Fully exposed C6 body

Fully exposed C6 body

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z064life

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=47992

IMHO, it looks awesome, even though the front is similar to a Viper for the headlights, but then that isn't a problem to me.

Also, 625BHP C6 TT? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=689320

Makes sense with this quote from Bob Lutz:

You did the Viper during your stint at Chrysler, and now Neil Hannemann, who led the Viper team, is doing the GT at Ford. Does GM need a Viper/GT class vehicle, or is the Corvette strong enough to handle that role?
Let me tell you that the Corvette C6 will have versions where we confidently predict it will suck the doors off of both the cars that you just named. The current Z06, with 400 horsepower, on the Gingerman Raceway, laps faster with its 400 horsepower than the new Viper does with 500. So other than just brutal straightline acceleration, the Z06 is faster today. Clearly the C6 Corvette, without giving anything away, is going to be a major step forward in vehicle mass, dimensions, handling, braking and, most important of all, power-to-weight ratio. So I think whatever gap exists now is going to be eliminated — in total performance. I think we'll match the competition in acceleration, and we will beat them in on-road handling. And if the Z06 version of the C6 is not enough to do it, we've got a few tricks up our sleeve, which we're already investigating. But it will always be Corvette-based.

And ZR1415, what was the magazine article which you thought I wrote, about?

>>> Edited by z064life on Wednesday 12th November 17:07

malc350

1,035 posts

247 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
I think C5 values will go up if anything that ugly bears the Corvette name!

Talk about an identity crisis - someone tell me that Nissan/Mazda/Toyota/Honda/Kitcar hybrid clone will never sees the light of day.

Can't believe anyone compared it to a Viper (cool good looking car)!!!

An unusually venomous post from me but I'm keeping those photos as an emergency laxative.

Or maybe it will look better in the flesh...?

z064life

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
Just to clarify, I only compared this car to a Viper in terms of looks, and nothing else (more specifically, the headlights).

Gixer

4,463 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
Front looks like an FTO to me.

Problem with all these pics is the lack of anything else in the picture to give a good sense of scale

z064life

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
No comments on the 625BHP thing?

Apparently, it is to be called a ZL1 or ZR1 (I think it is mentioned on the link - these designations were used before, as well). The article was originally from some automotive design magazine.

Gixer

4,463 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
Lots of power is always a good thing but so are looks. I would say looks are the most important part. Most fast cars have about the same performance on the road. We are talking differences of points of a second etc.

Everybody has different taste and one of the reasons we are driving vettes is not just the performance - there are other cars out there with similar performance - its 'cause we like vettes. Whatevever the C6 ends up looking like I just hope it keeps its identity as a vette.

Until I see a C6 in the flesh I wont know if I like it or not. Pictures of a car you have never seen before never do it justice

z064life

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
Gixer said:
Lots of power is always a good thing but so are looks. I would say looks are the most important part. Most fast cars have about the same performance on the road. We are talking differences of points of a second etc.

Everybody has different taste and one of the reasons we are driving vettes is not just the performance - there are other cars out there with similar performance - its 'cause we like vettes. Whatevever the C6 ends up looking like I just hope it keeps its identity as a vette.

Until I see a C6 in the flesh I wont know if I like it or not. Pictures of a car you have never seen before never do it justice


Ok, I don't want to start a debate (although this is more friendly conversation) or question everything you type, but isn't lots of power just too much in some cases? 625BHP won't be used @ the track (well, not all of it anyway, if the track is twisty). A good example of building cars with insane and unrealistic amounts of power are MB. There is a point when the power becomes to much for any use but a straight line (some of the power on track, maybe), and not for street use, and Vettes are intended to be used on the street. Too much power just harms the driver and car abilites in the end.

LuS1fer

41,140 posts

246 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
The Americans are easily pleased and this car seems to be appealing to their new-found Too Fast Too Furious infatuation but it's difficult to judge what that front end will look like when it's finished. To me, it looks like an MX5 front with shades of the old NSX in the centre section. I have to say I'm not impressed and prefer the C5. I also think the rear end is an odd regression to the early C4 but again, I'll wait for the final light pattern to emerge. Let's pray they're not altezza style rice units.

