Making waves this week was news about the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Since it's big unveil at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show, the automotive world has been eagerly gobbling up information on the 'vette as it becomes available.
The latest installment of news is that the Stingray received an official rating of 29 mpg on the highway. While Corvettes have been known to get decent mpg from its high horsepower motors, there's a catch. Two, actually. And while everyone's talking about the figure, none are really addressing how you actually have to get there.
Take a look at these two points below...
...First off, you’ll need to be satisfied with the 2014 Corvette’s new seven-speed manual gearbox. The EPA numbers for Stingrays equipped with the optional six-speed automatic have not been released, but I’m guessing the slushbox models aren’t more fuel efficient.
As well, GM says the 29-mpg highway estimate is actually an average between the Corvette’s default “Tour” mode (which delivers 28 mpg highway) and driver-selectable “Eco” mode (which scores 30 mpg highway). Also know, Eco mode employs Active Fuel Management, which disables four of the V8’s cylinders during “light” engine loads...
AND, there's a kicker. If you've driven a C6 Corvette or new Camaro and you weren't wringing its neck out, you also have to remember that these cars have a Computer Aided Gear Selection (CAGS). Essentially if you're going easy on the vehicle, it will sense this and automatically close off the gate for gears two and three and take you from first to fourth. It's honestly one of the auto industry's worst features.
So, what do you think of that 29 mpg figure now?
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