'14 Vette surpasses '60 glory days.

• Author: Harper, Jason H.
• Position: Cars

Byline: Jason H. Harper

The Chevrolet Corvette has long been America's almost-great sports car.

In the 60 years since it first appeared, fans have eternally hoped that this time, this generation, the makers would get it right. It's our beloved underachiever.

And so comes the launch of the seventh generation, when the asterisks are smeared away and qualifiers become unnecessary. The brand-new C7 coupe is not only a great sports car; it's a great car -- full stop.

I, too, was holding my breath, expecting the Red Sox of the automotive world to choke again at the last moment, acquiescing to corporate penny pinchers and allowing substandard seats, ugly plastic and cheap knobs on the interior. As usual, potential buyers would look into the cockpit, shake their heads sadly and go buy a Porsche or BMW.

Pricing starts at $53,000 for the base and $63,800 for the top-line model with a sports performance package. With 455 horsepower, 460 pound-feet of torque and many standard performance and interior amenities, the Corvette far undercuts its European competitors.

First off, the interior is nice. The seats are not only comfortable, but they keep you from slipping around while cornering. The previous generation's was like sitting on ice in a wind storm, sliding wildly from side to side. The leather no longer looks like it made a stop in the vinyl factory. The setup is crafted around the driver, creating an intimate, uncluttered cockpit that leaves you in control. You also get a heck of a view of the road, the result of an incredibly low hood and low dashboard.

So the Corvette's lousy interior is lousy no more. Let's move on to the thing I've always liked: The way it drives. The 'Vette is an ultra-competitive player on the racetrack and is far wieldier than many give...