Thursday, January 17, 2013

The Seventh Hour

The new logo for the Seventh Corvette

Days after Chevrolet made a world premiere of the 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray, Gran Turismo 5 was very pleased that after inviting us to drive the test prototype of this generation, ladies and gentlemen...THE NEXT GENERATION CORVETTE SHEDS ITS CAMOUFLAGE...

No longer a camouflaged prototype...It's the real deal!

The fine print that says "Gran Turismo 5 Exclusive – ’14 Corvette Stingray Free on PSN", that really sums it up because, well just before someone regretting me since the Toyota 86/Scion FR-S fiasco last year, Gran Turismo 5 is your only game for you to witness the fun factor of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray. It has been regenerated into a totally different Corvette and by totally different, yes it is because the Camaro-esque rear lamps were there and that's the first in Corvette history.

Showing off its dynamic nature

Statistics showed that almost half a million Gran Turismo 5 players, including me, took part of the final testing phase of the Chevrolet Corvette C7 (in camouflaged version) since its announcement at last year's LA Auto Show and a collaboration between Chevrolet and the Gran Turismo franchise really showed some exclusivity for this model and by exclusivity, yes, you can only find this Chevrolet C7 Corvette only in Gran Turismo. Nothing else.

The Nurburgring crowd's love the new look!

Everything around the 2014 Corvette Stingray is new. The exterior's new, the interior's new, the engine's new, and the new 7-speed manual transmission, which is a first for an American car like this. It seems that the Corvette staff really made a lot of attention in perfecting the seventh-generation Corvette and for the Gran Turismo staff, careful planning was applied to the tiniest details of the new design inside and out, as well as to the enhanced performance driving characteristics.

An advanced American sportscar is being bewildered in Motegi

Stinging the asphalt of Spa-Francorchamps in the rain
The sound of the new LT1 6.2L V8 engine is just amazing. It's crispy, smooth, and sounds like a last century muscle car. No matter how many times I keep my foot down on the accelerator, that sound of the V8 engine is probably the best. From the moment you start up this brand new LT1 engine, it's all hell breaks loose. This engine is the pinnacle of the Corvette history because this one's direct injected and it has Variable Valve Timing. Power output is an estimated 450HP, torque output is an estimated 450lb-ft, and its 0 to 60 mark takes below the four second mark. This new generation Corvette Stingray sure knows bringing the term "competitive" to a whole new meaning and in terms of handling...

Hunt this new boy down!
Too fast to leave a footprint on Laguna Seca
Stingray slashes down Monza curves
...the handling of the 2014 Corvette Stingray is probably the best! It's DYNAMIC! Literally! Well, yes, it maybe dynamic in terms of handling but this is mind-numbing and its bonkers! This new model loves to cloud itself in white smoke and as I said about being a track-munching, road-burning frag grenade, this car doesn't like to kill me, it wants to make me laugh! Yes!!! Chevrolet, you made a decent, proper-handling Corvette! Generosity to the Corvette Stingray's handling were provided by its aluminum body for perfect weight distribution, new generation Magnetic Ride Control, and electronic LSD to keep the new Corvette's handling capabilities superbly dynamic. This is the only American sports car that understands what I'm talking and the talent for being a less-grippy machine really sums it up for being the best handling Corvette ever made.

Party at the Red Bull

The styling of the new Corvette Stingray is probably one of my favorite aspects for this new model. Other than this new front view that mimics its arch-rival American sports car that I may not going to tell you about this because this is Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo fans love Corvettes, the new design is well-sculpted, and clean and turns out, I love this new look. Not bad for a Corvette being regenerated to a totally new look though and what's my favorite part on the new Stingray's styling was its speedo. This new Stingray has the most dramatic speedo ever made and as a matter of fact, several cows sacrificed their lives for the Grade A leather needed for the seats. Selected by hand, stitched, and crafted to adapt the new interior. Oh my goodness, that's better than the last one or better yet, it mimicked the interior of the C4 Corvette but with some modernization to keep up with today's trends.

One and Seven

Two and Seven
Three and Seven

Four and Seven

Five and Seven

Six and Seven

From its inception in the year 1953 all the way to its present time, as in the 60th birthday of the Chevrolet Corvette, this car became the legend of the Chevrolet brand. It became the pinnacle of motorsports, especially the 24 hour endurance in Le Mans and the dreaded Nurburgring, showing the world how the Corvette was born to do and set the benchmark in the high-performance sportscar battle. No matter the generation, no matter the age, and no matter which Corvette you own, you are proud to say that you have been chosen by Chevrolet and the statement of "Corvettes rule" really is the testimony that comes from Corvette fans worldwide. With the new C7 Corvette, this new model marks a brand new chapter of the Corvette heritage.

The new Stingray logo

Corvette Stingray Runs Deep


As a matter of fact though, all Corvette generations were featured in the Gran Turismo franchise when this game was launched in 1998. 2013 was the series' 15th anniversary so I expect great things to come...

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