The newest candidate for American supercar stardom now has a price, and it’s a remarkable one: $78,995 with delivery. If you’d prefer a convertible, it’ll start at $83,995.

That’s just $121.53 per horsepower (or per pound-foot of torque). While it’s not the screaming power-per-dollar bargain of the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat (a mere $84.85 per hp), the 2015 Corvette Z06 is much more than a one-trick pony.

The Z06 is, after all, based on the incredibly balanced and fun-to-drive Stingray, with the added benefit of yet more suspension work, aerodynamic work, and, of course, all of that power from the supercharged LT4 V-8.

For those who’d prefer even more performance than comes in the standard Z06’s equipment list, there’s the Carbon Fiber Ground Effects package at $2,995. It includes a functional carbon fiber front splitter, carbon rocker panels, and an effective rear spoiler.

Add the Z07 Performance Package for $7,995, and you’ll get Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors, adjustable elements to the front and rear splitters of the Carbon Fiber Ground Effects package, and Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires. That means better grip, better stopping, and reduced unsprung weight.

On top of the packages, there are three trim levels: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ, each of which grows progressively more luxurious. On top of the trim levels, there are a other extras that can be added, including: the Premium Package with leather-wrapped interior; Performance Data Recorder and navigation; Competition sport seats in leather or sueded microfiber; carbon fiber interior and tonneau cover inserts; visible carbon fiber roof panel for the coupe; and Tintcoat exterior colors, various wheelfinishes, and a range of brake caliper colors.

Earlier this month we ballparked 2014 Corvette Stingray production at just over 36,500 units which takes into account the 35,523 known VINs plus an additional 1,050 for the Premiere Editions.

But we were too low in our estimate.

GM officially revealed at last weekend’s Corvettes at Carlisle show that 37,288 Corvettes were built during the 2014 model year.


Those additional units, according to Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles, include exports and captured fleet cars that were sellable units.

Let’s say that figure one more time: 37,288 Corvette Stingrays!

In the immortal words of a famous Corvette owner who is also our current Vice President, “This is a big f****** deal”.

It’s not that the number set a record for Corvette production. Far from it as it actually hits the top sales by model year chart at #14. But it is the 3rd best production number in the modern era (since 1985′s 39,729) with only 2005 (37,372) and 2007 (40,561) having greater totals.

Think about where we were following the carpocalypse of 2008-09 when Corvette sales fell to the low teens and stayed there through the final years of C6 production. And then there were rumors of Corvettes possible demise during GM’s bankruptcy. Fast forward to the 2014 Corvette and there’s a renewed sense of enthusiasm and confidence coming from all corners for America’s favorite sports car and that’s translating into the strongest sales in years.

So what’s the breakdown of production during 2014 with the different colors and options? Here’s some interesting stats and then we’ll get to the numbers. First the Z51 models accounted for 56% of Corvettes ordered and Z51s with Magnetic Selective Ride Control clocked in at 36%. Corvettes sold with the 6-speed automatic accounted for 65% of all Stingrays vs 35% who still went for the 7-Speed manual. Arctic White went from being a traditional mid-level color choice all the way up to number 2, beating Black which was a perennial favorite during the C6 generation. And finally, the Q7T Black Wheels option for Z51s sold well with the option accounting for nearly half of all Z51 Corvettes (48%).

The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s Production Stats:

41% Z51 Coupe – 15,431
1LT – 9%
2LT – 29%
3LT – 61%

30% Base Coupe – 11,134
1LT – 23%
2LT – 42%
3LT – 35%

15% Z51 Convertible – 5,680
1LT – 4%
2LT – 23%
3LT – 73%

14% Base Convertible – 5,043
1LT – 13%
2LT – 42%
3LT – 45%

Exterior colors break down as:

19% – Torch Red
17% – Arctic White
16% – Black
11% – Cyber Gray
9% – Laguna Blue
8% – Crystal Red Metallic
6% – Velocity Yellow
6% – Blade Silver
5% – Night Race Blue
4% – Lime Rock Green
Interior Colors:

