2014 Corvette Convertible: Christmas just got merrier

Posted by hpayne on December 12, 2013

Sitting on top of 6.6 million pounds of thrust (44 million horsepower), it’s been said that the manned Space Shuttle launches were the most exhilarating 0-60 times ever recorded. But astronauts didn’t get to do them with the top down.

Buckle up for launch in the 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray convertible.

Depress the clutch. Select first gear. Rotate the driving mode dial next to the shifter to “Track.” Stab the button — once, twice — on the top of the dial putting the car in “launch control” mode. With the clutch still depressed, floor the accelerator. No, really. The great beast howls, its RPM redlines at 6,000, its 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque straining at the leash.

Like the shuttle astronauts, you’ll feel like you’re strapped to a bomb. When the revs modulate to 4,000 RPM that’s your signal to drop the clutch and hang on for dear life. No wonder the new C7 comes equipped with two “passenger assistance grips” on the door and dash.

Incredibly, the C7’s 11-inch wide rear tires claw the asphalt and throw the car forward with no wheel spin, the space-age electronic traction control working beautifully. But the speed is breathtaking. Grab second. Your field of vision narrows. Your hair stands on end. A mere 3.8 seconds later you are at 60 mph and heading for orbit fast.

Thanks to the Vette’s massive Brembo brakes, you can quickly haul yourself back to earth then slink innocently away before the local city police department empties out looking for the source of the sonic boom they just heard.

“The wives always urge me not to tell their husbands about the launch control. But that’s always the first thing their husbands want to know about.” says Harlan Charles, Corvette’s product marketing manager who has been introducing loyal Corvette customers to the drop-top Stingray as it hits dealer lots this December.

I see the husbands nodding their heads. But they’re scratching them too. What’s that? Corvette has introduced its Corvette convertible in December?

Sure, the sleek toy makes for an excellent Christmas gift under the tree (especially in “adrenaline red,” the color of the car I tested), but shouldn’t convertibles be hibernating in the winter? Fear not, inhabitants of Snowtown, because one of the revelations of the 2014 Vette is not just its launch control but its cozy convertible cabin.

This is the 21st century after all. With its top up, the Stingray is not just secured tightly against the elements, but it’s quieter than the coupe. Where the Corvette’s cabin normally segues into the rear luggage compartment, the convertible top requires a separate space for storage when its down. That means a loss of luggage space (though your golf clubs will still fit comfortably), but better cabin quiet since you are now segregated from the trunk.

But I wouldn’t call you crazy (your wife might be another matter) if you tooled down Woodward topless on a 32 degree days either. That’s because the Vette’s raked windshield, ridiculously low .29 drag coefficient, dual cabin temperature controls, and heated seats make the interior surprisingly comfortable. Too chilly? No problem. Slow the car down to under 35 mph in the right lane, press the button, and the roof will deploy in a mere 20 seconds.

In my test of the convertible on a brisk, sub-60 degree California morning, I put on a cap to go with a light jacket, lit the heated seat, cranked the temperature control (located at my right knee on the dash) to 82 degrees, and sat comfortably in the passenger seat as a media colleague and I zipped along at 70 mph — talking easily despite an open top and a V-8 the size of a TRex at our feet.

Officially, Chevy says the convertible is appearing in dealerships now because the coupe model hit stores in September and the manufacturer wants to keep the product flowing. But the beauty of the drop top Stingray with electronic traction control is that it’s mobile 12 months of the year.

What can be said about the convertible that hasn’t already been said about the coupe?

It’s an all-business exterior, all-luxury interior two-door that delivers supercar performance at a quarter of the price of a Ferrari 458 Italia and half that of a Porsche 911. The Stingray I tested included stocking stuffers like 10-speaker Bose audio, heads-up display, active exhaust, MyLink navigation and those red Brembo calipers (hey, the socks gotta match the jersey) —goosing the $56 grand base price to $63,790.

It’s also surprisingly svelte given that this is a convertible – tipping the scales by just 70 pounds over the 3,298 lb coupe. This is achieved, says Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juecheter, thanks to the Corvette’s strong, backbone architecture, eliminating the need to add body reinforcement because the convertible’s severed B-pillar hoop isn’t structural. With an all-aluminum chassis and carbon-fiber hood, the Stingray’s weight and 50-50 balance make this one nimble athlete.

But for all the raw animal instincts the Stingray provokes, it exudes practicality. Thanks to its 7-speed transmission, it sports an EPA fuel economy rating of 17 city and 29 highway. Five different performance modes — Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track — allow drivers to match the car to their mood. Most impressive is Corvette’s “rev-matching” technology which makes the roughest novice seem like a pro when downshifting. Don’t know how to heel-and-toe? No problem — the electronics will smooth out rough downshifts for you.

The car’s exterior is influenced by international style cues and Corvette’s racing program. The low front maw evokes Ferrari’s front-engined beauties and its day-glow LED lamps remind of its German competitors. But further back, the car’s extensive air venting to cool brakes and oil-systems is a direct result of its successful, LeMans-winning racing program with the legendary ZR1.

The 610-horsepower ZR1 briefly made an appearance in production form in 2008 and I had the chance to ring its neck around GM’s awesome Milford race track. My test of the new C7 convertible did not include track time, but Chevy engineers say that’ its 1.03-g skid-pad performance is already on par with the old, track-prepared, Z06 sport version.

I’ve noticed grown men in line to see Santa at the Somerset Collection. No doubt they’re asking for an adrenaline red Corvette convertible Stingray for Christmas.

2014 CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE

Vehicle type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door, sport convertible with eletronic retractable top
Price: $56,000 base ($63,790 as tested)
Engine type: 6.2 liter, aluminum V-8 with direct injection and dry sump, gas-power
Power: 460 horsepower, 465 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: Seven-speed manual, seven-speed automatic
Performance: 0-60 mpg, 3.8 seconds; 190 mph top speed (manufacturer)
Weight: 3,362 pounds
Fuel economy: EPA 17 mpg city/29 mpg highway
Highs: Comfortable cabin, best performance-to-price ratio in class
Lows: Might get you thrown in jail
Grade:★★★★

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