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Old 11-12-2013, 11:38 PM   #1
Tran
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Post C7 Named Finalist in 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year

The 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year winner this year was the Cadillac CTS, but the C7 Corvette Stingray was named one of the finalists.


Finalist: Chevrolet Corvette
By: Angus MacKenzie

We Like: Impressive performance and incisive handling.

We Don't Like: Fussy exterior surfaces.

America's own sports car has always had an easygoing, barrel-chested swagger that turned a little clumsy when the roads turned a little twisty. No more. The C7 Corvette is a real sports car. Fast, fun to drive, and laden with technology, it's the best Corvette in history. At least until the Z06 and ZR1 versions arrive.

In pure engineering terms, the C7 is an evolution of familiar hardware and a familiar formula. But there's excellence everywhere, from the lightweight aluminum frame that's now used on all models, to the direct-injection V-8 that can switch between eight and four cylinders, to the clever driver aids that include an electronically controlled differential that considers rear tire temperatures and pressures when calculating the precise percentage of lockup required in various stability and traction control modes.

Using cylinder deactivation to improve the Corvette's fuel efficiency instead of relying on the Neanderthal skip-shift is just one detail example of the new C7's sophistication. So, too, is the TFT-screen instrument panel that offers three different visual themes -- Touring, Sport, and Track -- and the opportunity to access a plethora of data from the C7's on-board computers.

The C7's striking exterior is polarizing. The basic proportion and stance is dramatic, and the new greenhouse has echoes of Ferrari. But the surfacing is riven with a few too many sharp creases, and the height of the tail is not disguised well enough. Inside is the best Corvette interior since the original Stingray. Materials and fit are vastly improved.

The C7 offers incredible bang for the buck in performance and style -- with one big difference. We used to excuse Corvettes their many faults because of their low price. Now the price is the icing on the cake. This is a world-class sports car for real-world money.


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