CORVETTE DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Corvettes have always been adept track stars, with top models capable of near-supercar performance. Maintaining a close relationship with a successful racing team has assured that. But its slightly brutal handling demeanor, down-market interior, and unsupportive, uncomfortable seats have conspired to keep it out of the pantheon of supercars.

The new C7 generation needs to put all of that right-to tame the beast, without neutering it. So, can this new car still lay down hero numbers while coddling the hero and keeping him from soiling his pants?

In a word, yes. The new interior is enough better that I’d wager anyone who still complains about it is doing so out of force of habit. I recently sampled a new 7-speed manual Z51 with the power-enhancing performance exhaust and the magnetic suspension. Together, these options give the car performance that pretty evenly splits the difference between the Grand Sport and 427 models of the predecessor C6: 0-to-60 in 3.9 seconds; the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds at 117.3 mph. That’s stout performance for under $58,000, made all the more impressive by its 29-mpg highway fuel economy number.

But what really impressed me was how awesome a driver the car made me feel like I was, after twiddling through the many Drive Select and Performance Traction Management programs. By controlling the shock response, variable-lock differential, brakes, throttle, and more, the sophisticated electronics were happy to deliver precisely as much or as little tail-happiness as I demanded. Switching everything off revealed me to be the mere mortal driver I always was. I got the same sensation the first time I switched everything off in a Ferrari 599. Three-cheers for trickle-down technology!

Check out my full road test at motortrend.com, and stay tuned for the inevitable comparison tests against Porsches, GT-Rs, GT-500s and anything else we can get our hands on.

And that wraps up today’s show. Once again I’m Frank Markus from Motor Trend, thanks for watching and have a great day.