www.bahrainthismonth.com July 2013 101 motoringthismonth This year marks a poignant moment in the history of the ‘muscle car’, as Chevrolet revives the iconic Corvette Stingray. The very first ‘Stingray’ was actually the second-generation Corvette, produced back in 1962. It was a creation of great beauty, and it is still a much soughtafter collector’s item, gracing the displays of auto museums all over the world. The third generation of the Corvette also carried the ‘Stingray’ name, and was also a revolutionary design, though this would mark the last Stingray… that is, until now! So here it is, the new 2014 Corvette Stingray and, as you can see, Chevrolet have aimed to make the design of this new ‘Vette as revolutionary and jaw-dropping as the name demands. While it still echoes of the last few generations of the Corvette, it is sharper, more modern, more predatory, and much, much more beautiful. It is not all about looks, however! A Chevrolet Corvette is an all-American muscle car, and muscle it certainly does have — 455hp worth, to be exact, with a massive 624Nm of torque coming from the all-new Chevrolet LT1 6.2-litre V8 engine. This is even upgradeable to 460hp and 630Nm of torque with the available performance exhaust system. Despite this massive power, the Stingray is expected to exceed a fuel efficiency of 9.0l/100km on the highway. At 74hp per litre, the LT1 has greater power density than the C6 Corvette’s LS3 6.2-litre engine and even the C6 Z06’s racingderived 7.0-litre LS7. It also produces comparable torque to the LS7 — up to 4,700 rpm — and its peak torque is within 7Nm of the 7.0-litre engine. That torque is generated early and sustained across the rpm band, with 429Nm available at only 1,000 rpm and 90 per cent of peak torque available from 3,000 rpm to 5,500 rpm, giving the lightweight Corvette Stingray excellent acceleration at all speeds. This power means that the new Corvette is estimated to hit 100km/h in less than four seconds, putting it right up there in supercar territory. The top speed has yet to be announced, but we would estimate that we’re talking 300km/h plus. The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupé goes on sale in the Middle East market in the fourth quarter of this year, with a convertible following early next year. Each shares an all-new aluminium frame structure and enhanced chassis, as well as completely new exterior and interior designs. It is apparent that Chevrolet are looking to take a bite out of the premium sports-car segment dominated by European and Japanese brands at the moment, and we’re looking forward to finding out more about the performance figures and handling characteristics in the near future. In the meantime, we’ll just have to satisfy ourselves with these amazing images! Call 17 457-211. 102 x Wheels - 103 x Spotlight - 104 x Big Deals on Wheels - 109 x Showcase Also this month The Return of the Stingray! Corvette Stingray Truck Deals Al Haddad Motors and Mercedes-Benz has launched its annual free after-sales campaign to serve its customers and owners of ACTROS trucks in the Kingdom, by providing free airconditioning and safety checks to ensure public safety. The campaign will include special discounts of 20 per cent on labour costs and 40 percent on genuine parts that may need replacing. “For this summer campaign, we are highlighting the need to safeguard the truck drivers in extreme hot weather conditions, and also build the link that a comfortable driver will be more alert and less likely to cause an accident,” says Graeme Newport, Al Haddad Motors general manager.
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