Corvette Seat Performance Proven Under Pressure

Customized test procedures used during development of Stingray’s new seats

DETROIT – The differences in the Standard GT seat and the Competition Sport seat offered in the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette are similar to the everyday comfort of a well-tailored suit vs. the support offered by compression apparel athletes wear.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette’s optional Competition Sport seat was track tested and modified to provide the kind of bolster support needed for high-velocity maneuvers.
© General Motors

Compare Side-by-Side Fuel Economy of the 2014 Corvette Automatic vs the Manual 7-spd

Photo: © GM

2014 Chevrolet Corvette 6.2 L, 8 cyl, Automatic (S6)
Miles per Gallon Premium Gasoline
Combined 20
City 16
Highway 28
Cost to Drive 25 Miles $4.78
Miles on a Tank 324 miles


2014 Chevrolet Corvette 6.2 L, 8 cyl, Manual 7-spd
Miles per Gallon Premium Gasoline
Combined 21
City 17
Highway 29
Cost to Drive 25 Miles $4.55
Miles on a Tank 340 miles

Source: U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=34259&id=33907

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Build Animation

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Build Animation Animation of Corvette Stingray being assembled starting with the frame and ending with the body panels

Chevrolet Unveils 2014 Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

Chevrolet Unveils 2014 Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition

Premiere Edition Stingray Corvette reveal

Haartz tops the Iconic Corvette Stingray

The soft-top version of the Corvette Stingray was unveiled during the 
Geneva Motor Show

Acton, Mass. (March 07, 2013) – The Haartz Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of soft top convertible material, announced today it is supplying the convertible topping for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. After the dramatic unveiling of the Corvette Stingray at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, the soft-top version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland.  It is expected to arrive in dealerships later this year.

The Corvette Stingray convertible top is made with Haartz’s acoustically enhanced three-ply composite material layered with an acrylic twill weave outer fabric, a rubber inner layer and a polyester lining fabric.  This unique material composition is designed to endure all temperature variations and weather conditions and allows drivers to enjoy a truly all-season vehicle.

“With the warm welcome the hard-top version received in Detroit, Haartz is excited to be involved new model of the Corvette bearing the iconic Stingray name,” said Matt Williams, director of business development.  “We consider our work with Chevrolet on the Corvette to be leading edge, always trying to increase the performance level Chevrolet offers with every convertible.“

Haartz convertible toppings are engineered to dispel the misconceptions of soft top convertibles. Combining the latest in textile and plastics technology, Haartz materials offer benefits on par with both coupes and retractable hard tops including all-season driving and superior acoustical and NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance, as well as optimized trunk space when the top is down.

A full-range of customizable laminates allows Haartz to meet the strictest OEM specifications and design targets with lower-cost engineering and manufacturing compared to retractable hardtop designs. Haartz laminates give the automaker the ability to maintain the distinctive appearance of open-air vehicles, top up or down.

About The Haartz Corporation

The Haartz Corporation (Haartz) is the leading manufacturer of convertible topping for automakers across the globe. In addition to convertible and sport-utility topping, Haartz supplies automotive exterior trim including laminates for truck tonneau covers, tire- and nose-covers, and the recently introduced DefenZall™ paint protection film. Haartz also offers a full portfolio of automotive interior trim including moldable coverstocks for door panels, instrument panels and console lids, along with a line of artificial leather for seating, door panel and shift-boot applications.

Haartz has been a trusted automotive supplier since 1907, and continues to be privately owned and operated by the Haartz family. The company’s headquarters in Acton, Mass., is also home to its North American manufacturing operations. Along with European manufacturing in Mannheim, Germany, Haartz maintains a global presence with sales offices in Detroit, Munich, Tokyo, Delhi and Beijing, employing 400 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.haartz.com.

SANLUIS Rassini Two-Piece Rotor Chosen for 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Industry’s First Ductile Iron-Gray Iron Rotor Design Offers Up to 18 Percent Weight Savings, Higher Performance


PLYMOUTH, Mich., February 27, 2013 – SANLUIS Rassini, a leading automotive supplier of suspension and brake components in North America, was selected by the Chevrolet Corvette engineering team for its unique two-piece rotor design, which offers significant weight savings and extreme performance at high speeds.

Rassini’s Automotive team has produced the industry’s first-ever rotor with a ductile iron hat and gray iron brake plates for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which makes its debut this summer. The unique combination of ductile and cast iron provides a weight savings of up to 18 percent while also improving the Corvette’s heat management capabilities, giving the sports car reliable and consistent stopping power.

A component of the Corvette Stingray Z51 Performance Package, the Rassini dual-cast braking system affords confident stopping power to the 6.2-liter engine that powers the Stingray from 0 – 60 mph in less than four seconds.

The rotor features an I-Beam extension design instead of a solid extension design. It is the only composite rotor on the market that can accommodate a drum in hat, a rotor design in which the internal surface of the hat serves as a brake drum.

“By optimizing both the design and the materials used in the rotor, we are able to achieve weight savings and performance improvements that were not attainable before,” said Eugenio Madero, CEO, SANLUIS Rassini North America. “This technology was developed for high-performance vehicles like the 2014 Corvette that require better heat transfer capabilities at lighter weights.”

Incorporating the I-Beam design increases air flow through the vent passage for better thermal heat transfer. The use of the stronger ductile iron in the hat allows Rassini engineers to use thinner sections of material while maintaining structural performance. The use of the center connection to the hat optimizes air flow throughout the system, dissipating heat more effectively and minimizing the stress traditionally present in a conventional full-cast design.

The manufacturing process for the rotor is contained within SANLUIS Rassini’s manufacturing facility, as it is the only supplier in the Americas industry with a fully integrated brake rotor facility. The company’s facility in Puebla, Mexico, features an integrated foundry and features machining, coating, stress relief and FNC (Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing) processes.

“We offer a unique combination of competencies in raw materials and can provide our customers with complete solutions,” said Madero.