What a shame that the new Honda NSX recently unveiled has moved the game on so far ahead of this "safe" yet seemingly uninspired design. At least the overhangs are short. I hope it goes better than it looks but white never did any car any favours so I'll reserve judgement. Maybe not for long though...

I believe that we'll get a stock 400bhp C6 and a 500bhp Z06 as the current Z06 is faster than a Viper where it counts and 500 is enough to sort the Viper out.

The 625bhp engine will, I think, underscore the hardcore Supervette they've been talking about and I think it will be aimed at the Ford GT which obviously looks better, retro or not. As for twin turbos, GM have previously failed with the spectacularly expensive Callaway C4 Corvette but the Lingenfelter C5 TT Corvette has demonstrated that 800bhp is perfectly feasible in a road car although that's from a 7 litre I believe. That car has hit 60 in 1.9 seconds on slick tyres and runs the quarter in the 9's at over 150mph. As an exercise in shutting down the opposition, it is a profound statement. The videos of this car beating Hennessy Vipers is poetry to behold.

GM thought they hit the supercar target with the C5 and were a little miffed that Europe disagreed. The Z06 was their belated answer but Europe had already dismissed the Corvette as irrelevant. If the C6 is a truly great car at it's launch, everyone will have to take notice as it remains the world's best-selling sports car. However, the likes of Clarkson can still kill it stone dead if the looks aren't right.

Whatever happens, as that Forum shows, the Yanks will fall down and worship it which will at least ensure a Corvette C7. I hope the Supervette gets a different body treatment. As for 625bhp? Yes, I think that's about right as long as McLaren or someone have had a word about controlling such power. Ford used Lotus for the GT which GM unfortunately sold.

Though disappointed (for now), I'll forgive it anything if it handles better than the current Z06 and is faster than a TVR Cerbera whilst remaining totally reliable.

Ali_T

3,379 posts

258 months

Wednesday 12th November 2003
quotequote all
Hmmm. Really not sure!!! Have to say that if you see any car in that state it won't look right. I like the front on the whole, though the lower grill is a little bland, but the rear looks too short and fat for my tastes. Overall, I prefer the C5. But don't we always say that when a new car shape we're not used to comes out. I remember thinking the same about the 355! I was...erm...wrong

I'll give it time and see. Besides, I won't be able to afford a C6 Z06 for a few years after launch. So if someone could buy one in a nice dark metallic blue or black, I'll start saving. Make sure you look after it for me

As for having a twin turbo. I like NA engines. Always have and always will. I really DON'T like turbos. Personal preference but I'd be more than happy with 500bhp! Hell, 405 in the present Z06 is just fine!

LuS1fer

41,140 posts

246 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
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No, you were right about the 355.

blackzr

280 posts

247 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
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"but the Lingenfelter C5 TT Corvette has demonstrated that 800bhp is perfectly feasible in a road car although that's from a 7 litre I believe."

I am fortunate to know the guys at Lingenfelter very well, the 800/1000 bhp cars they produce do NOT reflect a useable road car in any way. As a for instance the 1000 bhp C5 in all of their promotional videos needs its transmission rebuilt after every other run on the drag strip.............yea REALLY useable!!!!

I have been involved in vehicle develpoment for major OEM's including GM and Corvette, if they do infact make a 625 bhp Vette it will be a non homologated special probably limited to a "race only" version.

vetteheadracer

8,271 posts

254 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
That car is pig ugly! It looks like an Mazda MX5 Coupe.

Pleased I bought a C5.....

LuS1fer

41,140 posts

246 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
blackzr said:
"but the Lingenfelter C5 TT Corvette has demonstrated that 800bhp is perfectly feasible in a road car although that's from a 7 litre I believe."

I am fortunate to know the guys at Lingenfelter very well, the 800/1000 bhp cars they produce do NOT reflect a useable road car in any way. As a for instance the 1000 bhp C5 in all of their promotional videos needs its transmission rebuilt after every other run on the drag strip.............yea REALLY useable!!!!

