Forbes: What the C7 Corvette Needs to Succeed

0
1827

Forbes: What the C7 Corvette Needs to Succeed

With just over a week to go until the reveals on January 13th and 14th, Corvette enthusiasts are beginning to dance around like a 4 year who urgently needs to use the restroom. The anticipation grows as each day of the calendar flips over. Forbes Magazine chimed in Monday with their take on the highly anticipated 2014 C7 Corvette. The good news is that you don’t have to wait another week to see what Forbes had to say after the break.

Overall, the article in Forbes doesn’t really tell us anything we don’t already know, but we’ll paraphrase below. We know that the C7 will build on the success and performance of the C6 and Forbes tackles this subject in 5 key areas:

  1. Engine: We know it will be powered by the new (again) LT1 engine. Output will be 450ish hp and 450ish ft-lbs of torque. Highway mileage should increase over the C6. Your overall mileage, though, is likely to be more directly correlated to the angle of your right foot.

  2. Layout: It seems that the mid-engine Corvette rumor perks up every few years and the birth of the C7 was no exception. We know the 2014 car will retain the same layout it’s had for the last 60 years – front engine and rear wheel drive. We expect the transaxle to remain out back where it’s been since the C5’s debut in 1997.

  3. Weight: With new stricter CAFÉ standards in wings, the Corvette needed to go on a diet. We expect the C7 to make liberal use of exotic materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. These unique ingredients should also yield a bump in the overall rigidity of the vehicle structure.

  4. Interior: The C6 has been critiqued since 2005 about the (lack of) quality interior materials and the unsupportive seats. The latest C7 teaser video (https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2012/12/17/video-2014-c7-corvette-trailer-3-craft/) already hints and better materials and stitching. In addition, some spy photos have shown us some signs that upgraded seats will be cradling C7 occupants.

  5. Price: Let’s be honest here. Corvettes aren’t cheap, but they need to be obtainable for the masses. Forbes mentions the $49,600 base price, but good luck finding one with that number on the sticker. Forbes speculates (and we agree) that we’re likely to see a modest price bump on the C7 thanks to its infusion of fancy materials and technowizardry.

Like we said, there’s really nothing new to report here, but the article is a nice summary, from a non-automotive source, of what’s been officially released and what is widely expected in the new C7. Plus we’re happy to see that the square tail light debate left out of the discussion.

In case you’ve forgotten, the 2014 will be officially unveiled on Sunday, January 13th. The public reveal will take place the following day at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.


Source:
Forbes

Related:
[VIDEO] Peter De Lorenzo: How Not To Launch the 2014 C7 Corvette
Leaked C7 Corvette Images Detail Rear End and Interior
[VIDEO] Building the C7 Corvette’s LT1 V8 Engine

 



-