The new C6, info and rumors Options

[natedogg]

I posted this on CII about a week or so ago. I've always liked vettes and have been compiling some info/rumors about them. Thought it might interest you guys. Here's what I've found so far.

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.ph...highlight=vette

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?por...t_code=04417712

Published in Automotive Design and Production Magazine
On page 24 of the November issue it states
" When Chevrolet rolls out the 6th gen Corvette at the North American Inter. Auto Show in January, the Gen 4 V8 will have a reported 405 hp, the same as the current Z06. Insiders at both GM and suppliers say the Z06 will have an even 500hp, but will not be the most powerful Corvette. That prize will belong to the limited production ZL1 which is producing 625 hp in production trim. The Gen4 has thinner bore walls, stronger bulkheads, and retains the cast-in-place iron cylinder liners. The casting process includes a mechanically induced rapid chilling of the bulkheads to promote swift directional solidification of the aluminum and a fine grain structure , both of which improve dimensional stability. A composite barrel crank core replaces the current segmented barrel design, again for tighter and more consistant bore dimensions. The cores are screwed and glued together, the aluminum is pumped in rather than poured, and all the oil galleries are drilled and machined."
A subsequent note next to a pic of a C6( the old pic of the white car with the masks on it) states that the ZL1 is a twin turbo model.

Courtesy of JeffY at the SS Owner's Board (Jeff worked on the C4 & C5 Programs and recently worked for SLP)
Details are emerging about the all-new, 2005 C6 (sixth generation) Corvette that will be introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Though the new chassis is now shared with another car (the Cadillac XLR luxury sports car) for the first time in Corvette history - the two cars have distinctly different missions and differ substantially from each other. The new Corvette is five inches shorter than the C5 in overall length but retains the same interior room. The overall road presence of the new C6 exterior design and stance is improved dramatically – certainly enough to make C5 owners drool over it and feel compelled to get one. But the new car should turn heads of non-Corvette-owning enthusiasts, too, because of its improved quality, upscale interior materials and outstanding performance capability. The standard 6.0-liter V-8 will now deliver 400HP and around 400 lb-ft of torque, just under the 405HP figure of the current ultra-performance Z06 C5. The front tires will be 245/40ZR 18s, mounted on 8.5" wheels. The rears will be 285/35ZR 19s, mounted on 10.0" wheels. The Z51 Option for '05 will include bigger brakes with cross-drilled rotors, specifically tweaked tires, gear ratios, springs, shocks and sway bars, plus an engine oil cooler and a power-steering cooler for serious off-road performance work. Other details: the HUD on the new car will have a built-in G-meter, a power top will finally be available (long overdue) on the convertible, and a six CD in-dash changer will be an option, as will an onboard navigation system. There's no official confirmation (yet), but there's also a "super" C6 rumored to be on the way with 600+HP (with assistance from McLaren engines). This super C6 will take Corvette's classic performance-value-for-the-dollar equation to new heights and could potentially embarrass all of the other high-priced supercars from around the globe in the process. The "super" C6 will cost more than the standard car by a bunch, but it may still come in at "around" $100,000, undercutting even the Ford GT in cost. And its performance is said to be simply mind-boggling, making even hardcore enthusiasts weak in the knees. The "super" C6 will not appear before mid-2006 at the earliest, but it may be considered enough of a milestone car in the pantheon of great Corvettes to wear the storied "ZL1" designation

I like the way it looks and definitely like the numbers that it will supposedly put out. Seems to be a more compact design.

[Larz]

I like it, but it's a bit out of my price range.