To keep up with the changing times, the C4 uses high technology and aerodynamic research. The project for the new Corvette began in 1978 at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, led by chief engineer Dave McLellan and Chevrolet design studio head Jerry Palmer. The new model is planned to be put into production in 1983, but work on it was completed only in March of that year. Therefore, Chevrolet manager Robert Stempel immediately declares it a 1984 model. In the meantime, production of the 1982 Stingray continues, and installation of new equipment and preparation for production of a new model is in full swing on the assembly line of the Bowling Green plant.
When creating the C4, designers and engineers primarily worked to improve the aerodynamics of the AW car, mainly to reduce drag, for which the windshield was tilted at an angle of 64 degrees. In order to minimize the frontal area, the creators of the Corvette penetrated the field of "stealth" technology used in aviation to make it difficult for aircraft to be detected by radars. As a result of all the efforts, the new generation Corvette is 30% more streamlined than its predecessors, and Cx is 0.34 - a very good result for that time.
The design of the Corvette, with its rounded edges and elegant flowing lines, is clearly influenced by the European school, although the long hood is the hallmark of the Corvette. From a technical point of view, the body structure does not change - all the same plastic panels mounted on a birdcage-type metal frame. The car is equipped with a V8 engine model L83 with its own name Crossfire, with a volume of 5.7 liters and a power of 205 hp. With. Steering - rack and pinion, brakes - disc of all wheels. It is on the Corvette C4 that the millionth copy of this model is produced. During the entire period of production, an average of about 25,000 AW C4 cars are sold annually, which generate income of about $ 100,000,000. The main focus for the Corvette of that time was fuel efficiency. The next problem is to maintain the achieved results with increasing power. This is how the ZR model appears.
1992 is marked by a change in leadership - Dave Hill, who spent 27 years in the technical department of Cadillac, becomes the chief engineer, Russ McLean is the head of the Corvette model. In 1993, production of the LT5 engine for the ZR1 modification at the Merquri Marine plant ceased. From that moment on, engines that remained in stock were installed on the ZR1. They will last another year and a half.
For the third time, the Corvette became the pace car at the Indi-500 in 1995, and in keeping with the tradition, the company released a special collector's edition, a white convertible with an LT1 engine and "AW Tomato" adorned with "Indianapolis- 500". On April 2, 1995, the last ZR1 is assembled and immediately installed in the museum. It was undeniably the best and definitely the most expensive Corvette.
In the early 1990s, the Corvette was as close to ceasing production as it had been in the early days of the mid-1950s. The C4 itself was popular and respectable, and its financial position was excellent. The problem, however, was that in addition to the Corvette, the giant General Motors had many other divisions and divisions, whose heavy recent losses as a result of long-term problems plunged the corporation into serious financial difficulties. And part of the top management advocated forgoing additional development costs for the next generation of C5 and generally abandoning the Corvette, which does not meet new safety standards. If this really happened, then it is likely that Corvette would have found funding and become an independent company. But this option did not even fit in my head. Fortunately, the accountants mired in numbers were persuaded and the C5 project received the go-ahead.
Vigorous, almost June heat. The Corvette pulls into the pit lane just five minutes into the practice session. On the face of Oleg Keselman - bewilderment: the brakes failed. They disappeared suddenly, giving our test driver a few exciting moments at the end of the starting straight at a speed of under 200. If not for this, I would have received a six-liter Corvette for the track "excellent" - a perfectly balanced car with a high-torque "aspirated" V8! Although the "mechanics" - albeit a seven-speed one - is already the last century, Keselman states. A good "automatic" or "robot" with two clutches would be better suited to the Corvette. To like a Porsche.
The corvette has a bright enough appearance to draw attention to itself. But what will happen when the effect of novelty has exhausted itself? Meanwhile, some Mercedes C 63 AMG is no slower than a Corvette, more spacious and cheaper by half a million.
Comparative test Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and Nissan GT-R Nismo. The burden of expectations: two loaded sports cars rush to the finish line head to head
For every new car, as soon as it becomes known about its upcoming debut, automakers, representatives of the press and fans of the brand have great hopes. Speculation and heated debate multiply as we try to draw conclusions about how this car will ride and where it will fit in its segment based on the available information. The most revealing and numerous premature judgments concern the sports car class, which brings us to two striking examples.
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06, like the Nissan GT-R NISMO, was one of the most anticipated premieres of the past year. The former received extensively improved bodywork and interiors, as well as a superior engine and suspension to match, making it a well-deserved second, completely revised version of this decade's award-winning supercar-killer. Both cars promise car-level performance at two to three times the price, and both achieve it in very different ways.
Testing an American car on the territory of an Orthodox cathedral is pure sacrilege. This red, deliberately immodest and deafeningly loud embodiment of vice has no place on holy ground. But the contrast of the design devilry of the fourth Corvette with the majestic golden domes and unrestored ruins of old buildings, evoking creative peace, is so strong that I had to take a sin on my soul.
The appearance of a flattened hammer leaves no doubt - a sports car. Moving away from the design rampage of the first three generations, GM decided to bring the C4's appearance closer to overseas (that is, European - your Cap) competitors. Our restyled copy, showing more intelligent rounded shapes, is especially indicative in this regard. I just see the Corvette salesman, smiling in all the breadth of a Hollywood smile: “It looks like a Ferrari, but it costs several times cheaper!” The buyer with thoughts "Great deal" writes a check.
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I'd definitely fall for it - as would anyone with a poster of a Lotus Esprit or something like that hung over their bed. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati - almost all of the famous European sports car crowd, with the exception of those with the engine in the wrong place, had similar silhouettes and obligatory lifting lights. Comparison with prancing stallions is all the more apt since this example is emblazoned with side plates that imitate air intakes in the style of models from Maranello. For the Corvette, there is nothing to be ashamed of. The American has often become the basis for a replica of Italian sports cars - take, for example, the fake Ferrari Daytona in the Miami Vice series.
Inside
The interior of the restyled Corvette gives rise to unambiguously aircraft associations. Nothing to do with the pre-reform C4 and its rough interior, which seems to have been designed by a lumberjack. The total leather trim on all panels is a whim of the previous owners: GM factory options did not imply such whims. The massive bas-relief of the center console, helpfully turned towards the driver, reliably separates him from the one sitting on the right. In a similar style, by the way, the interior of the last Corvette is solved.
The poor passenger can only admire the three ventilation deflectors looking at him. The compensation is excellent chairs, as if taken from a massage parlor and equipped with a mass of electric adjustments. There is even a separate pumping of the central rollers of the back - let me remind you that we are talking about a car from the early 90s. Well, it's a great distraction when your feet are squeezed into the narrow gap between the door and the central tunnel.
Since most of the interior is at the mercy of the driver, he has no such problems. Care for the main character is shown already at the entrance - for the convenience of landing, the steering wheel can be folded back. And then you are left alone with a bunch of buttons and toggle switches that manage an impressive list of options. The left steering column switch, the head of the glass washer, cruise control and turn signals is an American hello to a German colleague in a Mercedes. The dashboard with a large tachometer, four auxiliary scales and a small screen in the middle may seem tricky only to those who have not seen the tidy of the pre-styling Corvette C4 of the early eighties. The digital display of the speedometer is trained to show the speed in miles and kilometers. Switching modes of the on-board computer is controlled by a group of large buttons to the right of the steering column.
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The cruising nature of the convertible obliges the C4 to meet minimum standards for interior practicality. The central armrest is quite roomy - however, only the driver knows about the secrets of its contents: the vengeful box opens exclusively in his direction. The passenger can be content with a small glove compartment on the front panel. It was useless to look for huge coasters for liter bottles of cola.
Two small indentations next to the gearbox clearly hint that the Corvette does not welcome excessive consumption of fast food.
In move
But C4 itself is not a fool to eat. Even in quiet mode, the combined consumption of 95th gasoline rarely drops below 20 liters per hundred. Under a one and a half meter folded forward fiberglass hood lives a huge American monster with eight cylinders. The name of the monster is LT1. It has 5.7 liters of displacement and 300 hp. With it, the old "American", equipped with a four-speed automatic, will not be offended even by the modern Mercedes-Benz SL or the "six" BMW.
But the buzz of the open Corvette is not in this. In its more than 60-year history, it has already proven everything to everyone. Therefore - a small stop, half a minute of fuss with a mechanical roof, the obligatory rise of blind headlights and ... forward, towards the sun!
The cacophony of sounds generated by the C4 draws the attention of the entire street to us. Grunting at idle, turning into a roar, one has only to touch the gas pedal, does not stop for a second. In the eyes of passers-by, considerable surprise is read from the fact that the source of the roar was not a fuming truck, but a low-flying red UFO without a roof.
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Fleeing from the surging attack of star fever, I turn onto a deserted side street. Corvette's suspension dealt with effortlessly with a speed bump that was not noticed in time. Compared to its predecessor, the C4 headed for "sportiness", but to sacrifice a smooth ride - the Americans simply could not afford this. This applies primarily to the open Corvette, which plays the role of a foppish accessory in the model range. No wonder the lion's share of the C 4 Convertible was implemented with an automatic transmission.
To the automatic transmission, in view of the foregoing, there are no complaints. In the city, the Corvette easily manages with two or even one gear. Strong jerks are felt only with active pedaling. But one has only to stomp on the right pedal, as the desire to find fault when looking at the rearing hood, from which an angry V 8 is about to break out, disappears by itself.
I won't even though I could. Understanding the front dimensions is not an easy task. If not for the lifting lights, guessing where the endless hood ends without a long workout is simply impossible. Attack turns - a dish not from the menu of the Corvette. The body is weakly reinforced, and in high-speed turns it feels very good. But which of the convertibles of the early nineties is not without sin?
Enough and eccentricities of ergonomics. I would love to see the smart guy who stuck the emergency button on the steering column, repainting it black along the way. The pedals are at a sub-optimal level relative to each other. Transferring my foot from gas to brake without lifting my foot off the floor, I managed to do it every other time. Apparently, I have not grown up to the Corvette.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
Consumption per 100 km
Flaws in C4, as in any American, can be searched for a long time and with pleasure. Everything, as usual, beats the price. Having the appearance and dynamics of a thoroughbred sports car, Corvette in the years of youth cost an order of magnitude cheaper than stiff Europeans. Now - and even more so. And if in the States C4 does not have a special collection value, unlike eminent ancestors, then in our country it is a favorite of the public, fanfaron and a woman's magnet. So it was not in vain that he left his homeland.
Purchase History
The fourth Corvette has been the ultimate dream for Yuri for the last ten years. Love manifested itself in an acute form once every six months, when he went to sales sites in search of the American dream. Rare examples usually cost prohibitive money, and the topic of purchase was postponed until the next bout of corvetomania.
In the summer of 2015, after looking through ads on familiar sites and not finding anything interesting, Yuri entered a search query into Google for the sake of interest - “I am selling a Corvette C 4”. Among the dropped links, one turned out to be very interesting. She led to a site unknown to Yuri, where he saw an advertisement for the sale of a C4 convertible in Moscow. However, only a specialist could guess that it was a Corvette - the only photo showed something red, covered with a thick layer of dust, hiding in the twilight of the garage. The announcement, moreover, was posted a month and a half ago. But Yuri still dared to write to the owner by e-mail.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
Brief specifications
Engine LT1 Volume 5.7 l Power 300 hp Transmission 4-speed automatic transmission TO with oil change in the box and engine (original GM oil - 5 liters) 8,000 rubles
The owner responded quite quickly and confirmed: yes, the sale of C4 is still relevant. Along the way, the owner said that the car is fully serviced and does not require investments. Yuri, taking a friend for company, went to the capital to see for himself. Inspection upon arrival confirmed everything. At the same time, the owner told a very entertaining story of this instance.
The 1992 Chevrolet Corvette C 4 Convertible came to Russia in 1994. Over the long years of Russian tours, the Yankees managed to roll 120,000 km, change six owners and several habitats, even visiting Chechnya. The last owner, owning a car service, completely reanimated the car technically, but due to circumstances he practically did not use it. The Corvette was sold as unnecessary, and Yuri gladly relieved the owner of this burden.
Repair
Thanks to the previous owner, the suspension and engine did not require any intervention. Apart from a few chips, the body was also in satisfactory condition, but Yuri decided to completely renew the paintwork. By the way, as it turned out, red is not the native color of this car. Initially, the Corvette was blue, but in the process of ordeals for Mother Rus', it was repainted with the color entered in the TCP. Yuri decided to keep the color - it suits the Corvette, and besides, there will be no hassle with reissuing documents. Repainting cost 70,000 rubles. Along the way, all the outer rubber bands were replaced, which had dried out from the long standing of the car idle.
Exploitation
Like any bird of paradise, Corvette goes for a walk only in the summer on sunny fine days. During the year of ownership, Yuri managed to run over almost 10,000 km.
Plans
Now in technical terms, the car is quite healthy. Therefore, Yuri has only one plan: to drive with an open roof, enjoying the short St. Petersburg summer.
Model history
The fourth edition of the popular American sports car appeared in 1983. It was the first truly new Corvette in 15 years. The car remained faithful to the front-engined layout and rear-wheel drive, while receiving a more rigid body with fiberglass and plastic outer panels. All this splendor moved with the help of an uncontested V8 L83 with a volume of 5.7 liters and a power of 205 hp. Gearboxes - only four-speed, automatic and mechanics.
Produced for 13 years, the C4 has been constantly upgraded. Since 1989, a six-speed manual became available, and the power of the V 8 increased to 250 hp by 1992. In 1986, a convertible was added to the lineup, which had been absent from the Corvette line since 1975. In 1990, a charged 375-horsepower ZR-1 debuted, created with the support of the British from Lotus. The restyled sports car of the 1993 model received a redesigned exterior, a new interior and a V8 LT1 with a capacity of 300 hp.
The fourth Corvette stood on the assembly line until 1996. In total, more than 360,000 sports cars were produced.
Equipped with a 659 hp compressor motor. and according to the passport can accelerate to 315 km / h. Not enough? The strategists of the concern General Motors thought the same way and brought to light an even more extreme modification of the legendary sports car - with the prefix ZR1. This version was already in cars of the fourth and sixth generations, and the very first Corvette ZR1 was developed with the involvement of Lotus. The new flagship in GM was created on its own, but it obviously will not shame the glory of its ancestors.
Under the hood is a new generation LT5 engine, based on the LT4 unit that is installed on the Corvette Z06. The lower-valve G8 with a volume of 6.2 liters for the first time acquired a combined injection system (into the intake manifold and directly into the cylinders), in addition, the intercooler was improved, the crankshaft was strengthened, and the volume of the Eaton drive supercharger was increased by 52% - up to 2.6 liters. The exhaust system is with active dampers. As a result, the return was raised to 766 hp. and 969 Nm!
In the new generation of Corvette ZR1, for the first time, it can be two-pedal: a seven-speed “mechanics” and an eight-speed “automatic” are offered to choose from. The suspension on transverse springs has not fundamentally changed, but the settings, of course, have been revised, and magnetic ride electronically controlled shock absorbers are already in the basic configuration. Carbon-ceramic brake discs (six-piston front mechanisms, four-piston rear mechanisms) are also installed by default, as well as mixed-size wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (285/30 ZR19 in front and 335/25 ZR20 in the rear).
Compared to the base Corvette, the ZR1 version has larger air intakes, because four additional radiators are installed for reliable cooling of components and assemblies, and now there are thirteen of them in total! For example, the Bugatti Veyron hypercar has only ten of them. Seriously modified and aerodynamics. The standard Corvette ZR1 has a so-called low aft wing and a developed front spoiler lip, resulting in 70% more downforce than the Z06 version. Such a body kit is better suited for high-speed races in a straight line, and for winding roads the ZTK Performance package is offered (as in the cars in the photographs). It includes a two-position "high wing", a large front splitter, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and revised suspension settings.
The curb weight of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 coupe is 1598 kg, and the maximum speed exceeds 338 km/h. Alas, the company does not yet provide data on the acceleration time, but the car should exchange the “hundred” at least a little faster than the Z06 version (3.7 s according to the passport). That said, the Corvette ZR1 is still suitable for daily commuting: it has heated and ventilated leather seats, a Bose audio system, multimedia setup and climate control.
In the US, sales of the ZR1 modification will begin in the spring of 2018, there is no information on prices and export prospects yet. Recall that the Corvette Z06 can be officially bought in Russia for 8.8 million rubles, so the probability of the appearance of the most extreme modification in our country is by no means zero.
The fourth generation of this legendary Chevrolet Corvette Stingray sports car was released in 1983. It was a serious transformation, because after that the appearance and the whole technical side of the cars reached a new level. The model was produced until 1996 and in terms of sales it was worse than. During its existence, 366,000 copies were sold, which is certainly a chic result for a sports car, but not as big as its predecessor.
Appearance C4
The model, as before, was produced in the back of a coupe and a convertible, its external part has changed dramatically. The general style has been preserved, you can recognize the series of cars without problems, but now it has become more modern and closer to competitors, that is, to European cars.
Looking at the appearance of the fourth generation Corvette, you can see a great similarity with the old Ferraris, for example. A completely different bumper appeared on the front, on which long rectangular daytime running lights were installed. Opening headlights were also preserved, but now they are not four round lanterns, but one square lantern.
