History C6

Although originally destined to be in place for the 50th anniversary of the Corvette, Bob Lutz (formerly of Chrysler Corporation) reportedly was responsible for a year's delay.  The additional time gave Tom Peters and Dave Hill the opportunity to deliver a design and engineering success.

Kirk Bennion (see photo at right), lead exterior designer of the C6, explained that "This Corvette was to be lean, but with attitude.  We also wanted the car to be more athletic looking with a muscular appearance and we wanted a smaller, tighter exterior to set this car apart from other Corvettes."

Despite a high threat level warning (Code Orange) in the United States, the new calendar year (2004) arrived with the normal fanfare except that the first commercial break after midnight contained a Chevrolet commercial including a shot of the new C6 Corvette.  All of this whetted appetites for the official debut on January 4 at Detroit's North American International Auto Show.   The C6 was chosen as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2004 Favorite, edging out the 2005 Mustang as the favorite vehicle of visitors to the Official Web Site of the NAIAS.

Power, passion and precision were to be the hallmarks of this generation.   Power...stemmed from the new LS6 engine producing nearly as much horsepower and torque as the C5's last version of the Z06.   Passion represented by the new edgier shape of the C6 generation including the new fixed lights.   Precision?  The new interior with new technology and attention to detail, e.g., the color flags on the steering wheel.

• New 400-hp, 6.0 L all-aluminum V8 engine
• New chassis with longer wheelbase
• Standard short-throw six-speed manual transmission
• Standard Active Handling
• New, larger Goodyear Eagle F1 Extended Mobility Tires with tire-pressure monitoring system
• Available Magnetic Selective Ride Control with Sport and Tour modes
• Available Z51 Performance Package with unique springs, dampers, stabilizer bars, tires, cross-drilled brake rotors, unique transmission, and heavy duty steering and transmission coolers

• Sleek and dimensionally leaner exterior with reduced overall length
• Contemporary new profile and drag coefficient of less than .29
• Larger 18-inch front wheels/19-inch rear wheels
• Exposed High Intensity Discharge headlamps for improved appearance and a smooth, low hood line
• Refined interior with aluminum accents

• Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
• Available voice recognition DVD Navigation System with GPS and color touch screen
• Available in-dash six-disc CD changer with Bose premium seven-speaker system
• Available heated seats
• Available dual-mode Head-Up Display with lateral g-meter
• Available power telescopic steering column
• Available OnStar
• Available XM Satellite Radio

The new Vette is powered by a new LS2 6.0-liter small-block V8 that produces an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 lzb-ft of torque. In terms of overall dimensions, the C6 is more compact than its predecessor, measuring 5 inches shorter and about one inch narrower than the current Corvette. The wheels increase to 18 inches in diameter at the front and 19 inches at the rear.As with each new generation of Corvette, there were debates...was this a C5 1/2 or C6? 

The most noticeable difference in the exterior was the replacement of the retractable headlights.  Other changes in the exterior lines are significant and harken back to the Corvette's historic models.  Under the hood, power exuded by a new all-aluminum 6.0 Liter V-8 (LS2) delivering 400 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 400 lb.-ft pounds of torque at 4400 rpm.  

Road and Track's September 2004 issue reported that admittedly "...initial reports characterized this version as a C 5 1/2, something short of a full remake on the car."  However, R&T reported that "Nothing could be further from the truth." 

Motor Trend, in its September 2004 issue, echoed the sentiment in their cover page article which was subtitled:  "If this looks like a C5 1/2, one drive will make you C6."

In the end even BusinessWeek touted the new C6 as one that "...leapfrogs the last generation in every way:  The car's 400-hp V-8 bests the old one by 50 hp.  The all-new chassis provides a more comfy ride.  It rolls on bigger wheels.  The interior is classier.  Best of all, starting at $43,445, it's a steal compared with European performance cars."