Spied: First C7 Corvette Stingray with Racing Stripes! Possible Grand Sport Model?

[Tran]

An enticing C7 Corvette test car has just been spied in the midst of winter-testing, rocking silver stripes on top of its Velocity Yellow paint job (in the backroads of Michigan). This prototype gives us our first look yet at a racing-striped C7, and how it will interplay with the car's new lines and its blacked-out trim. The question remains, is this just a test-striped early C7 build, or is there any chance that this a new trim level, like a C7 Grand Sport? We don't have a smoking gun that this is an alternate C7 performance package, but in the online colorizer that Chevrolet provided to paint your own Corvette, there were no provisions for adding any additional striping to the Stingray.

Next is the fact that while this C7 looks throughly badged-out, there is no Stingray badge on either front fender. While it could be an early-build oversight, we can't help but be intrigued by the omission of the Stingray on this test 'Vette.

Finally, we can see clear evidence of a car cover piled up in the rear cargo of this prototype. It would seem that Chevrolet is in full PR mode on the C7 Stingray at this point, so parking them around, uncovered, would seem to be a great eye-catcher to capture the public's attention. Is this car cover at the ready to keep prying eyes from discovering a new C7 variant? Seems plausible, and follows perfectly the protocol that was followed by Corvette test teams which were caught on test runs during the C7's development period.

When it comes to the prospect of spotting the next C7 variant after the Stingray, we can't leave anything to chance and disregard the anomalies found on this particular C7 test car.

[Stingray]

WoW! :rockon:

[CamaroSkooter]

Is that how dirty the back end is going to get because of the exhaust?!

[HashimAzzouz]

Originally Posted by CorvetteSkooter

Is that how dirty the back end is going to get because of the exhaust?!

No way... don't think so... it never happened in a C6, why would it happen now.... think utility was just the snow

[Adam's Polishes]

Never have been much of a "yellow" guy, but I really like that...even with the dirty rear end.

[CamaroHutch]

Not a fan... I think it may be the color of the stripes, they clash with the headlights... and they're too close together.

[stlrammer]

Not loving the stripes. Who drives their vette in the snow?

[DOOPHUS]

Looks GREAT except for the stripes . . .

My "Dream C7" will be Yellow with Block Stripes and definitely, NO SNOW.

! ! ! ! ! !

[guiLT]

The stripes go along the body lines perfectly.

I wonder what they were doing to get it so dirty..

[volsfan0911]

Originally Posted by stlrammer

Not loving the stripes. Who drives their vette in the snow?

A 'vette wouldn't be my first choice as a snow car, no . Big reason why I'll probably hang onto my GTI. Add Blizzaks and it actually makes a pretty damn good snow bunny although the clearance isn't huge due to the front air dam

[Stingray]

Originally Posted by Tran

An enticing C7 Corvette test car has just been spied in the midst of winter-testing...

Originally Posted by stlrammer

Not loving the stripes. Who drives their vette in the snow?

GM engineers do... because they can.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by DOOPHUS

Looks GREAT except for the stripes . . .

My "Dream C7" will be Yellow with Block Stripes and definitely, NO SNOW.

! ! ! ! ! !

Every GM car goes through winter testing.

[GroundhogSS]

Looks pretty good. I can see silver with a grey stripe, or white with maybe blue. It does fit the lines pretty nicely. Yellow is better without the stripe.

[PfadtRacing]

wow this looks pretty stellar! not decided on the racing stripes just yet. But still, that yellow is pretty attractive on that body.