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"Update:    Big changes are in store for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7. A smaller and more fuel-efficient V-8 engine is coming, though power should be equal to (or better than) the current 6.2-liter small-block. A more aerodynamic exterior and lightened chassis \u2013 one that has trimmed excess pounds for everything from better handling to improved mpg \u2013 are some of the features aimed at making the seventh-generation Vette a sports car to take on the world&amp;#039;s best.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7                   Quad exhaust ports are closer together allowing for a wider and more effective diffuser. Rear side vents are new.                   Mules look to be narrow-body cars with larger fixed brake calipers that will hopefully replace the sliders of the C6.      Two prototypes were caught testing in the frozen climes of Northern Canada. We&amp;#039;ve spotted Corvette test mules before, except they appeared to combine a bizarre mix of updated mechanicals hiding beneath the current Corvette&amp;#039;s bodywork. Drawing conclusions about the powertrain, much less the styling direction, of the C7 Corvette was next to impossible \u2013 especially since GM is keeping extremely tight-lipped about what&amp;#039;s in store. That&amp;#039;s not the case anymore!   These development vehicles are still wearing camouflage, but it&amp;#039;s becoming clear that the next Corvette will have a tauter and leaner exterior. The front and rear overhangs have been trimmed, while the wheelbase is expected to grow a few inches. Unfortunately, the drivers of these early C7s weren&amp;#039;t about to let anyone grab a measuring tape. For the moment, we&amp;#039;re left to speculate on the exact dimensional differences between the C6 and C7.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7                   Hood appears to have all-new venting under the cladding and the headlights are oriented more vertically than before.                   Rear hatch remains for good aerodynamics, but the cladding hides a new design, possibly a split rear window. Are there vents back there too?      Needless to say, the next Corvette should have a more planted stance, coupled with a slightly roomier cabin thanks to the longer wheelbase. The headlights look to remain exposed \u2013 sorry to fans of the hidden peepers found on the C2 to C5 Corvettes \u2013 and the front grille appears wider and taller. Quad exhausts can be seen peeking out the back, and we wouldn&amp;#039;t be surprised if some brake cooling ducts and a large rear diffuser add visual tension and menace to the rear.   Don&amp;#039;t be fooled by the scalloped vents on the C-pillar of these prototypes. The next Corvette is not going to be mid-engine. Those vents are likely there simply to keep the rear cammo from trapping air and breaking loose from the body.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    Small-Block V-8   The web has been going crazy with rumors of a V-6 Corvette, along with all sorts of speculation regarding turbochargers and superchargers. The good news is that the Corvette engineering team does appear to have a surprise in store, though it won&amp;#039;t be quite as shocking as some sites would like you to believe. A 5.5-liter version of Chevy&amp;#039;s iconic pushrod, small-block V-8 engine looks to be making its way under the hood of the C7. Direct injection and a higher compression ratio should guarantee this new small-block has the same power output (if not more) than the current 430-bhp 6.2-liter V-8. Supercharged variants will likely continue for performance variants like the ZR-1. As for a turbocharged V-6 or mid-engine layout...don&amp;#039;t hold your breath. Anything that radical isn&amp;#039;t coming before the C8 Corvette arrives sometime in 2020, or even later.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    The smaller V-8 engine should help the Vette shed weight, providing crisper handling and an improvement in overall efficiency. Believe it or not, the current Corvette is not exactly a fuel guzzler. Thanks to its low-revving nature, the C6 returns a surprising 26 mpg during highway driving. We&amp;#039;ve already speculated the Corvette C7 could offer a 30-mpg highway average. Cylinder deactivation technology seems likely, though a rumored stop-start system could be a technological stretch in a sports car built for smoky burnouts. If the fuel-saving feature does make it onto the C7, look for an off switch or some override button \u2013 especially on the Z06 and ZR-1 models.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    All In the Details   There is going to be a lot more to the Corvette C7 than what&amp;#039;s going on under the hood.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    A 7-speed manual transmission will be offered for the first time. While far from confirmed, it&amp;#039;s possible a 7- or 8-speed dual-clutch automatic will also be available. These new transmissions should offer faster acceleration, along with enhanced weight savings. Aluminum and other lightweight materials will be used throughout the Corvette C7 to boost performance and efficiency. With the 2012 Corvette tipping the scales at roughly 3200 lbs., it&amp;#039;s possible the Corvette C7 engineering team is gunning for an even 3000 lbs.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    The body will remain fiberglass \u2013 a Corvette tradition since it arrived in 1953 \u2013 though carbon fiber is likely to feature more prominently in performance models such as the Z06 and ZR-1. The double-wishbone and transverse leaf suspension should remain mostly carry-over. Chevrolet will likely address the quality of the Corvette cabin. While the current model is much better than the cheap-looking plastic confines of recent memory, the Corvette C7 needs to keep improving to match class leaders. Finer quality plastics, touchscreen instrumentation and perhaps a classy touch of metal or carbon fiber trim could go a long way toward making the interior more befitting Chevy&amp;#039;s top sports car.        2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7    With an on-sale date projected somewhere in mid-2013, the C7 is almost certain to make its official debut during the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Pricing is expected to remain close to the $50,500 base price of the current model. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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