I have been involved in vehicle develpoment for major OEM's including GM and Corvette, if they do infact make a 625 bhp Vette it will be a non homologated special probably limited to a "race only" version.



yeah...apart from that I meant. LOL.

blackzr

280 posts

247 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
I think it may be a little premature to judge the car on a stripped proto body on a flat plate in some engineering shop somewhere!
The car in the pic looks like an Alpha (no not Alfa) prototype being prepared for torsional testing in which case by now the C6 could look nothing like the pic (which I have to say I like).
I will wait until I see a car in the flesh or at least one with glass and wheels!

gaston

21,189 posts

247 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
At least it doesn't seem to look like the Caddy - but I need to see a finished car in the metal before passing judgment.

Ali_T

3,379 posts

258 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
Only 2 months until the speculation can stop and the long haul to save up for the Z06 begins...

blackzr

280 posts

247 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
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Or indeed in the plastic!

te51cle

2,342 posts

249 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
The rear reminds me of a Lotus Elise, and I'm not too keen on the headlights. Will reserve judgement until next year though.

LuS1fer

41,140 posts

246 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
Click on to p.3 of that thread and you can see the headlight behind the GM executive. Ferrari 360 style.

z064life

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

249 months

Thursday 13th November 2003
quotequote all
I seriously doubt that the car will have altezza rice style rear lights. I think there were exposed pics of the rear lights, and they were normal (very similar to the C5 - red for reflector and brake light, white for reverse, amber for indicator etc).

As for the NSX (HSC concept), it won't be the car of choice if Honda follow what they did with the previous NSX. The previous NSX looked nice, had a pretty much timeless design, handled and cornered well, was safe, fun to drive, ergonomically correct, nice interior. But that was it. It was suitable for the circuit with its great dynamics, not for the drag strip like most of the other cars in the market, because of its lack of power, and the car isn't easy to tune. Maximum power is 500bhp - I've never seen more. Only problem was straight line potential, and the car wasn't selling well because it had a lack of this. Even worse was that the new WRX STi and Evo 8 in the states were just as great and handling, slightly slower in a straight line, but more tuneable (STis aren't very tuneable, however). And that was for $30k. Granted, the WRX STi and Evo 8 are econoboxes with some performance, bodykit (a beneficial one), with the purpose of being rally cars for the road. Honda need more power, but they didn't/probably won't (HSC concept is rumoured to pack only 350bhp, which is nothing relatively), give the car more power because of:

A) This alledged 280bhp ceiling in Japan (which three or four cars have gone over by a bit).
B) They care more about the damn environment then their customers needs.
C) There is a displacement tax in Japan - higher the displacement, the more the tax for the carmaker and consumer.
D) Honda believe in efficiency - getting the most out of as little as possible. This might be a valid concept in some cases, but not in the case of a car. They would be trying to run with Vipers and Vettes on the straight line stuff, but would still lose. Handling would be close(R). A vette would once again be a bargain.

As for the LPE Vette thing, well those cars are awesome. LPE has the best customer service and workmanship, and is the benchmark for Vette tuning. But then you know that. It was a 427Ci/7 litre engine that was used (I think maybe the C5R engine). Hennessey's cars are also awesome - shame he WAS a crook - he has recently done work for customers in Tx (same state as his company), and delivered a reliable product on the deadline. And this is Venom 1000TT conversions I am talking about - the most expensive product to offer (and most power he offers). Funny thing is, he never screwed people who lived in Tx, where he lives, but if they were outside Tx then they were screwed (this was back in the day when he was at the peak of his criminal activities - even getting customers arrested). Strange. His demo cars, purely from a technical viewpoint, are awesome. SVSi are also good. I'd be interested to know if Hennessey would screw a customer from outside Tx - interesting example: a UK customer who wants a 1000TT conversion. But recently, he flew to a customer's house (a new customer), gave him a replacement part for a part which was damaged by the driver having a minor crash with the car (front bumper, it was). And the part was given for free, with JH paying for the flight and the costs on his part. He is also paying back the customers he ripped off by doing the work they wanted and paid for, and/or by paying them back (or, really). He is also donating money to charities, Red Cross in Iraq, etc. But then everyone here probably knows all this.

>> Edited by z064life on Thursday 13th November 17:30