Chevrolet Philippines Introduces Fastest, Most Powerful Corvette

MANILA – Today, Chevrolet fulfills their long-term promise, introducing the brand’s first-ever production mid-engine Corvette – the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe. The sum of everything that came before it, the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe is re-imagined to bring customers new levels of performance, technology, craftsmanship, and luxury.

From front- to mid-engine, in under three seconds

“Corvette has always represented the pinnacle of innovation and boundary-pushing at GM. The traditional front-engine vehicle reached its limits of performance, necessitating the new layout,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “In terms of comfort and fun, it still looks and feels like a Corvette but drives better than any vehicle in Corvette history. Customers are going to be thrilled with our focus on details and performance across the board.”

The new mid-engine layout gives the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe:

• Better weight distribution, with the rear weight bias enhancing performance in a straight line and on the track.
• Better responsiveness and sense of control due to driver positioning closer to the front axle, almost on top of the front wheels.
• The fastest 0-100 kph in 3.55 seconds time of any entry Corvette ever — under three seconds when equipped with Z51 Performance Package.
• A race car-like view of the road due to lower positioning of the hood, instrument panel, and steering wheel. Excellent forward sight-lines throughout the vehicle for both driver and passenger.
• An enhancement of Corvette’s traditional utility strengths, with dual trunks for a total of 12.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, ideal for luggage or two sets of golf clubs

Design inspired by racing and aeronautics

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe’s exterior has a bold, futuristic expression with mid-engine exotic proportions, but it is still unmistakably Corvette. It’s lean and muscular, with an athletic sculptural shape conveying a sense of motion and power from every angle.

“As America’s most iconic performance nameplate, redesigning the Corvette Stingray from the ground up presented the team a historic opportunity, something Chevrolet designers have desired for over 60 years,” said Michael Simcoe, vice president of Global Design, General Motors. “It is now the best of America, a new arrival in the mid-engine sports car class. We know Corvette can stand tall with the best the world has to offer.”

A supercar level of craftsmanship, premium materials, and attention to detail was critical in designing every component of the Stingray. The new location of the engine is truly the focal point for the car’s design. It’s the heart of this next-generation Corvette, and it sits like a jewel in a showcase, visible through the large rear hatch window. The added attention to detail optimized the appearance of every wire, tube, bolt, and fastener, similar to those found in modern track and all-road motorcycle design.

Some additional design touchpoints include:

• Low profile headlamps designed around all-new projectors.
• Completely hidden door, hood and hatch releases do not disrupt the sculpted design.
• Large side air intakes for engine cooling and aerodynamic performance.
• A-pillar shape that communicates speed and assists in visibility.
• Large rear hatch that showcases the engine with seven air vents.
• Quad exhaust tips located on the vehicle’s outboard ends.
• Dual-element LED taillamps with animated turn signals.

True to its aeronautical and racing roots, the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe’s canopy-forward stance was inspired by F22s, F35s, other modern fighter jets, and Formula One racing. Other classic Corvette signatures adapted to the Stingray include a distinctive face that communicates the purpose of the vehicle’s mission, a classic horizontal crease, aggressive front fenders, and familiar positioning of the dual-element headlamps.

The interior is further enhanced by:

• A cockpit that has not only migrated forward by 16.5 inches but envelops the driver, conveying the high performance and aeronautic theme
• Vertical climate controls and ultra-thin vents minimize the height of the instrument panel, creating a low, spacious interior.
• A new, squared-off, two-spoke, small-diameter steering wheel that enables an unobscured view of the 12-inch reconfigurable cluster display

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe boasts premium interior materials executed at a high level of quality and craftsmanship:

• Hand-wrapped, cut-and-sew leather components with thick press stitching.
• Generous use of real metal.
• Stainless steel speaker grilles with Bose Performance Series audio system.
• Carbon fiber trim on the GT2 Bucket Type Seats.

Customers can have their own design statement, with five exterior colors — Torch Red, Arctic White, Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic, Silver Flare Metallic, Hypersonic Gray Metallic, and a combination of Adrenaline Red/Jet Black Interiors.

Engineered to be a true supercar for everyday

Corvette’s structure is built around its backbone: the center tunnel. This enables a light, stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system to perform in an optimized manner. Corvette customers will experience the ultimate in ride performance with outstanding lateral grip capabilities by removing unwanted body compliance. The car has a solid, connected-to-the-road feel with minimal vibrations at high speeds or long road trips.

“Our mission was to develop a new type of sports car, combining the successful attributes of Corvette with the performance and driving experience of mid-engine supercars,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer.