39% – Jet Black Leather
21% – Adrenaline Red
14% – Kalahari
8% – Jet Black Suede
8% – Gray Leather
4% – Brownstone
3% – Kalahari Suede
2% – Gray Suede
1% – Brownstone Suede

Popular Options by RPO and Percentage Built:

CFA Painted Top – 52%
CC3 Transparent Top – 26%
C2Z Visible Carbon Fiber Top – 13%
C2Q Body-Color Dual Roof Package – 6%
C2M Carbon Fiber Dual Roof Package – 4%
FAY Carbon Fiber Instrument Panel Trim – 20%
UY4 Navigation – 82%
MYC 6-speed paddle shift with automatic – 65%
FE1 Suspension – 43%
Z51 Suspension – 21%
Z51 with Magnetic Ride Control – 36%
NPP Performance Exhaust – 84%
J64 Red Calipers – 44%
J6E Yellow Calipers – 7%
QX3 Chrome Non Z51 Wheels – 64%
QG6 Silver Non Z51 Wheels – 28%
RQ1 Machine Non Z51 Wheels – 7%
Q7T Z51 Black Wheels – 48%
Q7E Z51 Chrome Wheels – 34%
Q7S Z51 Silver Wheels – 13%

GM also made sure that we knew how well the Corvette Stingray is doing against its competition in the luxury sport segment:

Corvette Stingray – 20,804 – 36.6%
Porsche 911 – 6,017 – 10.6%
BMW 6 Series – 5,717 – 10.1%
Maserati – 5,056 – 8.9%
Mercedes SL – 2,860 – 5.0%

* US 2014 Calendar Year Deliveries January-July

We understand the plant’s current annual operating capacity with the single shift/overtime is around 38,000 Corvettes. We figure there will be less captured fleet vehicles built in 2015 than were assembled during the launch of the 2014s and it will be interesting to see if Corvette Stingray sales can keep up the torrid pace in its sophomore year. Finally, how many Corvette Z06s can/will be assembled when production starts in fourth quarter.

And for those stats, we’ll have to wait another year.

MYC 6-speed paddle shift with automatic – 65%

There appears no end to General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] recall woes, with the automaker this week announcing two more, this time for the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette that has only just gone on sale. About 2,800 cars are affected though very few of these have actually been delivered to customers.

The recalls are yet to be published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but according to stop-sale orders sent to dealers this week, and seen by Automotive News (subscription required), they cover problems with airbags and parking brake cables on the latest Corvette.

The airbag-related problem concerns the driver’s side airbag, which the stop-sale order says could separate from the steering wheel in a crash, increasing the potential for injuries. The solution is for dealers to replace the airbag but there could be delays as parts are not available.


The second problem concerns the rear parking brake cables, which are said to be not fully seated and engaged, reducing their operational capability. This means the car could start rolling if parked on a steep incline.

The latest recalls bring GM’s total for the year to 67, with more than 29 million vehicles affected so far.

Only a month ago, Motor Trend came out with the news that Chevrolet was working on a new mid-engine platform for the next Corvette ZR1, and that this new architecture would go on to underpin the next-generation C8 Corvette. Car and Driver has now delved into the matter, and the magazine’s Corvette expert Don Sherman has put together an article for the October issue hitting newsstands now.

According to his article, the new mid-engine ZR1 will arrive in time for the 2017 model year, and like the previous C6 ZR1 it will be priced above $100k. In line with previous rumors, the new ZR1 is said to feature the Zora name in its full title, a name General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] recently trademarked. The usage would serve as a tribute to Corvette father Zora Arkus-Duntov, a huge fan of the mid-engine layout.

Power is said to come from a small-block V-8, just like the current C7 models. Chevy engineers have already shown that some serious power can be extracted from the engines, as evidenced by the 650-horsepower C7 Z06 introduced for 2015. Though not mentioned, we could also see the new ZR1 adopt hybrid technology to ensure it can keep up in the technology stakes against its German and Japanese rivals.

