Drop Top Demon

The first ever Chevrolet Corvette was a show car at the 1953 NY Auto Show's Motorama display. The concept car generated so much interest that it went into production later that year. The generations of Corvettes that followed, with their famed quasi-Ferrari looks, not only helped the brand earn the monicker "poor man's Ferrari", but also helped it become America's favourite sports car.
This week, we take an in-depth look at the convertible format of the all-new 7th generation 'vette. And unlike its recent predecessors, this one recalls the legendary 'Stingray' nameplate, so we were expecting it to be nothing less than special.

Design & Aesthetics
Drive this Corvette down any street and you'll be treated to smiles, stares and gaping mouths from onlookers. The superb stealth fighter styling of the all-new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stringray convertible is proven to captivate. To emphasise its dynamic ability, Chevy engineers have pointed out that this new car is roughly the size of a Porsche 911. The size they may share, but the look is worlds apart - one like a sleek VW Beetle and the other a Ferrari that auditioned for a Transformers movie. The new Corvette is 4,493mm long and 1,877mm wide without the side mirrors, while the wheelbase is a longish 2,710mm.
The Corvette's body is all crafted panels and sharp wedge styling. The headlamp cluster has a striking hockey-stick shaped LED layout, while the Corvette emblem, which is basically two cross staffs - one with a chequered flag and the other the Chevy emblem - graces the tip of the bonnet. Apparently, on the original, it was the American flag, but the US National Flag Code did not allow it.
 
If there is any element that announces its supercar delineation, it has to be the side profile. With its pointy nose and raked windshield, the C7 is sure to cut through air like a hot knife through butter. The lengthy, black side fender vents and the deeply cut door creases add to its overall belligerence. It also gets staggered wheel widths, with 18" wheels up front and 19" ones at the rear. You can upgrade to a chrome-laden 19-20 combination and have them painted black, if you like. Just be wary of the front lip skirt, which is so low to the ground that one needs to take caution while driving over speed humps and parking wheel stoppers.
Signature 4-unit lamps populate the truncated rear end in a beautiful trapezoidal form. But in the age of quick reacting and bright-as-day light LED lamps, these units are dim and unappealing. Thankfully, the centrally placed quad tail pipes make up in terms of sheer mechanical monstrosity. As for aerodynamic advantages, there is a pronounced black spoiler that provides the necessary downforce at speed.
Chevy offers a choice of 10 exterior colours; the Ferrari-mimicking red is bound to be a favourite, but the whites and yellows are poised to sell as well. A poor man's Ferrari it may be, but the new Stingray comes across as a product of authentic design and is a visual treat for young eyes. The original Stingray from 1963 was a beauty without equal, this one is as close as it can get.
Now, let's turn our attention to the Corvette's interior, one that's been the subject of criticism in the recent past. The cockpit is very driver-centric with much of the centre console tilted towards the driver like in the Jaguar F-Type, which subtly improves ergonomics. The 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, garnished with metal trims, has a sporty motif that delivers in terms of form and function. Also, with plenty of buttons on the wheel spokes, you don't have to exercise your arms to manage music, cruise control, etc. There are analogue gauges and a legible and customisable heads-up display. Chevy has addressed most of the quality issues with better plastics and ingenious styling cues although its fit and finish is still a whisker below German rivals.
Both driver and passenger get the comfort of 8-way power adjustable seats, that are also cooled. We also found that people over 6ft fit easily, mostly due to the power tilt and telescopic adjustability of the steering column. The highly bolstered seats really tuck you in nicely, which is a big improvement over those in the C6. There are no rear seats - this one is strictly a 2-seater.

Now about that convertible top! Unlike older models, you don't need to unlatch anything - with the press of a button, the roof unfolds or folds itself in just 21 seconds, which is quick enough to show off at a traffic light. It can also be lowered from outside the car via the keyfob. Word is, the convertible is quieter on the inside than the coupe, thanks to multiple layers of acoustic canvas. That being said, the coupe, which is actually a targa, has a removable roof, which probably makes it a better choice.
Powertrain & Performance
Under that clamshell bonnet, which, by the way, is a welcome departure from the conventional run-of-the-mill sports car, is one of the few remaining naturally-aspirated V8 engines. It is accompanied by old school elements like the pushrod system, instead of cams, and new age tech like direct injection and cylinder deactivation - a system that switches off four of the eight cylinders while cruising.
There is a 3-pedal, 7-speed variant available for driving enthusiasts, fully equipped with a rev-matching feature, but the overwhelming choice will be the 6-speed automatic with its steering mounted paddle shifters. The 6.2L V8 is claimed to produce as much as 455bhp at 6,500rpm and some 623Nm of gut-wrenching torque at 4,600rpm. These are special numbers, even for a truck, but on plastic-bodied aluminium-framed sports cars, they are biblical!
Power is put down to pavement via the rear axle and considering the amount of torque on tap, you can quite easily smoke those tyres. With launch control activated, the car is claimed to hit 100km/h in 4 seconds, but in reality, it's closer to 4.5 seconds, which is still plenty fast. And if you plan to go drag racing, the quarter mile strip shouldn't take longer than a shade over 12 seconds. This kind of straight-line speed puts it in the elite tier of speedsters like the 911 GTS and the Challenger Hellcat.
Chevy has ironed out that kick-in-the-back acceleration for a more linear power delivery, which means that when you stomp the gas pedal, you have a tidal wave effect instead of the cannon shot experience. Braking performance is commendable too - lean hard into the brakes and you will get thrown off your seat if you don't have your seatbelt on, with the beast coming to a stop from 100km/h in under 105ft. In terms of driving dynamics, this is still a muscle car at heart, with some modern day adaptations to steer it in the intended course. And although the C7 handles well in the hands of an expert, the general public will find it daunting, especially on the edge. and the edge does come quickly. Nevertheless, it's a fun car to drive, with plenty of smoking tyre and tail-out action to expect. Also, kudos to Chevy for keeping the ride quality liveable.
The 70L tank poses as a great resource for long hauls, and, judging by the claimed fuel economy number Chevy has given this V8 - 13.8L/100km for the city and 8.1L/100km for the highway - it seems to have the appetite of a 6-cylinder. Now that's being mindful of the environment and your wallet.
Features & Functionality
The Z51 comes company-fitted with a 10-speaker Bose unit that can easily blow your eardrums out - another way to annoy your neighbours! You can hook up your kind of music by Bluetooth streaming or via the USB port.
The convertible bits eat into the already shallow trunk and you end up with only 283L of space, so rucksacks it is! The dual-zone A/C has plenty of blower speed, and the chill and easy controls are appreciated. The infotainment system is a Chevy MyLink one that we found rather easy to navigate. The onscreen buttons are large and the touch response is generally good. Even the navigation system is very usable with good graphical representation of the buildings.
Safety is assured in the form of front and side-impact air bags, ABS, Electronic Stability Control System and traction control, all of which make up for our errors in judgment. Last, but not least, you also get a rear camera and parking sensors.
Verdict
The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible is a quintessential American sports car. It is loud, it is fast and it has that visceral muscle car quality about it that makes it as much fun to drive as cars twice the cost. The increased price does make it less of a value proposition than before and your luggage is best left at home, but folks, the classic American sports car is back!