and handling characteristics. The mid-engine architecture allows for a short, straight, and stiff steering system, coupled with an updated electronic steering system, making the driver's chassis input instantaneous.

The new seating position places the car's center of gravity close to the driver's inside hip, so the car literally turns around the driver. It completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness.

Other ride and handling upgrades include:

• Steering ratio improved from 16.25:1 to 15.7:1.
• New eBoost brakes that are more precise and tunable.
• Front suspension lift that raises ground clearance by approximately 50 mm at the front bumper in less than 3 seconds protecting against bumps, potholes, steep driveways, and other road disturbances. It can operate at speeds up to 38 km/h (24 mph).
• Launch control aided by the rear weight distribution, enabling the new Stingray to get off the line quicker than any Corvette in history.
• The standard Z51 Performance Package, which introduces a host of new technology to the new Stingray:
  • Performance suspension with manually adjustable threaded spring seats.
  • Larger Brembo® brake rotors with Z51 logo on calipers.
  • Enhanced cooling.
  • Specific rear axle ratio.
  • Front brake cooling inlets.
  • Performance exhaust.
• An electronic limited slip differential integrated into the transaxle that modulates torque between the rear tires, enabling incredible vehicle stability.
• A front splitter and open two-piece rear spoiler that add up to a combined 180 kilograms (400 pounds) of downforce while improving grip when cornering.
• Available Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, which reads the road better, providing more precise data through suspension-mounted accelerometers. Its improved electronics respond faster and more smoothly to driver inputs and contribute to class-leading ride quality.
• Performance Traction Management (standard with Magnetic Ride Control).

The jewel in the center

The new Stingray's heart is Chevy's upgraded 6.2l Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. The European version produces 482 horsepower (354 kW) and 613 Nm of torque* with performance exhaust which is part of the standard equipment in Europe- the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette. The engine is fully homologated to meet and exceed stringent Euro 6d emission standards.

"Though now placed behind the driver, the LT2 gives the same visceral experience we all expect from Corvette," said Jordan Lee, GM's global chief engineer of Small Block engines. "The LT2 has been designed to deliver excellent low-end torque and high-end power to give thrilling pedal response at any RPM."

The powertrain's low position enables a low center of gravity for optimal handling. Perhaps the biggest update is found in the lubrication and ventilation system. For the first time ever, the base Stingray uses an engine-mounted dry sump oil system and three scavenge pumps for improved track performance.

During serious track driving, oil volume remains high to avoid diminished performance. The new Stingray's lateral capability is greatly improved, so the LT2's dry-sump lubrication system had to be redesigned to provide exceptional engine performance even at lateral acceleration levels exceeding 1G in all directions.

A lightweight, 3.2 mm-thick glass panel on the rear hatch of the coupe allows owners to show off the engine. This panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the LT2 engine compartment.

Other notable engine characteristics include:

• Jewel-like setting in the rear compartment, visible through the rear glass hatch of the coupe.
• Every part, including the exhaust system's wires, tubes, routing fasteners, coolant hoses, exhaust manifold, and even the bolts and fasteners, is built with appearance in mind. All engine components were given careful consideration just like the exterior, and even the heat shields are textured.
• A brand-new block and vent system. The centerline of the crankshaft sits 2,5 cm lower to the ground where it mates to the transaxle for better handling.
• Low-profile oil pan that reduces mass.
• Oil cooler capacity increased by 25 percent.
• Standard edge Red valve covers.

A shift of a different kind

The new generation LT2 is paired with Chevrolet's first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed with TREMEC to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, direct, and connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.

Paddle shifters allow drivers to choose a specific gear. "The performance shift algorithms are so driver-focused, they can sense when you're doing spirited driving - regardless of driving mode - and will hold lower gears longer for more throttle response," said Juechter.

The new Small Block V-8 has a torque curve optimized to take advantage of the bespoke DCT's lightning-fast shifts. Engineers set the DCT up with a very low first gear to leverage the additional traction to get the car off the line quickly, and its close-ratio gears 2 through 6 keep the engine near the power peak on track. Tall seventh and eighth gears make for easy long-distance cruising with low mechanical stress and excellent fuel economy.

The DCT is mated to a new Electronic Transmission Range Selector. With this electric shifter, there's no mechanical interface between the shift lever and the transmission. The Corvette's electric shifter incorporates two pull toggles for Reverse and Drive and push buttons for Park, Neutral, and Low/Manual. The shifter has been designed to be more attractive and compact than a standard shifter.

All-new technology improves performance and usability

Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference. The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport, and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes:

• MyMode, a configurable setting for preferred driving style that can remain between key cycles.
• Z mode, named after the famed Z06, ZR1, and Z51 Corvette performance packages, is activated through a "Z" button on the steering wheel. This is a single-use mode that takes MyMode configurations one step further, allowing drivers to adjust the engine and transmission as well.

The new Stingray benefits from GM's new digital vehicle platform, an all-new electronic architecture that enables the adoption of the company's new generation of technologies. The architecture minimizes wiring while allowing for faster signal transmission between different vehicle systems and the higher resolution screens.

Other new technology features include:

• Corvette's next-generation infotainment system is faster and simpler, with a higher resolution display.
• Chevy-first one-touch Bluetooth pairing with Near Field Communication.
• Wireless mobile phone charging.
• Learn-as-you-go voice recognition.
• A new, 12-inch customizable instrument cluster tailored to all six driver modes.

New electrical features include:

• Driver and passenger seat memory.
• Automatic heated steering wheel.
• Tire fill alert warns the driver when tire meets maximum pressure.
• A new 14-speaker Bose® Performance Series system. Speaker grilles are integrated into lower door trim for a refined look that also helps guard against damage from footwear.
• The industry-pioneering Performance Data Recorder, standard on all European Corvette versions, is an advanced driving analysis tool upgraded with high-definition resolution camera and a new, in-vehicle user interface. Customers can record both circuit and point-to-point road courses. The PDR can be set to auto-record like a dashcam that starts a recording every time the Corvette is running, or configured to only start when the car is set to Valet mode.

Attainability remains a hallmark

Corvette has always represented iconic American design, performance, technical ingenuity, and attainability. The new generation Corvette Stingray continues that tradition with its excellent value for money proposition.

The European versions of the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray are arriving at showrooms in October 2021 with starting prices for the freely configurable versions of the coupe in Germany at €86'900 (in the UK at £74'200) and for the convertible at €93'400 (in the UK at £79'200). The fully Euro 6d homologated European versions of the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will be offered with left- or right-hand-drive configuration for the first time in Corvette's history.