The tunnel-dominant approach offers many advantages, including:

• Improved torsional rigidity with a solid, connected feel on both the road and track.
• Outstanding ingress/egress for a mid-engine vehicle. Unlike some competitors, there’s no need for oversized rocker panels to bear structural and load weights, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.
• Excellent stability due to a low center of gravity and outstanding handling.
• Preservation of Corvette’s beloved standard removable roof panel, which can easily be stored in the rear trunk.
• A front storage compartment that can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag.
• Availability in both left- and right-hand-drive variants — a first for Corvette.
• Smart packaging with improved cabin comfort, including an additional inch of rearward seat travel and almost double the reclining angle.

The all-new 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe is built with a smart mixed-materials strategy, enabling key features such as:

• A strong, stiff, and lightweight main structure of six high-pressure diecast aluminum parts, also known as the Bedford Six, is manufactured at GM Powertrain in Bedford, Indiana. These minimize the number of joints within the vehicle, making a stiffer structure that aids in handling and track cornering.
• Industry-first carbon fiber curved rear bumper beam for weight reduction.
• Front and rear trunk tubs and dashboard molded from ultra-lightweight “float” derived from fiberglass and a proprietary resin. The material is so light that it can actually float in water. It works with other fiberglass and carbon fiber variants to lower mass and reduce noise and vibration.

Handling: core to Corvette’s fun-to-drive DNA

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe is designed for superior ride comfort on the highway and well-balanced handling on the track.

“Thanks to sophisticated suspension geometry, tailored tire technology, and exquisite attention to structural details, we have improved ride, and handling,” said Juechter. “No Corvette has ever felt so comfortable, nimble and yet completely stable.”

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe features coil over dampers that create an entirely new ride and handling characteristics. The mid-engine architecture allows for a short, straight, and stiff steering system, coupled with an updated electronic steering system, making the driver’s chassis input instantaneous.

The new seating position places the car’s center of gravity close to the driver’s inside hip, so the car literally turns around the driver. It completely changes the perception of vehicle handling and responsiveness.

Other ride and handling upgrades include:

• The steering ratio improved from 16.25:1 to 15.7:1.
• New eBoost brakes that are more precise and tunable.
• The first sports car application of Michelin’s all-season performance tire that can corner at nearly 1G.
• Front suspension lift that raises ground clearance by approximately 40mm at the front bumper in 2.8 seconds, protecting against bumps, potholes, steep driveways, and other road disturbances. It can operate at speeds up to 24 mph and be programmed to work automatically through GPS to remember up to 1,000 locations.
• Launch control aided by the rear weight distribution, enabling the new Stingray to get off the line quicker than any Corvette in history.
• Z51 Performance Package, which introduces a host of new technology to the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe:
• Performance suspension with manually adjustable threaded spring seats.
• Larger brake rotors with Z51 logo on calipers.
• Enhanced cooling.
• Specific axle ratio.
• Front brake cooling inlets.
• Performance exhaust.

The jewel in the center

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe is Chevy’s next-generation 6.2L Small Block V-8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V-8 in the segment. When equipped with performance exhaust, it will produce 474 horsepower and 613 Nm of torque — the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.

“Though now placed behind the driver, the LT2 gives the same visceral experience we all expect from Corvette,” said Jordan Lee, GM’s global chief engineer of Small Block engines. “The LT2 has been designed to deliver excellent low-end torque and high-end power to give a thrilling pedal response at any RPM.”

The powertrain’s low position enables a low center of gravity for optimal handling. Perhaps the biggest update is found in the lubrication and ventilation system. The base Stingray will use an engine-mounted dry sump oil system, and three scavenge pumps for improved track performance for the first time ever.

During serious track driving, oil volume remains high to avoid diminished performance. The new Stingray’s lateral capability is greatly improved, so the LT2’s dry sump lubrication system had to be redesigned to provide exceptional engine performance even at lateral acceleration levels exceeding 1G in all directions.

A lightweight, 3.2mm-thick glass panel on the rear hatch allows owners to show off the engine. This panel features a cantilevered trailing edge to evacuate heat from the LT2 engine compartment.

Other notable engine characteristics include:

• Jewel-like setting in the rear compartment, visible through the rear glass hatch.
• Every part, including the exhaust system’s wires, tubes, routing fasteners, coolant hoses, exhaust manifold, and even the bolts and fasteners, is built with appearance in mind. All engine components were carefully considered, just like the exterior, and even the heat shields are textured.
• A brand-new block and vent system. The crankshaft’s centerline sits an inch lower to the ground, where it mates to the transaxle for better handling.
• Low-profile oil pan that reduces mass.
• Oil cooler capacity increased by 25 percent.
• Standard edge Red valve covers.

A shift of a different kind

The next generation LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which provides lightning-fast shifts and excellent power transfer. This transmission is uniquely designed with TREMEC to provide the best of both worlds: the spirited, direct connected feeling of a manual and the premium driving comfort of an automatic. The double-paddle de-clutch feature even allows the driver to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for more manual control.

