Maisto 1:18 2014 Corvette Stingray

As much as I like the Corvette, the C6 generation had styling that was great when new, but got old after a few years.  I was hoping the 2014 C7 Corvette would return some sculpted styling and a smaller size to boot.  Well that did happen, though the results were mixed among people: Either they loved it or hated it.  Either way the 2014 Corvette Stingray will make heads turn more than what the C6 could do, and of course Maisto jumps onto it immediately after the 2013 Detroit Auto Show debut to replicate one just like what they did to the SRT Viper in 2012.

The major styling changes

The C6 Corvette was best described as smooth, wide, but lacked any character surfacing to break up the long, flat body panels.  Plus it was still recognizable to the C5 Corvette.  The 2009 Stingray Concept Car showcased the Corvette styling to the extreme with sharper surfaces, split window, and the return of the billet grille last seen on the 1962 Corvette.  The 2014 C7 Stingray borrows most of those design cues:  The grille remains, but really is only functional in the center, where air rushes through the radiator and AC condenser to transfer heat out to the exiting hood vent (which is functional on this casting).  The headlights are more sharper with LED running lamps and turn signal indicators, the latter is only visible looking straight-ahead at the front on this casting.  It's a nice touch, but looks too common to the Ferrari F12 and SRT Viper.

The hood, along with the sides, gain sharper creases to really add character to the body, and those fangs in the front are starting to get more common in today's automobiles: they are a safety feature designed to cushion the impact of a pedestrian if struck.  My favorite detail on the side is the Stingray logo on the fenders.  The roof now has a new look: the rear window is smaller to accommodate side windows after the B-pillar.  It look great when the roof is body-colored, but looks odd with the Z51 carbon fiber roof and color-matching door arches (thankfully Maisto opted for the color roof).  However, unlike the 1996 Corvette Coupe that Maisto made (you'll see this in another blog, or the red car in the pictures below) there is no removable roof panel.

The rear is the more controversial.  The ends are squared up and, combined with the lower gloss black bumper, give the 2014 Corvette a smaller look even though the size is relatively the same as the outgoing C6 Corvette.  The taillights are now 2010-2012 Camaro-style square LED with signal and reverse lights inside the U's: It's controversial to Corvette fans, while others see it as a freshly needed design change.  In my opinion the taillights should be a blacked out panel with LED's in the shape of the taillights only activate when needed, which should make the batmobile-like rear end look more like the 2009 Stingray concept.  Other tidbits include the rear spoiler in the center (Z51 gain a full-width spoiler), chrome quad exhaust in the center, and the vents on top of the rear fenders and to the outside of the taillights vent air through the transmission and differential (Z51 only) coolers out back.

A backwards interior, in a good way

The most improved of the 2014 Corvette, aside from the exterior and powertrain, is the interior.  The driver-oriented cockpit hails back to the C4 Corvette's of the 1990's, and that's a good thing considering the C5 and C6 twin-cockpit interiors showed too much cheap plastics typical of the old GM at the time.  The seats are a major improvement and offers three styles ranging from highway comfort to track-ready grippiness.  Maisto returns the two-tone color for the 1:18 scale versions from the 1:18 C6 Corvette's:  Tan and black on all except the metallic red, which uses red in the place of tan, along with an additional strip of red on the dash above the gauges.  These seats, by the look of it, look like they can really hold you during hard cornering laps around a racetrack!  The steering wheel is more sportier with a flat bottom and grippy 10 and 2 o'clock handles.  Paddle shifters (apparently not shown on this Maisto version) allow gear changes for the automatic and rev-match for the manual transmissions.  The gauge cluster, like the SRT Viper, is a mix of analog speedometer and fuel gauge, and a center digital, configurable tachometer.  Combine that with the touch screen entertainment system to the right of the driver, the ventilation controls, and the suspension mode setting knob just below the shifter, be prepared to read the owner's manual and know the control's function before driving!

A few other tidbits in the interior:  The passenger gets their own ventilation controls below the air vent since the passenger grab handle blocks the controls.  The driver's door sweeps with the dash so the design, controls, even the release handle is different from the passenger door.  The chrome "Corvette" sill plates are a nice touch, and the cargo area is still roomy.  A few complaints about the interior on this casting:  The steering wheel center bulge is a bit too thick and the rear hatch dog legs are so large they almost clip the front seats.

Fast, yet efficient powertrain

Open up the hood, see the neatly-stamped Corvette badge under the hood, then check out the engine, which is sadly just a plastic pan in need of more finer details:  It's the 6.2L LT1 V8, and while it doesn't look much different from the LS-series engine's, it's all new internally.  Features variable valve timing, larger intake with rerouted air box to the right of the engine (due to the new radiator air flow through the hood), direct fuel injection, and V4 cylinder deactivation even for manual transmission-equipped cars.  The final result is 455 hp. and 460 Ib-ft. torque.  The transmission on this casting is, sadly, the six-speed automatic, but at least it's been improved for a more sportier feel and now features paddle-shifters.  0-60 for a 7-speed manual Z51 takes 3.9 seconds, 0-100 in 8.8, and 1/4 mile in 12.2 @ 117.3 mph (Motor Trend, September 2013).

The details on the base still show the rear-mounted transmission (a tradition since the C5 Corvette), dual exhaust, and the front and rear upper/lower control arms and the transverse leaf springs (in place of a typical coil-over shock), a tradition since the 1963 Corvette.  The magnetic-controlled shocks give the Corvette varying ride firmness from highway-traveling soft to race track firm from the aforementioned dial on the console.  The adjustments on the knob are Wet, Eco, Touring, Sport, or Track modes.  Also the frame is now made of aluminum, trimming 99 pounds from the car.  Yes, the base on this casting could use some more detailing, and the mounting holes are too long to the point that they become an eyesore when you view this casting from the sides, level with the ground.  Finally there's the wheels:  Yes they're still large, but you wouldn't know it from the sides as they look symmetrical front and rear.  Though I do miss the C6's flared-out spoke wheels as the new wheels look flat and the 5-sp. wheels design on this casting look like something off of a late 1990's Porsche!

The Verdict

Against the C4 Coupe and ZR1, the new C7 looks smaller and lean, yet still powerful and still a Corvette!  Maisto offers 1:24 scale models with similar detailing (and I won't bother talking about the 1:64.  That's how bad it is!), but you'll miss out on the two-tone interiors of the 1:18 scale models.  Maisto did an excellent job as what a budget-price company can do.  Yes it could use more detailing, but other than that it's spot on, and the Laguna Seca Blue is gorgeous!!!  I requested Maisto to look into doing the dark green color for the next recolor, so hopefully that'll happen later on.  I've owned a few 1:18 scale Corvette's starting with the blue 1993 ZR1 from Maisto (shown), and included a red Coupe (shown), Grand Sport Convertible, C5 Convertible in red and ZO6 in yellow, and a Hot Wheels C6 ZO6 in yellow.  The C4's and Hot Wheels ZO6 are still one of my favorites, but I must say the styling of the C7 Stingray is starting to grow on me so i'm honored to welcome the Maisto 1:18 scale 2014 Corvette Stingray into my collection  Hey, maybe i'll get the 2015 ZO6 when it comes out to scale.  Maybe!

Update 1/2/2018:  Trading Places:  After years of the original 2014 Corvette Stingray I recently found the Z51 package edition that is the same as above except for blacked-out split 5-spoke wheels instead of the Porsche-style 5-spoke torque wheels, black brake calipers, and a larger rear spoiler.  Otherwise it's the same-looking and color Corvette as shown above and now the new Z51 replaces the stock Corvette in my collection: