1. The C7 marks the first use of a 'shape memory alloy wire' in a production vehicle. The new corvette uses a smart material wire, which is typically made of copper-aluminum-nickel or nickel-titanium. The reason that it is called 'smart material' is because this material can change its shape, strength and stiffness when it encounters heat, a magnetic field, voltage, etc. When the heat, voltage, etc. is removed, the 'smart material' will return to its original shape.
2. The C7's eLSD (Electronic Limited-Slip Differential) goes from open to full lock in tenths of a second. This eLSD will come standard with the Z51 Performance Package and uses a hydraulically actuated clutch to vary the amount of engagement - open to full lock in tenths of a second. This is especially handy in notoriously bad Michigan weather.
3. Corvettes equipped with Z51 Performance Package or an automatic transmission get functional vents and rear-mounted transmission and differential heat exchangers.
4. NASA-developed insulation, called Aerogel, is used on the transmission tunnel. While the C6 was known for getting a little warm, the C7 uses Aerogel (a material used in space suits) to combat the heat in the center tunnel. Aerogel is an amazing material that is 99.8% air and insulates 39 times better than fiberglass.
5. 30 mpg - enough said.
6. $50k has always been the goal. With so many cool features packed into the C7, it's hard to believe that they were able to keep the base price at $50k. However, they set out in the beginning with intentions of not increasing the price too much. They were able to cut back the cost without taking anything away from the vehicle.
7. It's tires are amazing. Michelin worked with the Corvette team for 36 months to create tires for the car, and the result was the Pilot Super Sport ZP. This is a hybrid of the PS2 and PS Cup.
8. No more cross-drilled rotors! They have been replaced with new discs that are vented with shallow grooves. The C7 is also equipped with Brembo brakes.
9. Speaking of tires, the tires have asymmetrical sidewalls. This simply means that the walls of the tires are 3-mm thicker and made with stiffer construction to maximize comfort and turns.
We hope that these 9 things you need to know about the C7 Corvette has gotten you as excited for it's release as we are! With so many great features, this car is sure to satisfy your need for speed, as well as make you feel luxurious. If you don't want to wait for the release of this vehicle, you can always check out our 2013 Chevy Corvette Brochure! If you are interested in taking the Corvette for a test drive, or simply have questions, you can always stop by our Used Car Dealership or New Car Dealership - our friendly staff would be more than happy to help you with whatever you need!
Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706. For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our websites: www.GraffBayCity.com.