Paddle shifters allow drivers to choose a specific gear. “The performance shift algorithms are so driver-focused, they can sense when you’re doing spirited driving — regardless of driving mode — and will hold lower gears longer for more throttle response,” said Juechter.

The new Small Block V-8 has a torque curve optimized to take advantage of the bespoke DCT’s lightning-fast shifts. Engineers set the DCT up with a very low first gear to leverage the additional traction to get the car off the line quickly, and its close-ratio gears 2 through 6 keep the engine near the power peak on track. Tall seventh and eighth gears make for easy long-distance cruising with low mechanical stress and excellent fuel economy.

The DCT is mated to a new Electronic Transmission Range Selector. With this electric shifter, there’s no mechanical interface between the shift lever and the transmission. The Corvette’s electric shifter incorporates two pull toggles for Reverse and Drive and push buttons for Park, Neutral, and Low/Manual. The shifter has been designed to be more attractive and compact than a standard shifter.

All-new technology improves performance and usability

Driver mode choices have been expanded from four to six, allowing drivers to tweak the feel of their Corvettes to their personal preference. The familiar Weather, Tour, Sport, and Track modes remain, and there are two new modes:

• MyMode, a configurable setting for a preferred driving style that can remain between key cycles.
• Z mode, named after the famed Z06, ZR1, and Z51 Corvette performance packages, is activated through the steering wheel’s “Z” button. This is a single-use mode that takes MyMode configurations one step further, allowing drivers to adjust the engine and transmission as well.

The 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe benefits from GM’s new digital vehicle platform, an all-new electronic architecture that enables the adoption of the company’s next generation of technologies. The architecture minimizes wiring while allowing for faster signal transmission between different vehicle systems and the higher resolution screens. The platform enables continuous vehicle improvements through over-the-air updates and enhanced cybersecurity measures.

Other new technology features include:

• Corvette’s next-generation infotainment system is faster and simpler, with a higher resolution display.
• Chevy-first one-touch Bluetooth pairing with Near Field Communication.
• Wireless charging.
• Learn-as-you-go voice recognition.
• Improved real-time traffic.
• A new, 12-inch customizable instrument cluster tailored to all six driver modes.

New electrical features include:

• Driver and passenger seat memory.
• Heated steering wheel.
• Tire fill alert warns the driver when the tire meets maximum pressure.
• New Bose audio system: 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system. Speaker grilles are integrated into lower door trim for a refined look that also helps guard against damage from footwear.
• The industry-pioneering Performance Data Recorder is an advanced driving analysis tool that is upgraded with a high-definition resolution camera and a new in-vehicle user interface. Customers can record both circuit and point-to-point road courses. The PDR can be set to auto-record like a dashcam that starts a recording every time the Corvette is running or configured to only start when the car is set to Valet mode.

Corvette has always represented iconic American design, performance, technical ingenuity, and attainability. The 2022 Stingray‘s standard retail price is ₱9,915,888.

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is produced at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly.

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The all-new 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe can be made available through indent orders. Contact your nearest Chevrolet dealership for more information. The Corvette comes with a five-year warranty, automatic enrollment to the 24/7 Chevrolet Roadside Assistance for three (3) years, and immediate access to the 24/7 Chevy Hotline for convenient vehicle service and ownership needs.

For more information and updates, visit www.chevrolet.com.ph, follow the Chevrolet Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to Chevrolet Philippines YouTube channel. For a convenient and contactless Chevy vehicle shopping experience, visit www.shopclickdrive.com.ph.

ABOUT CHEVROLET

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 79 countries, with more than 3.2 million cars and trucks sold in 2020. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

ABOUT THE COVENANT CAR COMPANY, INC.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) is the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the Philippines. TCCCI is located at 5/F ALCO Building, 391 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, 1209 Makati City. Chevrolet has 22 dealer partners in the Philippines – Chevrolet Alabang, Chevrolet Commonwealth, Chevrolet Makati, Chevrolet North EDSA, Chevrolet Pasig,  Chevrolet Quezon Avenue, Chevrolet Batangas, Chevrolet Cainta, Chevrolet Camarines Sur, Chevrolet Carmona, Chevrolet Dagupan, Chevrolet Ilocos Norte, Chevrolet Imus Cavite, Chevrolet Pampanga, Chevrolet Sta. Rosa, Chevrolet Bacolod, Chevrolet Cebu Mandaue, Chevrolet Iloilo, Chevrolet Tacloban, Chevrolet Cagayan de Oro, Chevrolet Davao, and Chevrolet GenSan. For more information, you may visit www.chevrolet.com.ph.