US press first drives in C6
Discussion
Here's an update on what the US motoring press has to say about their first drives in C6. All are based on cars with the Z51 performance package, said to be very close to former ZO6 overall.
Road & Track.
"Compact proportions that Europeans will love"
"Clutch take-up lighter then C5 though the shifter's precise action doesn't like to be rushed".
"Low noise levels and refinement could be the car's achilles heel, a bit more bark in the exhaust would raise the excitement"
"The new car remains much better poised and planted in bumpy curves than its predecessor"
"Look for 500 bhp in the new ZO6 which will move further away from the base Corvette"
"C7 is already being talked about. As in 1997 it may well be another new beginning".
Car & Driver
"A mix of dramatic and detail changes to the C5 creating a car that's better in every way"
"The various electronic features - keyless start, auto door locks, electric door latches - can be more annoying than useful. On cars with auto transmission the driver is required to step on the brake pedal before the car will start" (clutch in manual)
"The C6 feels much like the C5. That said the C6 is better in every respect"
Motor Trend
"We're convinced the new corvette is indeed the legitimate son of C5 and not some short-cut clone or long-lost brother"
Corvette Blue Devil. 7 liters. 700-725 bhp. Price $100.000 plus. "If the car is produced at all it will be several years after the ZO6 makes its debut in the 2006 model year"
"If the C7 improves this much, we don't care how soon it arrives or how much it looks like this car".
Overall they are very enthusiastic about the new car. Improvements in handling in bumpy curves are attributed mainly to revised Goodyear run-flats so maybe there's a cheap upgrade for C5 owners - just change the tyres to something with a softer side wall. Sounds familiar! Maybe the larger C6 wheels and tyres will bolt straight onto a C5.
Remnants of two hurricanes in USA should be making it wet and windy in UK sometime soon. Drive carefully...
Road & Track.
"Compact proportions that Europeans will love"
"Clutch take-up lighter then C5 though the shifter's precise action doesn't like to be rushed".
"Low noise levels and refinement could be the car's achilles heel, a bit more bark in the exhaust would raise the excitement"
"The new car remains much better poised and planted in bumpy curves than its predecessor"
"Look for 500 bhp in the new ZO6 which will move further away from the base Corvette"
"C7 is already being talked about. As in 1997 it may well be another new beginning".
Car & Driver
"A mix of dramatic and detail changes to the C5 creating a car that's better in every way"
"The various electronic features - keyless start, auto door locks, electric door latches - can be more annoying than useful. On cars with auto transmission the driver is required to step on the brake pedal before the car will start" (clutch in manual)
"The C6 feels much like the C5. That said the C6 is better in every respect"
Motor Trend
"We're convinced the new corvette is indeed the legitimate son of C5 and not some short-cut clone or long-lost brother"
Corvette Blue Devil. 7 liters. 700-725 bhp. Price $100.000 plus. "If the car is produced at all it will be several years after the ZO6 makes its debut in the 2006 model year"
"If the C7 improves this much, we don't care how soon it arrives or how much it looks like this car".
Overall they are very enthusiastic about the new car. Improvements in handling in bumpy curves are attributed mainly to revised Goodyear run-flats so maybe there's a cheap upgrade for C5 owners - just change the tyres to something with a softer side wall. Sounds familiar! Maybe the larger C6 wheels and tyres will bolt straight onto a C5.
Remnants of two hurricanes in USA should be making it wet and windy in UK sometime soon. Drive carefully...
All very well but time after time after time, the C6 comes a distant second to the C5 in the looks department and there are lots and lots and lots of existing C5 owners who don't like it.
The American Press are very good at talking up the Corvette C6 and there is no doubt that the improvements implemented with the C6 are a step forward over a C5 if not a Z06. However, you only have to put a C6 side by side with a TVR Sagaris to see which one looks like some pseudo-Japanese sports car. Perhaps GM should have bought TVR and used that badge as a base for the "SuperVette" they crave.
I applaud GM for concentrating on making the car a better handler and performer rather than just doing a C5.5 and it seems they are pursuing a "lighter means better" philosophy with the Vette development. Who needs even more power if the car is lighter. Lighter is cheaper than throwing money at bigger power outputs and less weight means more reliability.
There are already spyshots of the C6 Z06 with what looks to be a wider "ZR1 design philosophy" rear end and it looks fairly certain that a 427 500bhp plus engine is coming to sit in it. Let's just hope they give it a redesign at the same time to give it a little more aggression.
The American Press are very good at talking up the Corvette C6 and there is no doubt that the improvements implemented with the C6 are a step forward over a C5 if not a Z06. However, you only have to put a C6 side by side with a TVR Sagaris to see which one looks like some pseudo-Japanese sports car. Perhaps GM should have bought TVR and used that badge as a base for the "SuperVette" they crave.
I applaud GM for concentrating on making the car a better handler and performer rather than just doing a C5.5 and it seems they are pursuing a "lighter means better" philosophy with the Vette development. Who needs even more power if the car is lighter. Lighter is cheaper than throwing money at bigger power outputs and less weight means more reliability.
There are already spyshots of the C6 Z06 with what looks to be a wider "ZR1 design philosophy" rear end and it looks fairly certain that a 427 500bhp plus engine is coming to sit in it. Let's just hope they give it a redesign at the same time to give it a little more aggression.
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