Corvette Blind Spot Monitoring: Is It Worth It?

The Chevrolet Corvette is a high-performance sports car with a dedicated fanbase. However, one common critique of the vehicle is its lack of blind-spot monitoring, which is a standard feature in many modern cars, including other sports cars. While some Corvette enthusiasts argue that blind-spot detectors are unnecessary and take away from the driving experience, others feel that they are a crucial safety feature, especially given the Corvette's limited rear visibility.

Corvette C7 lacks active safety features

The Corvette C7 is devoid of active safety features outside of front- and rear-view cameras. This means that accident prevention systems such as Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Keep Assist are not available on the Corvette C7, despite being prevalent on even the most entry-level vehicles. The Corvette C7 does not come standard with these features, nor are they offered as available options.

The absence of active safety features on the Corvette C7 can be attributed to its age. The seventh-generation model originally debuted in 2013 as a 2014 model, and during its time on the market, it has received gradual rollouts of higher-performance models and special edition packages, but it has gone virtually unchanged when it comes to technology.

The Corvette C7's lack of active safety features is a notable disadvantage when compared to its direct rival, the Porsche 911, which gained various active safety and accident prevention systems in 2017, such as forward collision intervention, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot warning.

The Corvette C7's replacement, the mid-engine Corvette C8, is likely to offer GM's wide array of collision avoidance systems. In the meantime, those who desire active safety features in their Corvette C7 can hope that General Motors will continue producing the Corvette C7 alongside the future mid-engine model, potentially offering an updated version of the seventh-generation Vette with some active safety features.

Blind spot mirrors as an alternative

Blind spot mirrors are an incredibly useful tool for drivers and a great alternative to blind spot monitoring systems. They are also a much more affordable option, with most blind spot mirrors costing around or under $10.

Blind spot mirrors are easy to install, durable, and will significantly improve your visibility. They are designed to eliminate blind spots while driving, making lane changes a breeze. The best blind spot mirrors on the market include products from Marlbston, UtopiCar, AmFor, Ampper, and LivTee. These mirrors are equipped with 3M adhesive to make installation a breeze and are IP65 waterproof, rust-resistant, and haze-proof.

When choosing a blind spot mirror, it is important to consider the positioning on your side mirrors, as well as the shape and size of the mirror to ensure the best fit for your vehicle. For larger vehicles like SUVs or RVs, a larger blind spot mirror is recommended, while smaller vehicles like sedans or coupes will do better with a smaller-sized mirror.

While blind spot mirrors are a great alternative, it is important to note that they are not a substitute for actually using your mirrors and checking your blind spots. They should be used as an additional safety feature to enhance your visibility and reduce blind spots.

If you are considering purchasing a blind spot mirror, take the time to find the perfect spot and angle to ensure maximum visibility.

Corvette C8 to include collision avoidance systems

The Corvette C8 is an upcoming vehicle, with no current information on whether it will include collision avoidance systems. However, the Corvette C7.R features a collision avoidance system, which was developed in conjunction with Bosch Motorsports and Pratt & Miller Engineering. This system uses a rear camera and radar-based detection to warn of potential collisions.

Previous Corvette models have not included blind-spot monitoring, with Corvette's Chief Engineer, Tadge Juechter, stating that they prioritized vehicle performance over a new feature that [they were] not sure would be a strong customer desire. However, Juechter also acknowledged that blind-spot monitoring is "gaining good acceptance from customers" and that they will strongly consider that customer desire in [their] future plans.

Some Corvette drivers have expressed their desire for blind-spot monitoring, especially considering that the feature is available on many other vehicles, including other GM products. They argue that it is a necessary safety feature, particularly for those who may have vision impairments or difficulty adjusting their mirrors correctly. On the other hand, some Corvette enthusiasts believe that such features are unnecessary and could even be a distraction for drivers. They argue that properly adjusted mirrors are sufficient for eliminating blind spots and that adding more alerts and notifications could interfere with the joy of driving a performance sports car.

While there is currently no confirmation, it seems likely that the Corvette C8 may include collision avoidance systems, given the increasing demand for these features and the fact that they are becoming standard on many vehicles, including sports cars.

Corvette's Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter's response

In a forum Q&A session, Tadge Juechter, Corvette's Chief Engineer, responded to a question about the absence of blind spot detection in Corvettes. Juechter explained that the Side Blind Zone (SBZ) feature was just emerging as Corvette was designing the seventh generation of the car. The Corvette team had to make a trade-off between including the new feature and prioritising vehicle performance. Juechter stated:

> We thought very carefully about including [the SBZ feature] in the program since we knew other vehicles were going to offer it. SBZ uses sensors located on the rear outboard corner of the car, just behind the fascia. That is precisely the location we needed to package our race-derived transmission and differential coolers. Having heat exchangers in the back corners interfered with both the physical space need for the sensors and disrupted their performance. In the end, we prioritised vehicle performance over a new feature that we were not sure would be a strong customer desire.

Juechter added that Corvette engineers have to balance keeping weight and costs low while also meeting customer and governmental demands. He also stated that Corvette tends to err on the side of not having a lot of alerts that would interfere with the joy of driving.

Corvette's safety features in 2024

The 2024 Corvette is packed with safety features, some of which are standard and some of which are optional. The car comes with an electronic rear-view mirror that can project a video image from a rear-facing camera, and all models now come with an array of driver-assistance features as standard, including:

• Automated emergency braking
• Pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane-keeping assist
• Lane-departure warning

Other safety features are available at an extra cost, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Corvette also has ABS brakes, front-impact and side-impact airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and an ignition disable device.

The 2024 Corvette E-Ray has some additional features, including Auto Start/Stop and Stealth and Shuttle Modes, which allow the car to be driven on battery power without starting the gas engine.

Despite these safety features, the 2024 Corvette does not have blind-spot alerts. This is due to the location of the heat exchangers in the back corners of the car, which interfere with the physical space needed for the sensors and disrupt their performance.

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