2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Stickered at $51,000

Drivers checking out the cost of an all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray had better be prepared for a serious case of sticker shock—the good kind, that is. After all, the all-new Stingray family—which will include its most powerful standard configuration ever—will be priced from $51,000. That marks a fairly modest increase of $1,500 over the MSRP of the current Corvette, with a $995 destination charge that is unchanged from the 2013 model year.

On the other hand, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray itself has been changed plenty, starting with its new 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine. The powerplant is expected to brandish 450 hp and a similar number of ft.-lbs. of torque, propel the Stingray from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds, and still enable an EPA fuel-economy performance of up to 26 mpg highway. And note: While other supercars are ditching their DIY transmissions entirely, the 2014 Corvette actually ups the ante for its next-gen model with a seven-speed manual transmission that also boasts Active Rev Matching. (Although a six-speed automatic with manual-shifting capabilities will be available as well.)

The starting price for the stunning Stingray also includes performance-oriented features like a five-mode drive selector that can fine-tune some 12 different facets of the car’s performance, along with a number of features designed to help lower the Corvette’s curb weight. For example, all models will showcase carbon-fiber hoods, magnesium seat structures and aluminum frames, while the2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe also gets a removable carbon-fiber roof panel; convertibles (which feature an MSRP of $56,000) rely on an electronically operated soft top that can be retracted remotely using a button on the vehicle’s key fob.

The party line from Chris Perry, president of Chevrolet Marketing: “The 2014 Corvette Stingray perfectly embodies Chevrolet’s mission to deliver more than expected for our customers. The Corvette Stingray delivers a combination of performance, design and technology that very few manufacturers can match, and none can even come close for $52,000.”

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Cost Comparison

It’s not often that an auto brand tries to position a $50,000 car as a value proposition, so let’s put Perry’s comments to the test.

Now, it must be said that both the 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1 and the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 actually can give the starter Corvette a run for its money—particularly the latter choice—but each of those muscle-car flagships is a few thousand dollars more expensive than the 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray. Plus, the Camaro and Mustang deliver an entirely different ownership experience and design esthetic from the Stingray. The latter likes to run with the (much) more expensive exotics, and when you compare it to what’s on tap from the usual suspects in that segment, you can see exactly why it’s considered a bargain:

• 2014 Chevy Corvette—MSRP, $51,000; approx. 450 hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera—$84,300; 350 hp and 287 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Nissan GT-R—MSRP, $99,590; 545 hp and 463 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 SRT Viper—MSRP, $99,995; 640 hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Audi R8—MSRP, $114,900; 430 hp and 317 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo—MSRP, $181,900; 550 hp and 397 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Ferrari 458—MSRP, $233,509; 560 hp and 398 lb.-ft. of torque
• 2013 Lexus LF-A—MSRP, $375,000; 552 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque

Two things stand out here. First, the Viper and the GT-R certainly deliver some fairly impressive power-to-price ratios themselves, although they are close to twice as expensive as the Corvette. Second, outside of that pair, none of the other rivals comes within 50 lb.-ft. of torque of the Stingray. Given the relatively low curb weights here, that’s a significant difference in off-the-line power, especially when the Corvette is undercutting the Lambo, Ferrari and Lexus by more than $100,000 each.

Just wait until the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZR1 arrives.