Can We Talk? RE: The C7 2014 Corvette
 

In reading Chevy's schpeel about the new 2014 Corvette, four things/facts about it piqued my interest/curiosity.

• Electric Steering - this must be an industry 1st, something I'd like to know how that works. ?How the heck would that operate the steering.....by wire??
  
• Only two parts - (according to a video Chevy spokesman mgr.) are carried forward in the 2014 from the C6 - what those two parts are, he did not identify.
  
• Base Corvette - higher performance capabilities than the Z06 previous generation Corvette.
  
• 7-speed transmission - did they model it after MB's 7-speed auto??

I thought it's getting either a 7-speed 3-pedal manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch auto/manual.

It still looks like an anime robot smoking 4 cigarettes from the back.

I dont see 100% electric steering/steering by wire - it kills the feel and feed back you want on the track. 7 speed manual might be the one that Porsche is starting to use in various models.

That must have pissed off a lot of AARP members.. I mean corvette owners....

Electric power steering isn't new, it's been around for over a decade now. There are electro-hydraulic systems, and straight electric, where a motor assists directly on the steering column. I believe Lexus has a "steer-by-wire" system, but it has a mechanical shaft as a failsafe.


MV

Personally I do not like the feel of it. Came on the wifes latest car. My brother in law says you adapt to it fast. Does feel a little more accurate to me though. I never investigated but asumed it was just hydralic pressure by demand. Operating simular to what would be if you disconnected your power steering pump when assistance was not required.

I have not investigated and now I see varients of it are being used. Technology is fine but do we really need this and drive by wire accelerator systems?

From one of the above descriptions you will never have a seal issue with a power rack steering system I suppose. I have very limited experience but do realise as soon as you drive the wifes car you intuitly know it is not the old system. I suspect without looking there will be a motor on that steering column in her car. I hope it has some real advantage other than being cheaper to produce in cost for the manufacturer than our older systems. I wonder if the effort to steer is easier or worse if the motor fails? That is in comprison to the older hydralic setup. Could be very dangerous in a defect mode is aso a possibility. The motor might be reversing to enable left and right for example. If the directional switch messed up mightbe interesting. To be fair though as mentioned I have no ideal what the setup actually is.

The electric steering is variable speed and variable resistance. Not drive-by-wire but rather wire-assisted. Saves weight and also frees up some power since it's not engine driven.

Trans is a 7 sp. manual Tremec with paddle override.

I'll take one in matte black, please. With an inevitable aftermarket round tail light kit. ;)

Both transmissions are of GM's design, they don't need to copy anyone else thank you very much.

I didn't think the first year cars were getting both new gear boxes? Thought they were coming out later?

I'm looking forward to more than the "base" model...I want one with carbon cermic brakes and electromagnetic shocks!:D (also I'd add an aftermarket supercharger with lots of boost since GM built the bottom ends just asking for it...throw some 109 octane race gas in their...lots of HP:D)

These days 450 isn't a lot of HP either, I know GM engineers have been laughing at that number so it seems those motors are probably a bit stronger than that.

But I can't wait for a 700hp+ model...you know their not going to let Ferrari strut around the world with that much HP and not make a faster car for 1/4 of the cost.:D

The transmission wars are getting pretty dumb. Especially on cars that have so much torque they'd be fine with a 2 speed :eek: Why not have them available for very low power, efficient sub 1 liter engines? In that case it would make sense.

I dont believe they're for efficiency's sake either, as you can just have a tall fifth or sixth gear instead of stretching the ratios out and making the driver shift more. With a 6 speed these cars are already spinning something like 1300 rpm at 60 mph!

Another feature from the Chevy Corvette video sales pitch:
 

Back to the old 1980 +/- Cadillac V8 "4/6/8" engine cylinder firing system running design. Which wasn't that problematic - if I recall correctly.

Except, if I recall correctly, the 2014 Corvette V8 will go to 4-cylinders firing, instead of 8, when the power isn't needed by how the car is being driven.

The pitch video spent quite a bit of time hammering this nuance of the Corvette.

SRJ - 30 years of history have solved this for GM (the cylinder deactivation thing).
That feature is widely available on their V8 trucks and SUV's. My Brother in Law has it on his suburban (7 children) and he says that you dont notice it unless you are watching the display.
Im sure that it helps fuel economy (V8's of today are getting into the mid-20s on the highway) but you could argue that its usefulness is limited.

-John

Nissan is apparently planning to release a fully "by wire" system with mechanical backup (for now):
Nissan previews production steer-by-wire system

"Turn left, HAL." "Sorry, Dave, I can't do that. Perhaps you could sit down, think about it, and take a stress pill." "I AM SITTING, YOU STUPID SILICON PILE OF C**T." Yeah, there's a backup clutch, but that's only good if the cum'pootah knows that something is wrong and chooses to re-engage it and take itself out of the loop.

A lot has changed since the 8-6-4....

Most cars with DI completely cut off fuel under coasting conditions to save fuel - effectively "deactivating" all 4 cylinders.

As far as steering goes, there are cars with the electronic steering that have awful feel and then there are some that do it right. My GTI has electronic steering and its actually pretty responsive. If I didn't know it was electronic, I would have guessed it is hydraulic.