Don’t look for carbon fiber construction just yet. Today’s aluminum spaceframe should remain, though beefed up so it’s even stiffer. Some carbon fiber is likely to be adopted for the body, however, such as for the doors and roof. Suspension, braking hardware and possibly the transmission will all likely carry over from the C7, with revisions for the increased performance expected from the new ZR1.

After the new ZR1, the next-generation C8 Corvette should arrive. This model is said to adopt the new ZR1’s mid-engine platform but not much else is known about the car. Prices are likely to rise but this will allow the Camaro to move up the chain so that Chevy can finally introduce an affordable rear-drive sports car.

Growing pains are typical of just about every new vehicle program, but the all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray could be suffering from a rather serious ailment.

Car and Driver currently has a 2014 C7 in its long-term test garage, and while the rag has given the sports car high marks for its good looks and excellent driving dynamics, it has given them one major fit - a blown engine.

According to Car and Driver, the engine in their long-term Stingray went kaput after just 6,000 miles. General Motors is still investigating the matter, but has initially concluded that the engine failure was the result of a faulty oil filter that let loose metal debris into the engine. The metal flakes worked their way through the system, ultimately damaging a connecting-rod bearing and the entire bottom end of the LT1 engine.

Moreover, Car and Driver suggests that the engine fault that brought down their C7 is more of a widespread issue rather than an isolated incident.
"We've heard of a few similar accounts throughout the Stingray community and GM says it's aware of the issue and is analyzing its manufacturing process for a root cause."

We've reached out to GM for comment on the matter but so far haven't heard back. We'll be sure to update this space when new information becomes available.

Work has commenced on the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette, the C8, and word on the street is that the car will ride on a new mid-engine platform under development at General Motors Company [NYSE:GM]. While the C8 isn’t due until the end of the decade, a car riding on its platform may appear much sooner than that.

No, we’re not talking about the new sports car recently hinted at by Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen, although it is a distinct possibility Cadillac may eventually launch a car based on the new mid-engine platform. No, we’re talking about a new generation of the Corvette ZR1, which Car and Driver reports may be launched as early as the 2017 model year and sport a price tag of around $150,000.

This means that while it’s technically a C8, the new ZR1 will be sold alongside the current C7 Corvette for its first years on the market. Eventually, the C7 Corvette will be replaced by the new C8 Corvette, with all the variants being based on the mid-engine platform. Yes, even the base ‘Vette.

The reason for the platform’s quick gestation is because GM reportedly started working on a mid-engine Corvette prior to its bankruptcy in 2009, and current Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter is said to be one of the key people involved in the original project. We also hear that the basis for the new platform will be the C7 Corvette’s aluminum spaceframe structure rather than a completely all-new design.

But why rock the boat with such a dramatic change to the Corvette formula? Apparently the front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout is reaching its limits in cars like the 2015 Corvette Z06. Also, the Alpha-based 2016 Camaro may end up lighter than the C7 Corvette, giving it the performance edge over its bigger brother. Thus, to help separate future Corvettes from the Camaro, including the next ZR1, a more exotic design will be required. This change will also help the C8 Corvette become a semi-exotic halo model for Chevrolet worldwide, a bit like the NSX for Acura/Honda and the R8 for Audi.

A small-block V-8 will remain the powertrain of choice for the new ZR1—it’s an exotic but not that kind of exotic—and there’s a strong possibility it will come with a single transmission: a seven-speed dual-clutch. By the time regular C8 Corvettes arrive, however, a manual transmission should also be available. We could also see the new ZR1 adopt hybrid technology to ensure it can keep up in the technology stakes against its German and Japanese rivals.

Finally, the Zora name should feature in the new ZR1’s full title. The usage would serve as a tribute to Corvette father Zora Arkus-Duntov, a huge fan of the mid-engine layout, and we know GM recently trademarked it.