While reduced weight comes from a new, expensive aluminum chassis, GM is also using a heat-activated shape memory alloy, replacing a heavier motorized part. Potentially this is at least as significant because it can be used across the entire line of cars and trucks.
GM today began shipping the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe to Chevrolet dealers. Bowling Green Assembly has produced 1,000 Corvette Stingrays for customer deliveries. Most of these vehicles will be at dealers within the next few weeks.
The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the seventh generation of the sports car, which has been built exclusively at Bowling Green since June 1981. The facility underwent a $131-million upgrade to support production of the Corvette Stingray, including $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the car’s all-new aluminum frame in-house for the first time.
The Corvette’s new aluminum frame supports the most powerful standard model ever, with 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 460 lb.-ft. of torque (624 Nm) – and 460 horsepower (343 kW) and 465 lb.-ft. (630 Nm) with the optional performance exhaust system. It is also the most capable standard Corvette ever, with Z51-equipped models able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, run a quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 119 mph, achieve 1.03g in cornering grip and stop from 60 mph in 107 feet.
While much of the news about weight savings on the revised 2014 Corvette concentrates on the aluminum chassis that saves 99 pounds compared to its steel predecessor, GM is also using a heat-activated shape memory alloy that replaces a heavier motorized part. An electric wire is in place of a motorized actuator to open the hatch vent that releases air from the trunk to allow for easier closing. After the hatch closes, the vent closes.
“Smart materials like shape memory alloys offer new possibilities for many movable vehicle features,” said Jon Lauckner, GM’s chief technology officer. “These new materials enable innovative designs and improved features at a lower cost than traditional motors and actuators.”
The wire actuator used on the new Corvette is 1.1 pounds lighter than motorized system it replaces. GM says that nearly five years of research and development work on smart materials has resulted in 247 patents. GM also says it has many more smart material applications coming.
The new Stingray is EPA rated with the best fuel economy of any sports car on the market – an estimated 17 mpg in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway. No other car offers 455 horsepower and greater than 29 mpg on the highway.
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