The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is up there with the best of them when it comes to good ole’ fashioned American icons, right alongside the likes of the Empire State and the Star Spangled Banner. With a history spanning 62-years, the seventh-generation Stingray is a stunning looking machine.
The new design bears the Stingray name, last used in 1976 for the third-generation vehicle. The open-air version we’re testing costs US$59,995 before on-road costs, while the Stingray Coupe is priced at $54,995.
Southern California is known for its beautiful weather, so the drop-top version is the perfect choice to cruise along the Pacific Coast Highway through the Malibu canyons from Zuma Beach, north of Los Angeles, to Huntington Beach Pier, down South.
Despite its lightweight construction, engineers deemed it rigid enough to handle the soft-top roof without any further structural reinforcement.
The Stingray has an aluminium frame under a high-tech composite body with a carbon-fibre bonnet and more composite panels under the car.
If you’re not a soft-top fan, tough. A folding metal hardtop is not an option and would go against the lightweight philosophy of the Corvette.
The cloth roof has a glass rear window and takes around 20-seconds to open or close at speeds of up to 48km/h. It can also be opened remotely using the key.
The new design speaks a very different language to its predecessor. More sharp edges compared to its previous curves and its more menacing styling certainly turns heads.The convertible is so low-slung that the vents for the transmission and diff are under the body.
The interior has also been overhauled and the cabin is luxurious and up-to-date with all the latest technology and premium materials. Driver-focused, the cockpit is packed full of features including an eight-inch touchscreen that shows a series of unique displays depending on which of the five drive modes you’re in.