Carbon fiber, new aluminum structure lighten 2014 Corvette Stingray

the C7, which enters production in 3Q13, boasts an all-new aluminum chassis/passenger cell structure that is 57% stiffer in torsion and 99 lb (45 kg) lighter than the previous C6 steel-and-aluminum structure.

“WE HAD VERY AGGRESSIVE WEIGHT-REDUCTION TARGETS on this program,” said Leonard Brohl, Lead Engineer for Closure Panels on the 2014 C7 Chevrolet Corvette, unveiled Jan. 13 at a media event preceding the Detroit Auto Show. General Motors has resurrected the Stingray name for the latest generation of its iconic sports car, which continues to be a lightweight-materials wellspring for the automaker.

The C7, which enters production in 3Q13, boasts an all-new aluminum chassis/passenger cell structure that is 57% stiffer in torsion and 99 lb (45 kg) lighter than the previous C6 steel-and-aluminum structure, said GM engineers. At the car's world debut, GM had not yet published a production curb weight for the car. It is expected to be slightly lighter overall than the base C6 coupe's 3208 lb (1455 kg).