Aftermarket continues its quest to salvage the hideous front end of the Corvette C7 Z06 with more front "spat" alternatives

There is no doubt that +General Motors designers botched the design of the newest generation of Corvette and the typical design points polarizing the public and car enthusiasts include the gaudy rear end and so called front "fangs".  Even though the chief of the Corvette design and engineering team likes to use the excuse of aerodynamics taking precedent over aesthetic considerations, not only is this a lame excuse but outright bullshit as well, considering the air drag and overheating problems being such common events among the C7 Corvettes.

If the base C7 Stingray is a failure, the current Corvette flagship, the "certified supercar" is considerably worse by not only inheriting the failures of the base car but adding its own traits and qualities.  If there is one thing that at least from the visual aspect of failure sets the new flagship apart, it certainly must be the so called "spats" or in reality, air curtains proudly garnishing the fenders of the newest flagship.

This blog mentioned on numerous occasions that not only are the gaudy pieces of cheap plastic visually repulsive but aerodynamically ineffective, not to mention their impact on tire travel limits, especially in the lowered suspension situations.

To further confuse the matter, the Z06 fenders are wider than the base Stingray fenders which would may lead someone to even a bigger puzzlement, considering that incorporating the width occupied by the cheesy plastic extensions would be a no brainer but... there is the matter of penny pinching and specifically, the presence of the same base Stingray front bumper that helps GM save money by reducing the number of flagship specific body parts but results in a very limited width extension, thus, the piece of shit spats on a six figure car.

Of course, the Corvette aftermarket has been attempting to polish the air curtain turd ever since the C7 Z06 became available for sale but so far, all of the attempts resulted at best, in the same shitty solution as the problem itself, including the truly pathetic attempt from a vendor called Apsis.

As this blog pointed out, there was only one supplier who kind of got the possible solution, matching the Bushwacker style extensions to the outline of the wheel well flange, instead of installing them under the wheel well lip, OEM style.  The vendor, Nowicki Designs, apparently a former Bushwacker designer, made a set of four flares available but... only for the base Stingray.

The other alternative, even though sound conceptually but truly repulsive in real life is of course the Topo wide body conversion which apparently he offers for the Z06, in addition to the base Stingray, a conversion fit for the cars and coffee event, should it ever take place in Tijuana.

Then of course, there is a true bolt on (with the bolts showing) body kit from Carbon Creations vendor, for those who strive to fool the general public into believing their Corvette is made in Italy.

Now, there appear to be another contender or at least a one-off car, sporting a pair of front flares that actually blend rather well with the front fenders of the newest  flagship.  In reality, what this looks like is a modified set of front Nowicki flares, adapted for Z06 fenders, right down to the built in side marker lights.

Clearly, even though this is to date, the most aesthetically gratifying effort, it is still a big failure for several reasons: the extent of modification ends at the front bumper, recycling the same idiotic design of the front spoiler, if the piece of shit hanging off the front bumper can be called one and fails to address the REAR WHEEL WELL OPENINGS, leaving the entire project looking lazy and half ass done.

However, there is a great benefit to this modification, certainly not one that the authors of this project had in mind but still: what this modification shows is the true incompetence of GM designers, who could have easily incorporate the extended flare in the design of the Z06 fenders, along with the revised, wider front bumper, specific for the Z06 that would allow for the revised fenders to exist.   As an extra benefit, the flared out out rear section of the fender would allow the flagship owners to enjoy better health, preventing heart attacks resulting from the blasted quarter panel and air duct opening sections that continue to be destroyed by road shrapnel on regular basis.

This blog still waits for the aftermarket vendors to get off their lazy and unimaginative asses and finally design proper fenders, front bumpers and rear quarter panels to at least make the visual abortion called C7 Z06 more plausible.  Will that day come?  Judging after the current aftermarket efforts and senile flagship owners's apathy, this is unlikely to ever happen.  Ironically enough, redesigned front bumper and fenders would not only alleviate the visual failure but allow for aerodynamic and mechanical improvements the piece of shit called C7 Z06 needs so urgently.