There’s nothing more enthralling than owning a sports car, especially one that offers tons of power without costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. True sports car owners want impressive aesthetics and mind-boggling power. This description is the 2022 Chevy Corvette in a nutshell. There are two reasons why we love this new model. Its wide array of customization options and its immense power. You can customize stock features on this model without having to delve into aftermarket add-ons, and it can travel a quarter of a mile in as little as 11.2 seconds!
There have been many “in-betweeners” in the Corvette lineup, and while every Vette model is great and all, the Stingray remains a favorite among Vette fans. Before we dive into why this model is the sleekest sports car in its price range, let’s take a quick look at the Stingray’s history and what has made it a fan favorite all these years.
The Corvette Stingray’s Rich History
Back in the day (in 1963, to be exact), automotive designer Bill Mitchell designed the first-ever Corvette “Sting Ray.” Before we go any further, no, you haven’t encountered a spelling error. Initially, the two words “Sting” and “Ray” were separated, but we’re still talking about the same “Stingray” line we all know and love.
Wondering where this Vette model’s vicious-sounding name came from? Mr. Mitchell reportedly drew the name inspiration from the Mako shark he caught during a saltwater fishing trip. We’re not quite exactly sure why he didn’t just call it the “Mako,” but we have to admit that “Stingray” sounds a bit better.
What made this Corvette so unique compared with its predecessors was its practicality. The Sting Ray was designed to better accommodate passengers and cargo. Plus, its futuristic design made it a “safer” sports car than earlier models.
By the Stingray’s third-generation (1968 – 1982), Chevy combined the two words, creating the Stingray title we are familiar with today. This car sold like crazy, but sadly, Chevy decided to take a break with Stingray production after 1982 and Corvette production altogether in 2005. Thankfully, production picked back up in 2014, thanks to the C7 Stingray. While the newer Corvette Stingray models look like a mix between the regular C Vettes and the Stingray design, it’s close enough to the classic style to give Stingray fans a run for their money.
The 2022 Corvette: Ridiculous Amounts of Customization
We lived several years without having access to a new Stingray model. Now, we not only have the Stingray back, but we’ve got infinite possibilities when it comes to customization options. Now that you know some of the rich history that led us to this point, it’s time to dive into why the new Vette is the coolest sports car in its class.
Bodystyles and Special Editions
Let’s start off with its stellar customization features. Just like classic Corvette models, the 2022 Vette comes in either a coupe body style or a convertible body style. While that’s exciting and all, this model’s two special editions make you feel like you’re heading to the track. Have you ever wanted to own a race car in real life? Well, now you can, thanks to the Vette’s C8R Edition Exterior styles.
These special editions are designed to mimic Corvette race cars, and they come in the following two styles:
- Accelerate Yellow-Dominate Color with Gray Accents
- Hypersonic Gray-Dominate Color with Yellow Accents
Both models include the following customization features:
- A Carbon Flash High Wing Spoiler
- Black Trident Wheels with Black Lug Nuts and “Jake” Logo Cap
- Carbon Flash Mirrors
- Black Side Rockers
- Splash Guards
- Indoor Rendered Car Cover
- Yellow Brake Calipers
That’s not all, though. The interior matches the exterior with yellow seat belts, Strike Yellow seating, and Sky Gray accents. Since this model is one of only 1,000 models, it’ll also include an interior production number plate.
Other Customization Options
The exterior color and accent options on this model seem endless in the best way possible. You can choose from 12 different exterior colors, including fun shades like Elkhart Lake Blue Metallic or Amplify Orange, along with more basic colors such as Black or Silver Flare Metallic. You can also pick from 6 different wheel options, including black, gray, and shiny silver shades.
You can have a bit more fun with your brake calipers, too, choosing from two different shades of red, a black shade, and of course the yellow option. Drivers can also add on one of four different spoiler options, including both high and low styles. This model is so customizable that you can even choose if you want your Corvette badging to be outlined in chrome or black. That said, the interior seating colors and seat belt options are what make this customization game the most fun.
You can live the lavish life sitting on one of 15 different seating colors. Some of these custom colors include a dark, maroon red shade called “Morello Red,” a Two-Toned Blue color that matches the exterior Elkhart Blue shade well, and red seating with jet black interior. Most vehicles only come with one stock seat belt color, which is typically black or gray. However, that’s not the case for the 2022 Corvette Stingray. This model has six different seat belt color options, including orange, blue, red, yellow, natural (tannish brown), and black. You can combine these fun shades to make them match in unison or go wild with wacky color combinations. We recommend at least choosing complementary colors, but no judgment here.
How About Power?
It’s all fine and great to look cool, but it all means nothing without power, right? We get it. What if we told you that the 2022 Vette is the most powerful Stingray model ever made? If you think we’re lying, we’re not. It’s all in the specs. This car produces 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, a dual-clutch transmission, and a standard V8 engine. Put simply; you can get from 0 to 62 MPH in as little as 2.9 seconds. Plus, the 2022 Vette’s top speed is almost 200 MPH, maxing out at 194. Keep in mind that this is the top TRACK speed. As tempting as it is, don’t push these limits on the interstate.
Other Unique Features That Make the 2022 Corvette so Appealing
When you’re definitely not driving 194 MPH on the highway and are instead safely trotting along on a professional race track, you can record your experience with the available Performance Data Recorder! This built-in feature is a dashcam that monitors your laps, displays your speed, and even monitors your distance. The 2LT and 3LT trims include this as a standard feature, but people can add it onto the 1LT trim for an additional fee.
You can also personalize drive modes with up to 12 customizable performance specs, and the front-lift button will give you an extra 2 inches of ground clearance when necessary. Plus, higher trims offer cool features such as memory seating and a full-color Head-Up Display, which projects the dashboard stats directly onto the windshield.
Feel the Sting!
Overall, it’s safe to say that the 2022 Corvette Stingray is back and better than ever. It’s fun to customize, it’s more powerful than it’s ever been, and its PDR combined with unique special edition styling makes it a race-worthy model. Just try to keep the hot rodding for the race track.
