-          OnStar  ($695)

Exterior colors available on the coupe and roadster included Black, Le Mans Blue (a premium color, i.e., extra cost option and 2004's best selling color), Victory Red (available in Fall 2004), Magnetic Red Metallic (premium color, Precision Red (available only through September until Victory Red was introduced), Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic, Millennium Yellow (premium color), Machine Silver Metallic, and Arctic White.

Quick Silver was replaced by Machine Silver Metallic and Speedway White was replaced with Arctic White.  Torch Red was ultimately replaced by Precision Red.  The new color was Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic.  Precision Red became an instant collector's Corvette with the decision to replace the color with Victory Red...closer to Torch Red...in the fall of 2004.

Interior colors included Ebony, Cashmere, Steel Grey and Red.

Initially, two wheel options were offered, a 5-spoke and 10-spoke wheel.

In early December, 2004 Chevrolet announced a third wheel option for the MY 2005 Corvette, a 5-spoke
"Competition Gray" painted wheel.   Competition Gray was the tint previously used on the C5 Corvette Z06 wheel.  The new Option QX1 cost each customer an additional $295.

Power
Hill and his team started with offering the most power standard engine ever offered in the Corvette line.  The new LS2 6.0-liter all-aluminum V8 has a peak output of 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque.
Mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox and two available ratios, one with aggressive acceleration characteristics reserved for Corvette's Z51 Performance Package that emulates the performance of the C5's popular Z06 model.

A 4-speed automatic transmission is an upgraded version of the C5's, enhanced 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.   The 4L65-E 4-speed automatic transmission (a no-charge option) is an upgraded version of the previous 4L60-E design.  Featuring a new Performance Shift Algorithm, the 4L65-E automatic can capably handle the LS2 V-8’s 400 lb.-ft. of torque. 

Passion
The signature of the sixth generation is an expressive new design that is a worthy extension of the Corvette lineage. Corvette features a taut new body that is 5 inches shorter than the C5, and roughly 1 inch narrower. The result is a lean, muscular form that also aids the car's agility and performance.

As always, Corvette offers character and flair, expressed in a purposeful manner. The car includes large wheels (18-inch in front, 19-inch in rear) topped by dramatic fender forms.   For the first time since the C1 generation, the Corvette's headlamps are exposed.  The grille features the egg crate look of the C2 generation and the fenders harken back to the coke-bottle body of the C3.  Looking remarkably like the C5 (some would say the C6 represents an evolutionary step.  The rear fascia features a crisp, tapered look with round taillamps and integrated exhaust trips.

Precision
Corvette precision is evident in every detail. The hallmark twin-cockpit layout delivers premium quality with new technology meant to enhance the driving experience.   The instrument panel and door trim areas feature cast skin, which retains the look and feel of genuine leather with a soft, low gloss and low glare that conveys premium appearance and quality. Anodized aluminum accents the interior in key areas, such as the manual shift knob and door release buttons. This material includes a screen-printed applique´ that minimizes sun glare, and is resistant to temperature changes and fingerprints.

Chevrolet upped the ante on gadgets with new electronics including Keyless Access, push-button start, an improved, reconfigurable Head-Up display with push-button start, DVD-navigation system with voice activation along with two staples from other GM models:  XM Satellite Radio and OnStar.

The Extended Mobility Tires 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.
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.

Three suspension choices allow drivers to choose the setup that best suits their driving style — Standard, Magnetic Selective Ride Control, or Z51 Performance Package. The Standard suspension is tuned for a balance of ride comfort and precise handling.

The optional F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension (at $1,695...unchanged from 2004) features magneto-rheological dampers able to detect road surfaces and adjust the damping rates to those surfaces for optimal ride and body control. Introduced in the 50th Anniversary Corvette, the system is enhanced for the 2005 model, allowing more differentiation between the two settings, "Tour" and "Sport."

For $1,495 Chevrolet continued to offer enthusiasts the Z51 package with aggressive dampers and springs, large stabilizer bars, and cross-drilled brake rotors for optimum track performance capability, and oil/power steering/transmission coolers while still providing a controlled and comfortable ride.  For 2005, the package is enhanced with the inclusion of larger cross-drilled brake rotors, specific Goodyear F1 ‘Supercar’ tires, and performance gear ratios (manual trans.)/axle ratios (automatic trans.)

Although the retractable headlights fell by the wayside, Chevrolet did not tamper with the hood which remained forward-hinged, but smaller, lighter and stiffer than the C5's. The rear hatch had a power-operated single-cinching latch for excellent fit and easy operation.   Doors have no traditional handles, are stiffer and easier to close.  The Keyless Access system detects the proximity of the key fob, the system both unlocks the doors and allows the engine to be started.  The removable roof panel is 15 percent larger, yet offers the same structural stiffness as C5's while weighing less. The standard roof panel is painted body color, or you can opt for a clear-tint version, or a dual-roof package.

On October 6, 2004 the Corvette assembly line shut down because of problems with the six-speed transmission.  The following morning, the assembly line was started up again.

Ordering information on the MY 2005 Corvette: