Shortly following the official public unveiling of the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray at the Detroit Auto Show, car enthusiasts are already buzzing about a new image that just leaked later last week - the first accurate (but unofficial) images of the Corvette C7 Convertible.
The source of the leak seemed to come from die-cast model toy company Miasto before it was posted on The Auto Insider. According to GM, the leaked images of the 2014 Corvette Convertible are not pictures of the car. However, the company failed to explain what the pictures were doing on Maisto or why the car in question was sporting a GM Design Center plate design.
Taking a closer look at the Corvette Convertible, there are a number of key distinctions, other than the obvious absence of a roof, that distinguish it from the official pictures of the Corvette Stingray Coupe. First, the Corvette Convertible is missing the newly stylized Stingray emblem seen just behind the fender vent as well as the "Corvette" designation on the rear. More dubiously, the Corvette Convertible is missing a rear view mirror. Finally, the Corvette Convertible does not have vents behind the doors either.
According to Jalopnik, the vent on the driver's side is used to carry charged air to a heat exchanger to control the transmission fluid. Next, the passenger side vent acts similarly to cool the Corvette's e-diff. However, the vents are part of the Corvette's Z51 package, which suggests the Convertible revealed is simply a base version.
Despite the number of design differences, a source from The Auto Insider emphasized that the following images were not a render, suggesting that the Corvette Convertible we're looking at is a full-size GM design center mockup. Beyond the omission of badges and rear-view mirror, the Corvette Convertible looks convincingly authentic. In fact, we're 99 percent confident (with a 1% standard deviation) that we're looking at a final design and we would be surprised to see any significant design changes beyond wheel choices once the official pictures are revealed.
With the top stowed below the double-bubble tonneau, it's difficult to say whether the latest Corvette will continue using a canvas top or if it will use a retractable hard-top. Stay tuned as we find out more in the weeks ahead!
