Car & Driver C7

[ironhorse]

Originally Posted by rdevaux2007

it should be called the Chevy Skyline. I don't care how great it performs, I won't buy one. Horrible design.

[Andonis]

guys, now seriously, did ANYONE notice that the taillights are ROUND? check out the LEDs. they look like afterburners.
even in the pc game pictures.
i see NO camaro influence there whatsoever. but of course unlike to many ppl here, I haven't seen the real deal, yet.
i just say, have a little patience and give a chance that the C7 is BETTER looking than ANY rendering so far.

[TheMelkMan]

Originally Posted by Andonis

guys, now seriously, did ANYONE notice that the taillights are ROUND? check out the LEDs.

Are you talking about the C&D rendering? They're not round, they're semicircles, similar to the Camaro. I'm guessing that's pretty close to what they're going to look like, although with a more polygonal shape to the lens (the Camaro lights are more rectangular).

[Andonis]

Originally Posted by TheMelkMan

Are you talking about the C&D rendering? They're not round, they're semicircles, similar to the Camaro. I'm guessing that's pretty close to what they're going to look like, although with a more polygonal shape to the lens (the Camaro lights are more rectangular).

nope sir, I'm talking about this

and these

[TheMelkMan]

Those are the same lights we've already seen in all the spy shots. They just look like generic $10 LED trailer lights to me... those would be pretty chintzy to put on an actual production vehicle.


[edit] I just noticed something in the video that I didn't notice the first time I watched it... pause it at 1:35... you'll notice only the bottom half of the LEDs are lit up.

[jaymsu]

Originally Posted by TheMelkMan

WRONG. The merit of any automotive design hinges on the geometric shape of its taillights... if that shape happens to be vaguely similar to a Camaro in any way, then that design is A COMPLETE AND UTTER DISMAL FAILURE. That is not an "opinion," that is an objective FACT.

So the fine ass is the most important factor for you when purchasing a car, huh?
You should buy your cars from this dealer.

You Tube

You Tube

[Andonis]

Originally Posted by TheMelkMan

Those are the same lights we've already seen in all the spy shots. They just look like generic $10 LED trailer lights to me... those would be pretty chintzy to put on an actual production vehicle.


[edit] I just noticed something in the video that I didn't notice the first time I watched it... pause it at 1:35... you'll notice only the bottom half of the LEDs are lit up.

you have very sharp eyes
now i see it too. ok, then my bad, they are not round.

from the letters i keep receiving at andoniscars, ppl actually like the C7. I was really surprised to see that those who were not a big fan of the new viper, liked the c7 so far. i dont know...im not sayin anything just...wanted to share with you

[bkuper]

Originally Posted by Longtimer

...[*]Will the Sting Ray have a slightly different taillight bezel? ...maybe no black, pointed teardrops...

Hope so.

[Tomcat]

Surprised no one has commented on the headlights. Based on the Omega leak, the indent where the headlight meets the front bumper bears absolutely no resemblance to the C&D pictures.

I still have hope we will all (most) like the car when it's released on 1/13/13...

[spd98]

I like some of the looks. I can see the side vents looking GTRish onl in the chrome trim (I though chrome was on it's way out these days?).

But I think the rear tail light treatment is really just emo-ish! there are little black tears leaking from the corners!

[Longtimer]

Originally Posted by spd98

But I think the rear tail light treatment is really just emo-ish! there are little black tears leaking from the corners!

Symbolic of the reaction of many, many (probably most) Corvette lovers when they first see the side and the back in particular.

I agree about the chrome side vent. It's another reason this front fender treatment looks so GT-R me too-ish.

The C7, far more than any past new corvette design, is a compilation of copycat cues with the most original area being the ugliest (the rear surrounding the Camaro taillights).

[spd98]

Originally Posted by Longtimer

Symbolic of the reaction of many, many (probably most) Corvette lovers when they first see the side and the back in particular.

I agree about the chrome side vent. It's another reason this front fender treatment looks so GT-R me too-ish.

The C7, far more than any past new corvette design, is a compilation of copycat cues with the most original area being the ugliest (the rear surrounding the Camaro taillights).

I hope they offer a no chrome option. I think the C6 side vents got better and better after the base model. It was a really good way to distiguish trim levels and they gave each one a unique look.

[Longtimer]

Originally Posted by spd98

I hope they offer a no chrome option. I think the C6 side vents got better and better after the base model. It was a really good way to distiguish trim levels and they gave each one a unique look.

I agree that the base C6 side vent treatment is the least appealing of the four different designs.

However, we already know that the Z?? side vent will vary little from the Sting Ray base model, having only a rectangular badge added 3/4 of the way up. GM could black it out, but even if they don't, it's a sure bet there will be plenty of aftermarket variations available.

That said, the badging is the most flexible part of vehicle design and need not be committed to the supplier until very late in the design cycle - referring to possible Z?? badge changes. Sting Ray badging is very likely locked in by now with production tooling complete.

[spd98]

Originally Posted by Longtimer

I agree that the base C6 side vent treatment is the least appealing of the four different designs.

However, we already know that the Z?? side vent will vary little from the Sting Ray base model, having only a rectangular badge added 3/4 of the way up. GM could black it out, but even if they don't, it's a sure bet there will be plenty of aftermarket variations available.

That said, the badging is the most flexible part of vehicle design and need not be committed to the supplier until very late in the design cycle - referring to possible Z?? badge changes. Sting Ray badging is very likely locked in by now with production tooling complete.

See I'm just not 100% sure that the base will be the sting ray yet. We know one exists, but we really have no idea what the trims will look like.

[Longtimer]

Fair enough. We don't know the names for the model lineups, but we've seen the Z?? badge on the side and we've seen a Sting Ray that is not on the Z??.

I'm betting that we will be able to stop referring to any corvette as a "base model" and that the name Sting Ray will be applied to that C7 Equivalent.

My guess on release order:

• Sting Ray Targa first
• Sting Ray Vert 3-6 months later
• Z06 one year after Targa sales start. However, expect to see Z06 testing earlier. I think the early buyers picking up their Z06s at the dealer will already have read car rag testing of the car.
• Grand Sport offering will wait until Sting Ray sales drop and use lots of Z06 non-engine parts.
• ZR1 ever??? Maybe when C7 sales are really low.

The above, of course, assumes there will REALLY be a wide body. The wide body hurts aero. They could have designed in, an ability to go to larger tires and wheels without changing body width, by allowing for inset wheel/tire clearance. I doubt this.

There was a rumor that a C8 would be produced contiguously with later C7 life. The assumption accompanying this rumor, was that the C8 would be a high end ONLY mid engine Corvette. This was prior to the bankruptcy and probably very speculative even then. However, if true, there would probably be no ZR1 C7, because that model would compete with the C8.

FWIW