2015 Corvette – Vette-net

Pricing: $53,000 (Coupe), $58,000 (Z51 coupe), $58,000, (convertible), $63,000 (Z51 Convertible), Z06

Engine: V8 6.2 Liter

Transmission: Tremec 7 Speed Manual transmission(TR6070), eight-speed automatic transmission

Top speed: 186mph

Units produced: 8,653

Available colours: Arctic White, Black, Blade Silver Metallic, Crystal Red, Tintcoat, Daytona Sunrise Orange Metallic, Laguna Blue Tricoat, Night Race, Blue Metallic, Shark Grey Metallic, Torch Red, and Velocity Yellow Tricoat

Highlights of the year:

With an all-new Z06 supercar version joining the Stingray, there’s a coupe or convertible version of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette to suit a wide range of performance and styling appetites. Whichever flavor you choose, you’ll find the Corvette range to offer some of the very best bang for the buck in the industry.

The 2015 model is the first Corvette Z06 to offer a supercharged engine, an automatic transmission and, thanks to a stronger aluminum frame, a removable roof panel. The new, supercharged 6.2L engine is expected to deliver at least 625 horsepower (466 kW), and can be matched with either a seven-speed manual or an all-new, high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for manual control. The aluminum frame carries over from the Corvette Stingray and will be used essentially unchanged for the Corvette Racing C7.R.

A track-focused Z07 Performance Package adds unique components for true aerodynamic downforce, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires for enhanced grip, and Brembo carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors that improve braking performance and contribute to greater handling through reduced unsprung weight. Although development testing is ongoing, the Z07 package has already recorded some of the fastest lap times ever for a Corvette, surpassing even the ZR1.

The new transmission is the highlight of the technical updates to the 2015 Corvette Stingray, and it aims for the strongest competition on the non-manual market: Porsche’s PDK. Chevrolet claims the new 8-speed executes shifts a full 80 milliseconds quicker than the German dual-clutch unit, measured from the time the driver requests the shift to the time it’s actually executed. That’s a small fraction of a second, but it can make a big difference when driving a very fast car at the limit. Both the Stingray and the Z06 will be available with a choice of 7-speed manual or the new 8-speed automatic.

These technologies – combined with the fuel-efficient multi-speed transmissions, aerodynamic design and lightweight construction – help make the new Z06 surprisingly fuel-efficient.

Styling takes the Corvette in new directions, even if around familiar themes, both inside and out. Sharp lines, crisp angles, and vents aplenty give a definite supercar air to the design that matches the car’s performance. It’s wide, low, and looks fast even at a dead stop. Inside, the Stingray’s design is much improved over the previous generation of the Corvette, and while nothing changes in the standard model for the 2015 model year, it retains its refreshing and surprisingly luxurious look. The Z06 adds to the Stingray’s exterior and interior design with wider fenders, an array of aerodynamic add-ons, and a performance-themed cabin treatment.

The interior of the 2015 Corvette Stingray carries forward the substantial upgrades from the C6 launched last year. Improved materials, more modern design, and significant upgrades to technology such as the Drive Mode Selector and latest-generation Chevy MyLink infotainment help bring the Corvette on par with European and Japanese offerings in the highly competitive, but relatively low-volume super sports car segment.

All Corvette trims get a fully-wrapped interior, where every surface is covered with premium, soft-touch materials. Available materials, depending on the trim level, include Napa leather, aluminum, carbon fiber and micro-suede. Customers also have two seating choices: a regular GT seat and a Competition Sport seat with more aggressive side bolstering for greater support on the track.

Photos of the 2015 Corvette: