Cons :
- Exterior changes very subtle indeed.
- Annoying 1st-to-4th skipping shift feature.
- Stiff shifter feel.
- More electronic gadgets mean more things that can go wrong later.
- Some obvious component-sharing with lesser Chevy models.
Interior :
Press Coverage :
The sixth-generation Corvette blends technical sophistication with expressive style. Five inches shorter than the older car, the 2005 Corvette cuts a tighter, more taut profile - with virtually no loss of usable space. More than just visual, the new dimensions make the car more agile and "tossable," with upgrades in handling, acceleration and braking.
Beyond the lean new dimensions, the 2005 Corvette features significant upgrades in every area of the car. The new 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 engine takes the standard Corvette Coupe and Convertible across the 400 hp threshold, delivering a dramatic increase in acceleration with excellent efficiency. With base curb weight starting at 3,179 pounds(Coupe) and 3,199 pounds(Convertible) the new Corvette is significantly lighter than its predecessor - despite improved structure, larger wheels and tires and greatly increased interior features. The Convertible features an optional power-operated soft top for the first time since 1962. Technologies such as Keyless Access and DVD-navigation make their first appearance on Corvette. At 0.28 coefficient of drag, the sixth-generation is the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever and has improved anti-lift characteristics that enable improved high-speed stability and confidence.
A new LS2 6.0-liter small-block V-8 is the standard engine in the 2005 Corvette. It is based on GM's new Gen IV small-block family of engines. The LS2 raises the bar for standard performance in the Corvette, delivering estimated peak output levels of 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It is the largest, most powerful standard small-block engine ever offered in Corvette. The 2005 Corvette is capable of a top speed of 186 mph, faster than any production Corvette in history. The 2005 Corvette reaches zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds. With the optional Z51 Performance Package, 0-100 km/h acceleration time improves to 4.1 seconds. The 2005 Corvette covers the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds at a speed of 183 km/h (114 mph).
Major revisions to the manual and automatic transmissions provide Corvette with significant improvements geared towards performance driving. The Tremec six-speed manual gearbox is available with two sets of ratios, one with more aggressive acceleration characteristics reserved for Corvette's Z51 Performance Package that emulates the performance of the C5's landmark Z06 model. Improved shifting characteristics are another major improvement, with new synchronizers that reduce travel by 10 percent, and a shifter knob that is an inch shorter and redesigned for greatly improved driver operation. The Hydra-Matic 4L65-E automatic transmission is an upgraded version of the C5's 4L60-E, strengthened and revised to accommodate the LS2's 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It includes GM's advanced Performance Algorithm Shifting, which automatically selects the optimal gear for a given driving condition, making it a willing accomplice for performance driving and hard cornering. The transmission now shifts at higher revs to take advantage of the higher engine output.
While some focus primarily on engine displacement, the Corvette - with its low vehicle mass, world-class chassis dynamics and the 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 engine - delivers incredible real-world efficiency on a total vehicle basis. While the car's final fuel economy is yet to be officially certified, the 2005 Corvette is projected to mirror the 2004 version in fuel economy, with a combined city/highway mpg rating estimated to be between 22 and 23. Corvette boasts the best combination of horsepower and fuel economy among the world's best performance cars. The bottom line? Corvette delivers power in the range of exotic cars that cost tens of thousands more, combined with fuel efficiency better than some family sedans.
The new Corvette features more character and flair, expressed in an absolutely purposeful manner. The car includes larger wheels (18-inch in front, 19-inch in rear) topped by dramatic fender forms, with a crisp and tapered rear deck and fascia that support improved high-speed performance. Compared to the outgoing C5, this new generation Corvette has much more character in its front and rear fascia areas. The exposed lamps combine with the grille to create much more of a "face" on the car. The rear fascia is more expressive and lean, with truly round taillamps and integrated exhaust tips.
While using the latest advanced computer-aided design techniques, the styling of the 2005 Corvette relied heavily on traditional hand sculpting and the personal passion of designers and engineers. Sculptors pored over every millimeter of the car's surface. The aerodynamic development combined digital simulations, Corvette Racing experience and more than 400 hours of wind tunnel testing.
The sixth-generation continues the dual cockpit design theme that has been a Corvette hallmark. The instrument panel and door trim areas make extensive use of cast skin, which retains the look and feel of genuine leather with excellent softness, low gloss and low glare that conveys an overall premium appearance and quality. Anodized aluminum accents the interior in key functional areas, such as the manual shift knob and door release buttons. This material includes a screen-printed appliqué that minimizes sun glare, and is resistant to temperature changes and fingerprints.
The 2005 Corvette features exposed headlamps, the first time since 1962 that a production Corvette has not had a mechanism to conceal the lamps when not in use. The fixed Xenon High-Intensity Discharge lamps provide superior lighting performance in a compact, high-tech package that integrates seamlessly into the design and aerodynamics of the car.
The sixth-generation Corvette Convertible features an optional power-operated soft top, a feature that last appeared on the car in 1962. The power top features a single-button control and completes its cycle in 18 seconds. The top is designed and manufactured in partnership between GM and Car Top Systems, Gmbh, experts who've contributed to some of the world's most celebrated open cars. An easy-to-operate manual top remains standard. The Convertible features a five-layer fabric top, available in three colors, that conceals the underlying structure well for good top-up appearance as well the preservation of the car's excellent aerodynamics.
Corvette contains many new electronic technologies including Keyless Access with push-button start, and optional features such as a reconfigurable head-up display, DVD-navigation system with voice activation, XM Satellite Radio and OnStar.
As the next logical step in the evolution of GM's Performance Car Architecture, the new Corvette chassis and structure are significantly enhanced. The key features of the structure - low weight, high strength, cored composite floors, enclosed center tunnel, rear axle-mounted transmission and aluminum cockpit structure - all have been extensively revised to extend Corvette's total performance, with enhanced structural integrity, feel, refinement and quietness. Overall vehicle weight is significantly reduced, despite mass-increasing features such as larger wheels and tires, more robust brakes and increased body acoustics and interior features.
None of the suspension bits have been carried over from C5. The short-long arm and transverse leaf spring independent suspension configuration remains, but the cradles, control arms, knuckles, springs, dampers, bushings, stabilizer bars, and steering gear are all redesigned. The Extended Mobility Tires (EMT) also are new, taking advantage of the latest sidewall design and compound technology for run-flat capabilities, and play a critical role in the tuning of the suspension for excellent handling and comfortable ride. Three suspension choices allow drivers to choose the setup that best suits their driving style - Standard, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, and Z51 Performance Package. The Standard suspension is tuned for a balance of ride comfort and precise handling. Improvements in ride and handling include greater lateral acceleration, more body control, less noise transmitted from the road, and better traction and stability in corners. The specific tuning changes in the chassis and suspension include suspension and steering geometry optimized for better handling and ride, advanced compounds in the tires, new directional control arm bushings, increased caster angle and greater suspension ride travel. The result is a Corvette that is more poised at even higher handling levels, yet easier to drive. The optional F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension features magneto-rheological dampers able to detect road surfaces and adjust the damping rates to those surfaces almost instantly for optimal ride and body control. Magnetic Ride Control debuted on the 2003 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette, and is the world's fastest reacting suspension, replacing mechanical valves with nearly instantaneous reactions of magneto-rheological fluid. The system has been improved for the 2005 Corvette, allowing drivers more differentiation in character between the system's two settings, "Tour" and "Sport." The Z51 Performance Package brings Corvette Coupe performance very close to the same level as the widely admired Z06. The Z51 offers more aggressive dampers and springs, larger stabilizer bars, and larger, cross-drilled brake rotors for optimum track performance capability while still providing a well-controlled and comfortable ride. Extensive racetrack testing reveals that a 2005 Corvette equipped with the Z51 suspension almost equals the lap time of a 2004 Z06 - marking a major advance in the overall performance of a Corvette Coupe by approximating the extreme performance capabilities of the vaunted Z06 at a remarkable value.
The hood is still forward-hinged, but is 15 percent smaller, 35 percent lighter, and 40 percent stiffer than the previous Corvette. The rear hatch has a power-operated single-cinching latch for excellent fit and easy operation. Doors are stiffer and easier to close, doing so with a more refined sound. There are no traditional door handles on the 2005 Corvette. The new Corvette features GM's Keyless Access with Push Button Start technology. By detecting the proximity of the key fob, the system both unlocks the doors and allows it to be started.
The Coupe's removable-roof panel is 15 percent larger, yet offers the same structural stiffness as C5's while weighing just one pound more. The roof panel comes standard painted body color, or is available with optional tinted clear or with a dual-roof package.
With new indexing side-window glass and redesigned seals, Corvette is much more free from wind noise, too. And the many improvements in tires, suspension, and body structure yield impressive reductions in road noise, while improving overall quality perception and making long trips that much more pleasurable.
General Motors Media
Ergonomics are normally not something associated with sports cars, but Dave Hill's team really thought through the location of every switch and dial. There are even two surprisingly effective cupholders in the new C6. We would have preferred a fully electric tilt/telescope wheel, however. The car comes with a tilt system, and the telescoping feature is an option.
Seats are comfortable, yet supportive, and they can handle even a large, 6'2" frame comfortably.
Just one word: Plastic
If we have one complaint, it's the center stack. Why do manufacturers invest so much and then cut corners with cheap plastic surfaces Wal-Mart would reject? The C6 audio system may sound great, but visually, it could have come out of the cheapest Chevy Aveo.
That said, there isn't much to complain about with the new Corvette. You're getting performance to rival a 911 at the price of a Boxster. Compared to the Viper, this is an incredibly sophisticated car that makes it easy to drive at the limits, but doesn't numb and dumb you down.
The Car Connection
For the first time, the Corvette is available with such luxuries as a navigation system and seat heaters. Keyless entry and start-up with a pushbutton are standard. Electric door latches have been added, so the odd-looking interior door handle is replaced by a simple button. The interior looks and works better, with only one ergonomic mistake: The buttons used to page through the trip computer and a series of various gauges are mounted on the outer rim of the gauge cluster where they are blocked completely from view by the steering wheel.
Nothing in our test car rattled or squeaked-a testament to the C6's rigid frame, changes to which were minimal, other than having its ends clipped.
Before we get to the numbers, a word about ride quality. It's impressively smooth. The suspension communicates the contours of the road and filters out the harshness. Frost heaves cutting across entrance ramps that used to make the hind end jittery are now soaked up nicely. There's a resilience to the suspension that reminds us of BMW's 3-series.
The stability-control system has a button that either shuts it off or selects a competition mode that allows more slip before intervening than the fully active mode.
Clutch take-up is considerably lighter than on the C5 Corvette and the 400 bhp at 6000 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4400 rpm can be easily modulated through the drive-by-wire throttle. The C6 is quite docile at low speeds thanks to this smooth delivery of engine output. Only two aspects of the Tremec T56 6-speed manual gearbox rate criticism: The shifter's precise action doesn't like to be hurried and the 1st-to-4th skip-shift seems to be most active when you're on your best behavior, i.e., short-shifting under moderate acceleration. Drivers with a heavy foot or those with the patience to wait out the skip-shift's window of operation are rewarded with unimpeded upshifts.
Both coupe and convertible are solid, expected in the former and surprising in the latter, since the convertible weighs a scant 120 lb. more than the coupe. Despite not having a fixed roof, the convertible has a stiff cowl with little shake. The manual top is standard but there is an optional power opener (for an extra $2000) that works in 18 seconds. Merely twist a center handle to release the top and push a button, and the skies open up. This power option adds about 14 lb. to the convertible's curb weight. The triple-layer top seals effectively to give the car coupe-like noise levels when in place.
One of the goals was to increase performance while improving the Corvette's refinement. This is now a car with an amazingly wide range of capabilities. Around VIR, we drove a Z51 for maybe 20 laps as if it were someone else's, but its performance was so strong that we never tapped the limit of its potential. And it didn't show a single sign that the hot laps were detrimental. It's the perfect everything sports car: fast enough to keep you interested during a day of lapping and refined and comfortable enough to make the slog home, or the daily commute, a relaxing experience.
Car and Driver
History:
1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette C5
5,665 cc / 350 hp / 360-375 lb-ft / 3210-3248 lbs / 0-60 mph 4.9 sec.
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