Chevy’s Corvette Stingray convertible debuts in Geneva

Chevrolet, with an eye toward expanding the global reach of its 2014 Corvette Stingray, introduced a convertible version of the sports car at this week’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Competing with million-dollar Bugattis, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis, the drop-top version of the Stingray boasts the same 6.2-liter V-8 as the coupe that was introduced at January’s Detroit Auto Show.

Thus, it has the same output of 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The Corvette convertible will be offered with either a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, or a seven-speed manual transmission with automatic rev-matching.

Photos: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible

The three-layer fabric top folds under a hard tonneau cover behind the passengers. The roof itself has a glass rear window and sound-absorbing padding. The power-folding roof can be operated at speeds of up to 30 mph, and can be controlled remotely from the Corvette’s key fob.

Photos: Highlights of the 2013 Geneva Motor Show

Chevrolet says the new Corvette’s aluminum frame is 57% stiffer and 99 pounds lighter than the outgoing model’s steel frame. This means the convertible version needed no extra structural bracing for rigidity. It will have nearly an identical power-to-weight ratio as the coupe.

Photos: Seven generations of Chevrolet Corvette

Aesthetically, the convertible differs only slightly from its coupe counterpart. Excluding the obvious change to the car’s roofline, only the coupe’s air intakes above the rear wheel are missing on the convertible.

Chevrolet says the coupe and convertible versions of the 2014 Corvette Stingray will go on sale in late 2013.

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