New Vette is about the Aero

[Andonis]

Also here

The precisely sculpted design of the all-new 2014 Corvette delivers more than just stunning good looks – every line, vent, inlet and surface has been optimized for performance.
by National Corvette Museum

“The all-new Corvette integrates more high-performance aerodynamic features than ever before, many taken directly from Corvette Racing,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “For example, the front grill and radiator flow paths reduce lift, improving vehicle stability at high speeds by keeping the car pressed to the pavement. In addition, functional vents increase track capability by channeling air to the brakes, as well as heat exchangers for the transmission and differential.”

To develop the aerodynamic package, engineers started with data gleaned from years of on-track, high-speed performance from the Corvette Racing program – the most successful program ever in the American Le Mans Series and the 2012 GT Class champion. These techniques were applied to the production car using the some of the industry’s most advanced computer-aided modeling programs to predict and track airflow over, under and through the new Corvette’s body.

by National Vette Museum


We can see the front grille on the first pic. Well sorta..

[Roadkillz]

I like the use of the term through, I think it just confirms what we all knew that the Corvette has an extractor hood which I think is cool.

The current base Corvette has a drag co of .286, the 2007-2010 GTR is .27 while the 2011-present is .26. What is the aerodynamic goal of the C7 I now wonder.

[alexandro777]

Originally Posted by Roadkillz

I like the use of the term through, I think it just confirms what we all knew that the Corvette has an extractor hood which I think is cool.

The current base Corvette has a drag co of .286, the 2007-2010 GTR is .27 while the 2011-present is .26. What is the aerodynamic goal of the C7 I now wonder.

It is very simple . It's all about traction. Ferrari Nissan and other car manufacturer use active aero to help aid traction. Not just spoiler. Example the GTR side mirrors are design to channel air to the rear spoiler. Ferrari uses active spoilers in the front of the 458 for better down force and better traction.

I believe the new corvette will follow this trend.

[AlexY]

Originally Posted by Roadkillz

I like the use of the term through, I think it just confirms what we all knew that the Corvette has an extractor hood which I think is cool.

Absolutely, the first picture at the beginning of the article looks like a shot of the airflow coming out the rear of the car. The second picture all but confirms the existence of a hood extractor. Notice the large volume of red colored air around where the hood would be? That'd be the high pressure air coming out of the extractor.

[spd98]

There is a shot of smoke comming through the extractor in there too. It's hard to tell from the capture but it's comming from out of the vents in the middle.

For some reason it didn't like the jpeg I captured.

[dobrenyr]

The base C6 has the best Cd numbers of any of the current C6 bodies... the Z06 was like .32 as i recall, (it's in the brochure) and i was surprise at how much less slippery the Z06,grand sport and ZR1 are compared to base. I suspect that the higher models will be just as slippery as the base with the new C7. One should always remember, downforce= drag so high speed stability needs more downforce.

I kinda fail to see all the ballyhoo about aerodynamics and such with the C7 since much of this has already been done with the C5 and C6. Perhaps active aero is what they might be talking about.

[spd98]

Originally Posted by dobrenyr

The base C6 has the best Cd numbers of any of the current C6 bodies... the Z06 was like .32 as i recall, (it's in the brochure) and i was surprise at how much less slippery the Z06,grand sport and ZR1 are compared to base. I suspect that the higher models will be just as slippery as the base with the new C7. One should always remember, downforce= drag so high speed stability needs more downforce.

I kinda fail to see all the ballyhoo about aerodynamics and such with the C7 since much of this has already been done with the C5 and C6. Perhaps active aero is what they might be talking about.

If you do a lot of watching/reading on the ZL1 stuff, GM has learned a lot and taken some new steps. I'm thinking this is more of the same type stuff.

[dobrenyr]

That might explain the butt ugly Butt of the C7. Aero without styling... Was a bit of a complaint about the C5. I am hopeful that they get it right.

[AlexY]

Originally Posted by dobrenyr

The base C6 has the best Cd numbers of any of the current C6 bodies... the Z06 was like .32 as i recall, (it's in the brochure) and i was surprise at how much less slippery the Z06,grand sport and ZR1 are compared to base. I suspect that the higher models will be just as slippery as the base with the new C7. One should always remember, downforce= drag so high speed stability needs more downforce.

I kinda fail to see all the ballyhoo about aerodynamics and such with the C7 since much of this has already been done with the C5 and C6. Perhaps active aero is what they might be talking about.

The added vents/fender flairs/spoilers kills the coefficient of drag, that's why neither the Z06 nor the ZR1 are as slippery as the base C6

[Roadkillz]

Originally Posted by spd98

There is a shot of smoke comming through the extractor in there too. It's hard to tell from the capture but it's comming from out of the vents in the middle.

For some reason it didn't like the jpeg I captured.

I can clearly see the air coming from the extractor in that shot, good shot.

[spd98]

Originally Posted by AlexY

The added vents/fender flairs/spoilers kills the coefficient of drag, that's why neither the Z06 nor the ZR1 are as slippery as the base C6

Some of it does, but they were working from the c6 body as a starting point. The biggest diefference is the overall width. Down force is important but one way to help it is also to reduce lift. I'm thinking that GM may have spent a lot of time balancing the aero to reduce lift and increase down force in the right areas. I am pretty sure to expect a flat bottom.

[cisco]

I laugh at these articles and interviews.

What is the chief design guy supposed to say? We put that there cause it looks good, but doesn't actually do a damn thing for the cars performance, in fact it takes .8mph off the top end? lol

You can probably look back at every vette release and plug that saying in. They have taken every gen and made it a little better (specs wise, not looks ).

[Andonis]

Originally Posted by cisco

I laugh at these articles and interviews.

What is the chief design guy supposed to say? We put that there cause it looks good, but doesn't actually do a damn thing for the cars performance, in fact it takes .8mph off the top end? lol

You can probably look back at every vette release and plug that saying in. They have taken every gen and made it a little better (specs wise, not looks ).