The seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette. It marks the return of the Stingray; in name, at least. It certainly looks good on paper: all-new styling, chassis, cabin and - most importantly - the new LT1 V8 engine.
But how does it fare against the best that Europe can offer? Can it out-accelerate and out-brake a Porsche 911? Does it sound better than a Jaguar F-type? Can it out-handle an Audi R8? Steve Sutcliffe referees the biggest sports car battle of 2014.
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Mike d
To dear "Frightmare Bob" - -
"If 2 valves per cylinder works so well, why do most new cars, that are not American, have 4 per cylinder, even diesels, to improve efficiency?" -----
ANS: Because there may be more than one way to skin a cat, and perhaps because Euro's went down what they might consider a theoretically "perfect" induction pathway, only to miss a simple method that was staring them in their faces all along. DOHC was first used by Peugeot of France in 1912 for the Grand Prix, and everyone in Europe followed suit after that. DOHC does allow higher engine RPM's, but is not necessarily the only pathway to increased efficiency per se, given its bulkier size, added weight, greater cost, and higher complexity.-----
"Are you going to say that that they are all wrong?" -----
ANS: No. See above. -----
"I did not say that the Corvette was the only car that is too wide." ----
ANS: Great, then it is in the same remarkable company as the Aston Martin you just mentioned. ----
"Anyone with at least half a brain knows that no-one ever gets near claimed or "official" fuel consumption figures, unless they drive very slowly." -----
ANS: Whew, guess I'm off the hook, being in possession of only 1/3 of a brain. But you seem to have some issues understanding that the USA's EPA testing does not just "drive slowly" for its highway cycle. Please visit Google and type in, "EPA Testing Schedule" (fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules). You may get the ".gov" website that shows a rather intense testing regime (cycles) based on an aggregate of stops and starts, acceleration and deceleration, hot and cold conditions. It is often MORE demanding than ordinary "reasonable" driving. For example, I have a Nissan Frontier pickup that is EPA listed at16/20; my actual mileage is 18/22, BETTER than the "official" numbers. -----
"Finally, for much less money I could buy an Alfa Romeo 4C." ----
ANS: For much less money, I could get a Toyota Camry. Your point is what? The Alfa 4C is not even in the same ballpark as ANY of the four vehicles covered in this video.......
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FYI
Wrong
DOHC
I was addressing the specific design needs of the Corvette only. DOHC engines, at the same HP level, were way too costly, too heavy, and just won't fit into the sloped engine bay. The nearest candidate would be something like a 4-liter twin turbo Audi V-8, but that engine is 28 inches tall; the new ultra-compact push-rod LT-1Corvette engine is about 25 inches tall in total. ---- So yes, if you have smaller engines without space or weight constraints, GM's use of DOHC is justified. But what's amazing here is that the new technology in OHV engines has brought the performance up to "comparable" with DOHC, WHILE allowing a far lighter, smaller, more robust, and less expensive design. Surprise!
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