Although
the C6 won’t go into production until the middle of next
year it will be unveiled to the public at the Detroit Motor
Show on January 4th 2004. For those impatient people such as
your Editor there is quite a bit of firm information available
about it now.
SOME
DETAILS
Engine: 6.0L LS2 V8 SFI
Transmission: 4 speed Auto or 6 speed manual
(no paddle shift)
Tires: front P245/40ZR18, extended mobility,
Eagle F1 (Z06 replacement model P275/35ZR18)
Tires: rear P285/35ZR19, extended mobility,
Eagle F1 (Z06 replacement model P325/30ZR19)
Wheels: 5-spoke aluminium (polished optional),
18" x 8.5" (45.7 cm x 21.6 cm), front and 19"
x 10.0" (48.3 cm x 25.4 cm), rear
Performance Handling Package (option): performance-oriented
package for the Gymkhana/Autocross enthusiast, includes power
steering, engine oil and transmission coolers, stiffer springs
and stabilizer bars, specific shock absorbers, larger brakes
with cross-drilled rotors, specific tires and performance
gearing, Z51-specific, 6-speed manual transmission or performance
axle ratio with automatic transmission
Active Handling: YES, standard
Magnetic Ride: Option, not standard
Convertible top: manual with power folding option,
includes glass rear window with integral defogger
Headlamps: non pop-up, bi-functional high-intensity
discharge, includes automatic exterior lamp control
Keyless Access: with push-button start, includes
2 remote transmitters which enable automatic door unlock and
open by touching door switch
Sound system with Navigation: ETR AM/FM stereo with
CD player and MP3 playback, (U65) Sound system feature, Bose
premium 7-speaker system, DVD navigation with GPS, 6.5"
LCD color display touch screen, voice recognition, includes
Radio Data System, seek-and-scan, digital clock, auto-tone
control, automatic volume and TheftLock
CD Changer: 6 disk in dash option
Homelink Garage Door Opener: YES
Head-Up Display, includes dot-matrix readouts for street mode,
track mode with g-meter, vehicle speed, engine rpm, and readings
from key gauges including water temperature, oil pressure
and fuel levels
Seats: leather, heated, driver and passenger, sports
optional
Console, floor, lockable, includes 2 covered cupholders, ashtray
with cigar lighter, auxiliary power outlet and CD storage
Memory: memory everything is just a given..
Air bags: frontal and side impact, driver and front
passenger
Body: no carbon panels
Exterior Colours: Note—the long running Torch
Red is no longer an option
10U Arctic White
19U LeMans Blue Metallic1(premium extra cost color)
27U Precision Red
41U Black
67U Machine Silver Metallic
71U Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic
79U Millennium Yellow (Extra cost color)
86U Magnetic Red Metallic II
Interior colors
- Ebony
- Cobalt Red
- Steel Gray
- Cashmere
Unfortunately
of particular interest to Australians, GM has announced there
will be no RHD version of the C6. Power output of the new
6.0L LS2 motor is still unconfirmed with guesses ranging from
405 –455 HP. It is expected to be a 2 valve motor. However
the new GEN IV family it originates from will be available
in different sizes and will have variants with 3 valve heads
and variable displacement on demand, all however will be OHV
motors.
GM has announced the Corvette won’t be getting the variable
displacement on demand motor but has said that the performance
Z06 successor variant due in 2005 will have 500 HP. Based
on that and information released elsewhere it seems likely
that the Z06 successor will have a 6.4L 3 valve head motor
with a redline of 7000 RPM.
Looking further ahead it seems GM isn’t happy to be
left behind Ford. Ford has their new supercar GT due out shortly
and GM are working on a Supercar version of the Corvette.
Code name Blue Devil it apparently is based on a 7L Supercharged
version of the Gen IV making 625 HP. Body weight is also said
to be reduced several hundred pounds by use of carbon fibre
body panels down to about 2900 pounds. If this project gets
approved for production expect to see this car in 2006. Internal
GM documents have this car priced at $100000 USD.
The Chevy
Club Connection and The Corvette Marketing Team have announced
a web cast unveiling of the C6, http://www.chevy.com/corvette
(look for the icon under Corvette News section on January
5, 2004) and http://www.GM.com,.
The show is planned to start at 10:00 am Brisbane time . There
will also be a C6 website, http://www.chevy.com/2005corvette
beginning January 5th. 2005 Corvette die casts will be available
January 6, 2004, on http://www.chevymall.com.
