2005 Corvette
By Tom Strongman

NEW MODEL PREVIEW Photos by General Motors

The sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, one of the undisputed icons of the American automobile industry, will make its long-awaited public debut next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. GM has provided an advance look at the car with a few preliminary photographs and the following information.

Production is slated for the third quarter of 2004. A convertible will be unveiled later, and production of that model will begin in late 2004.

Dubbed C6, the new car’s evolutionary styling is immediately recognizable as a Corvette. The new car blends technical sophistication with expressive style. It is 5 inches shorter and 1 incher narrower, and has a very impressive 0.28 coefficient of drag. Exposed headlights give it a more distinct face, and the sloping roof is narrower at the back for better streamlining. The roof has a removable panel, with a glass panel optional. The tapered roof is reminiscent of the Sting Ray coupe. The wheels are 18-inch in front and 19-inch in back.

?The C6 represents a comprehensive upgrade to the Corvette,? said Dave Hill, chief engineer of the Corvette and vehicle line executive for GM Performance Cars. ?Our goal is to create a Corvette that does more things well than any performance car. We’ve thoroughly improved performance and developed new features and capabilities in many areas, while at the same time systematically searching out and destroying every imperfection we could find.?

Power is always a key Corvette component, and the new one will be powered by a 6.0-liter, LS2 V-8 that pumps out 400 horsepower. This is the most powerful standard engine ever offered in a ‘Vette. The LS2 is based on the same small-block engine as the current car. Chevy said that with 400 horsepower and a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 22 miles per gallon, this engine’s efficiency puts the C6 at the top of performance cars.

Two transmissions are offered, a six-speed Tremec manual and a four-speed automatic. The automatic has computer controls that select the optimum gear for any given driving condition, plus it now shifts at higher rpm to take advantage of the engine’s higher output.
The Tremec transmission has a shorter shift lever and internal improvements to make it shift easier. A different set of internal gears, to enhance acceleration, are part of the Z51 performance package.

Dynamically, the new car offers more power, a smaller size and enhanced quality and content. The C6 was influenced by competition more than any previous Corvette. Its smaller size makes it more ?tossable? on a racetrack, said Hill, yet the car has just as much usable space as the current model.

The new chassis, similar to that of the Cadillac XLR sports car, has enhanced stiffness. The layout consists of an enclosed center tunnel, cored composite floors and an aluminum cockpit structure. The transmission is mounted in unit with the rear axle for optimum weight distribution. Despite the added weight of larger wheels, bigger brakes and sophisticated interior features, this car does not weigh more than the old one.

The suspension pieces are completely new, although the basic layout of a short-long arm front and a independent rear with transverse leaf spring is the same. The pieces have been redesigned to work the new run-flat tires. Chevy says the suspension has been tuned to improve ride quality as well as handling. There are three suspension packages: Standard, Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Z51 Performance.

The twin-cockpit interior configuration that has been a Corvette hallmark continues in the C6. Chevy said it has upgraded the quality of materials, such as a skin used on the instrument panel that has the look and feel of leather. Aluminum is used for the shift knob and door release buttons, but it has been covered with an appliqué that minimizes sun glare and resists temperature changes and fingerprints.

High-tech options include a keyless access, push-button start, DVD-based navigation system with voice activation, reconfigurable head-up display, satellite radio and GM’s OnStar system.

No prices, nor exact availability dates, have been announced.