GM has confirmed that the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe will open at $51,995 when it arrives in showrooms later this year and that its drop-top sibling will start at $56,995. Although that puts each of them $1,400 above their outgoing 2013 counterparts, Chris Perry, VP of Chevrolet marketing, believes that modest bump in bottom line on the all-new model is fully justified by their significantly enhanced capabilities. "The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000."
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Beyond their striking visual presence, both members of the stunning "C7" Vette family boast an impressive array of standard features, highlighted by a 450-horsepower/6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine with econo-boosting Active Fuel Management, a 7-speed manual transmission with Active Rev Matching, 5-postion Drive Mode Selector, Brembo brakes, a lightweight carbon fiber hood, HID headlamps, Bose 9-speaker premium audio package, dual 8-inch configurable driver/infotainment screens, Chevrolet MyLink connectivity and keyless access with pushbutton starting.
For buyers looking to personalize the package, the 2014 Stingray Coupe and Convertible also will offer an equally stellar selection of options. Those who favor elegant touring can opt for the 3LT Interior Package that brings Nappa leather upholstery, heated/ventilated seats, 10-speaker Bose Surround Sound audio, navigation system, head-up display and more. Hard-core handling fans can step up to the Z51 Performance Package with its unique chassis tuning, more aggressive transmission ratios, bigger wheel/tire fitments, upgraded brakes, an electronic limited-slip differential, supplemental transmission/differential cooling systems and more. Going the Z51 route also makes it possible to add Magnetic Ride Control and Performance Traction Management to the mix.
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Other primo upgrades for the new Corvette set include competition sport seats, a dual-mode exhaust system, carbon fiber interior accent trim, custom painted wheels and brake calipers, suede microfiber upholstery, and carbon-fiber roof panels on the Convertible. Chevy indicates that a 2014 Corvette Coupe fitted with all of the major extras would ring in at $73,360, while a Convertible with the carbon fiber roof panels would be closer to the $80K mark.
Anticipating that initial demand for the 2014 Corvette will far outstrip supply, Chevy has previously announced that the first of the new Gen VII cars to roll off of the assembly line in Bowling Green, Kentucky, will be allocated to roughly 900 key dealers out of its 3,000 or so total outlets. That select group collectively accounted for approximately 80 percent of total Corvette sales volume in 2012, and each had to sell at least four to even qualify for consideration. It could be six to nine months after sales begin before other Chevy dealers see a new Corvette in their showrooms. That situation could well test the limits of just how affordable the latest and unquestionably greatest incarnation of Chevrolet’s iconic All-American sports car actually remains.
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