New Corvette Stingray Heading To Europe For Testing Before Landing In Dealerships Later This Fall

The 2014 Corvette Stingray will hit U.S. dealerships later this year but will be put through its paces over the summer in Europe. A new report reveals the Corvette Stingray will undergo a series of quality control tests before arriving at dealerships in the fall.

Car Scoops reports that General Motors sent two 2014 Corvette Stingrays to Chevrolet Europe for the last rounds of testing. The cars will be in the hands of Patrick Hermann, technical manager at Chevrolet Europe, who will test-drive the car in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. According to the Washington Post, GM is looking to crack the European market even though the Stingray’s legacy is distinctly American.

Ed Welburn, GM vice president of Global Design, cites a global appeal as one of the main design aspects of the 2014 Corvette Stingray. “We knew we couldn’t use the Stingray name unless the new car truly lived up to the legacy. The result is a new Corvette Stingray that breaks from tradition, while remaining instantly recognizable as a Corvette the world over,” said Welburn.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray will come equipped with a 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine that delivers 450 horsepower, housed under a carbon fiber hood. The Stingray features a seven-speed manual transmission with "active rev matching." According to GM, active rev matching will be used to predict when to shift gears, offering a seamless driving experience.

Europe will not have any other transmission options while other markets can opt for a six-speed paddle-shift automatic. Another change to the European edition of the 2014 Corvette Stingray is the Z51 package will be standard, reports the New York Daily News. Car Scoops reports the European 2014 Corvette Stingray comes standard with larger wheels and brakes and magnetic ride control with performance traction management.

The Z51 package includes track-enhanced options such as a dry-sump oiling system, to improve the aerodynamics, and electronic limited-slip differential, for better handling while going fast. The Los Angeles Times reports the 2014 Corvette Stingray equipped with the Z51 Performance Package can go zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds.

The car’s interior will feature carbon fiber trim, aluminum accents and leather upholstery. In addition to the design features, the 2014 Corvette Stingray has an EPA-estimated 26 mpg highway. Edmunds reports the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe will be priced starting at $51,995 and the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible starting at $56,995 with the Z51 Package priced at $2,800.