The car is now more like the modern sports cars we are used to. This is determined by rear-view mirrors mounted on legs, the very shape of the body and other details. The rear of the car also received a lot of changes, but many fans did not agree with them. In their opinion, the back was too flat, the previous generations had some kind of curves and aerodynamic lines, this is not here. The signature four round taillights are now replaced with four rounded square headlights. Under the most ordinary Chevrolet Corvette C4 bumper, a four-barrel exhaust peeps out, which has already pleased the public.
And what about the dimensions:
- length - 4535 mm;
- width - 1796 mm;
- height - 1177 mm;
- wheelbase - 2444 mm;
- ground clearance - 120 mm.
Specifications
| Type | Volume | Power | Torque | Overclocking | Max speed | Number of cylinders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5.7 l | 411 HP | 522 H*m | 4.9 sec. | 299 km/h | V8 |
| Petrol | 5.7 l | 300 HP | 461 H*m | 5.5 sec. | 272 km/h | V8 |
| Petrol | 5.7 l | 282 HP | 437 H*m | 6.1 sec. | 254 km/h | V8 |
Let's first move on to the technical part, and only then we will discuss the interior, although there are really a lot of updates in the interior and it is worth discussing them, but we will still move on to the Chevrolet Corvette C4 engines, as they are more interesting to the public.
The difference from the previous generation is not so many power units. The line consists of only one engine, this is a 5.7-liter V8 with port injection and two valves per cylinder, but there is one version of the engine with four valves per cylinder.
- The weakest has 282 horsepower and 437 units of torque, allowing you to accelerate to the first hundred in 6 seconds.
- The more powerful version received 300 horsepower and 461 units of torque, which affected the dynamics for the better, reducing acceleration by 1 second.
- The most powerful version is just the version that received four valves per cylinder. It produces 411 horsepower and 522 H * m of torque. The increase in dynamics is insignificant, it amounted to 0.2 seconds.
A pair for all these Chevrolet Corvette C4 units was originally a 4-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic, which was installed on engines with a capacity of 300 horsepower and 282 horsepower, and mechanics could also be ordered on them. The remaining motors were paired with a manual gearbox. After 3 years, the manufacturer decided to abandon this mechanics and ordered a 6-speed manual gearbox from ZF, which was the right decision.
The new model is built on a Y-body platform which is a completely independent front and rear layout. The suspension is already sharpened for a sporty style, there is no smooth ride, so the owners look very carefully at the road in order to smoothly move over speed bumps.
The brake system of the car has been significantly improved, disc mechanisms are still used, but now they are supplemented with ventilation and a system.
Salon Chevrolet Corvette C4
The interior decoration has undergone drastic changes, finally the fans have waited for really sporty seats with excellent lateral support. As in previous versions, a lot of everything in the interior is sheathed in leather, but for the most part it is noticeable on the chairs. Lateral support is not the greatest, but it is enough.
Opening the frameless door, we see a modern dashboard panel, which does not resemble its predecessors in any way, it is clear that the manufacturer was very much focused on its competitors from Europe. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray steering column is now thick, leather-wrapped, 2-spoke or 4-spoke, depending on version.
The instrument panel has changed dramatically, it is a small analog sensors, but with a beautiful distribution. On the left side we see a large tachometer gauge, and on the right side we see a small oil pressure gauge, a small oil temperature gauge and a battery charge gauge. In the center of the dashboard is a small monitor displaying the current speed and the amount of fuel in the 76-liter tank.
The center console is closed from the eyes of the passenger. On it is a head unit, and a lot of buttons to control the climate control system. In fact, there is nothing else on the center console of the Corvette. The tunnel has a gear selector on the left side, and behind it are buttons for pumping the central backrest rollers. At the end of all this is a huge armrest with a large volume, but only the driver can see what is inside, as it opens towards the passenger. The passenger can only access the glove compartment in front.
Price
This car is much more popular than its predecessors, there are even ads for sale. From this we can conclude that there are a lot of such cars in Russia, you can buy a coupe or convertible for an average of 1,500,000 rubles. This, of course, is far from a small amount, but the car of this money is worth it due to its history, technical part and what no exclusivity.
It was this generation of the Chevrolet Corvette C4 that made a small revolution at General Motors, after which they began to make this series in a completely different way. It is difficult to say whether to buy this car or not, since it still remains old, but not without many modern things that are not even on cars produced now. All the models presented on the bulletin boards are most likely not the best in condition, but it is unlikely that you will be able to find a great option for such money with such age.
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