If you braved the snow to check out the Autorama last month, we bet you’re still thinking about the amazing Chevy hot rods and unique builds you saw there. The 64th Annual Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama was held from February 26-28th at Cobo Hall. Every year hundreds of hopeful owners gather to compete for the Ridler Award, a trophy awarded to the most impressive custom car. The prize comes with an oversized trophy, an embroidered silk jacket only given to Ridler winners, and a ten thousand dollar jackpot.
While travelling auto artists are usually the headline acts, what kept the crowds packed into the Cobo’s basement were the more down-to-earth vehicles created by local enthusiasts. There were a lot to choose from this year. Detroit is a city that loves muscle cars in general and Chevy in particular, so of course Corvettes dominated the field of Michigan entries. The reliability of Chevy craftsmanship makes the Vette a logical starting point for custom designs. We saw Corvettes of all ages on the showroom floor that weekend; with proper maintenance, they just never stop running.
That same reliability is what keeps drawing people to the Corvette. In the search for style and substance, they know they can trust Chevy to give them a powerful driving experience with the famous Chevy Tough quality. The current crop of Corvettes is no exception.
To start with, the 2016 Corvette is more customizable than ever. There are two engine, the base Stingray and the supercar-challenging Z06. Each can be had as a coupe or a convertible, meaning there are four possible configurations even before trim levels are considered.
The Stingray boasts the latest in high-performance small-block engines, a 6.2 liter LT1 V8 capable of putting out 455 horsepower and 460 lb/ft of torque. It flies from zero to sixty in just 3.7 second with the eight speed automatic transmission. For drivers who like hitting the track on the weekends, the Stingray can tear through a quarter mile in under 12 seconds. Handling is incredibly responsive. If you do a lot of racing, consider adding the Z51 options package for lighter wheels, bigger brakes, and an upgraded aero suite.
The engine is bumped up to a 6.2 liter LT4 in the Z06. That gives it an estimated 650 horsepower and 650 lb/ft of torque. The Z06’s zero to sixty time is a blazing fast 2.95 seconds.
Of course, you can also enjoy Chevy’s industry-leading infotainment system in the Corvette. Features like Apple CarPlay and the updated Android Auto let you control even third party smartphone apps through your car. The system responds to either voice or input through an ergonomically designed touchscreen, so you can manage your driving soundtrack without taking your hands off the wheel.
Chevy has a laundry list of personalization options for the Corvette. If you want the Z51 wheels and rear spoiler without the whole package, you can get those added to a Stingray along with the Magnetic Ride Control feature. There’s also a short-run C7.R Edition of the Z06 planned which will be painted Corvette Racing Yellow and given trim features to resemble the brand’s professional race cars.
To see the new Corvettes yourself, visit Heidebreicht Chevrolet in Washington. We have a carefully screened selection of new and pre-owned Corvettes to choose from. Every pre-owned vehicle we handle is inspected before being approved for the lot. If it doesn’t meet our vigorous service standards, we won’t pass it on to a customer.
Corvettes are always amazing, so stop by today and look at our inventory of Corvettes!
