OCTOBER 2, 2019

Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 09:18AM
Editor

  Robert Cumberford. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The design critic for Automobile is taking a lot of heat for his criticism of the new Chevrolet Corvette. Here's some of what he had to say: "I am deeply sorry to be severely disappointed by the styling of the C8. I hoped for something really new and exciting, not a boringly generic supercar, mostly indistinguishable from the many and varied unimaginative devices that show up regularly at the Geneva auto show. Its styling is confused. Downright messy, in fact. I count a dozen horizontal lines, not to mention four convoluted taillights, four nice rectangular exhaust tips, plus varied slots, vents, grilles, indented surfaces, and wing elements... just across the rear fascia. The front is no better, and the profile with its short, stumpy nose is equally surprising. Maybe it's all meant to look purposeful, but to me it seems just a careless, cluttered, graphic composition, not worthy of Corvette history and what we expect of this technically brilliant descendant of the elegant, Jaguar-inspired original C1 from 1953. I have no doubt this will be a very good car, with truly world-class performance coupled with American-style daily usefulness and (probably) easy servicing - dry-sump engines are not typical dealer shop fare. But I'd have liked to see some traces of the Astrovette or the four-rotor mid-engine concept from the Bill Mitchell era." As I've said previously, I applaud GM's True Believers for going with a mid-engine design for the new Corvette. It's long overdue and its price point of just under $60,000 for the base car is a stone cold bargain that will resonate for years to come. But Mr. Cumberford has his points. The surface detailing of the new Corvette is terribly busy, and to me there's too much of the most recent Camaro design elements in it, which is a flat-out disaster of a car. And the back of the new Corvette, as I stated from the very beginning, is a major disappointment. I'm happy that GM's order bank for the new Corvette is overflowing, because it deserves to be. But I agree with much of what Cumberford had to say. Sometimes it's better to put the pen down when re-imagining an icon like the Corvette, and less could have been more in this instance. -PMD

(GM Images)
The 1968 Chevrolet Astrovette from GM Styling.

The 1976 Chevrolet Aerovette concept from GM Design.

(Chevrolet)
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible will be the first hardtop and mid-engine convertible in Corvette history. The mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the Stingray coupe. The hardtop stows seamlessly into the body, and yes, the Stingray convertible can store two sets of golf clubs in the trunk even with the top down. The convertible also keeps the coupe’s front storage compartment, which can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag. The two-piece top can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph and retract in as few as 16 seconds. It is powered by six electric motors and uses encoders for precise control. A body-colored roof is standard, while Carbon Flash metallic-painted nacelles and roof are optional. A divider glass window in the middle of the vehicle can be power adjusted with the top up or down. The glass has been optimized to reduce air recirculation and wind noise in the cabin for improved quietness. The roof system design, combined with the same rear spoiler used on the Stingray coupe’s Z51 Performance Package, results in identical drag between the coupe and convertible with the top up. Engineers tweaked the chassis for the convertible, with springs and dampers tuned specifically to provide nearly the same performance as the coupe. Like the Stingray coupe, the convertible is powered by the next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V8 in the segment. It will produce 495HP (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust. The LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Interested? You can build and price your own Corvette coupe or convertible on the 2020 Corvette visualizer at Chevrolet.com. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019, with the convertible following in late first-quarter 2020. A right-hand-drive version of the convertible will be available in select international markets at a later date. 

(Lincoln images)
The all-new 2020 Lincoln Corsair replaces the previously named MKC (thank goodness). The Corsair is powered by either the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 250HP and 280 ft.-lbs. of torque, or an available 2.3-liter turbo delivering 295HP and 310 ft.-lbs. of torque. Each engine is mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Corsair interior includes hand-selected materials, available Revel™ audio system and multiple sound-dampening technologies "to ensure a tranquil cabin," according to Lincoln PR minions. The Corsair also has signature Lincoln features – including Phone As A Key, Lincoln Co-Pilot360™ Plus and Lincoln drive modes – to help create a personalized experience. Lincoln speak for the new Corsair? "Sanctuary for the Senses."

(Toyota images)
Toyota's funkified CH-R gets some tweaks for the 2020 model year, including a restyled front fascia, LED headlamps, and new wheel designs. Android Auto Compatibility Joins Apple CarPlay® Compatibility as Standard; and new extra cost exterior colors are available, including Supersonic Red and Hot Lava (Orange). A new Silver R-Code roof option is also available.

 

 

 

 

Article originally appeared on Autoextremist.com ~ the bare-knuckled, unvarnished, high-electron truth... (http://www.autoextremist.com/).