New C6 via Motor Trend

[gbjerke]

Got my April issue of above today...go get a copy!
Has 9 articles on Vettes in general but specifically one on the upcoming C6. Looks good to me. Front shows fixed headlights essentially in the pockets we have now. Front fascia has a couple of openings we don't currently have. Sides look similar as to now but the 1/4 panels seem to have a kick up more pronounced.
The rear shot is of a hatchback and doesn't do much for me.
They indicate they have "scooped, filtered, and assembled" all info they have and say they know they are "close" to what we will see.
They predict that the C6 will come w/ 350 cubes and 425 horses.
That the Z06 will follow a year later and predict 500/500 (hp/torque) all at a lighter weight!
They refer to the next generation Z06 will polish off the Viper and mention that the "ultra powerful test mule called the Blue Devil is touring the GM test loop". All kinds of tech stuff for the next Z engine also...excuse me for a minute...gotta go clean out my drawers.
Couple other things...you know, some of the things we have complained about. Fit/finish for one. They indicate higher surface quality (no orange peel?); fitment at 3 millimeter gap range of the "best steel bodied cars." Also the interior will no longer be "the cheap look of plastics" (personally, I could care less)---however it will be brought up to $50k car standards with Bob Lutz's approval.
Lastly, HUGE Brembos at all 4 corners. Damn, need another clean pair of shorts. Better seats, better leather....
Only thing that ticks me off about all this is the fact that I was seriously thinking of selling the '01, picking up an '03 and waiting for the new Z06 in late '05 ...I have a bad habit of not keeping cars very long
Already the regular C6 sounds exciting.

[LBFBTLE]

yeah it sure does....

[JBsZ06]

Lots of good information..between the hp and the weight ..

I don't care about the interior that much either..as my butt doesn't really care about the quality of leather its sitting on...

Those CCM brembos are going to be awesome though..

Life time rotors that not only never wear out but reduce unsprung weight of the rotors by 30%..

Having Cadillac share the BG plant has given the Corvette team a lot of extra money to play with..

I wouldn't worry about the fastback look in the magazine..

Theres no way that sucker would pass into production..

You couldn't see in the blind spots and those days are long gone..

Thats just camaflauge in my opinion..

I'm planning to hold on to my 2001 Z until the second year of the C6 Z06...and never pay over MSRP..

[LBFBTLE]

is the convertible coming out during the first year of production? if so, i will purchase the vert in 04 and then the Z or whatever they call the HO version in 05 or 06.....

[JBsZ06]

I believe the convertible is first year right out of the gate...(unlike the C5 release a year later)

Sometime in 2004 as a 2005 model year.

Your right 425hp in a 3100 lb base model sure sounds impressive...(if rumor is true)

[Ted Pennington]

This sounds all well and good, did they happen to give any idea on the price range, I personally don't the 50K is goin' to make it.
JMO

Ted

[LBFBTLE]

if 425/425 at 3100 are the numbers for the C6, brembos at the corners and the suspension and handling improve as expected then the C6 should outperform the current Z right out of the box.. as a matter of fact, i think i read somewhere that the mules were lapping the Z at a test track.

i hope you are right about the convertible being in the first year...

do we know what colors yet?

[Desmo]

By the time the C6 Z06 comes out I bet the price is something like $60K at least. It's 2 years from now plus alot more car.

[bodale]

I think the new Z06 in 2006 will probably approach the 65,000$ range. It is 3 years from now and if it has 500 hp etc mentioned, I dont see how it couldnt be at least this much- especially with the better interior-IMHO

[FredLewandowski]

I believe you are right about the pricing!

Keep the 02 and add the C6 to the stable in a couple of years!

[Zlicious]

500 hp for the 06 Z6?
Oh yaa!! perfect time for my lease to be up on my current Z.

[tlaselva]

Damn, if the preliminaries are correct on the C6 Z, I'd better start saving up.....

[Kens06]

The next version of the Z will be in the $60K range and you will never see below MSRP again!
Hell, you couldn't buy a Corvette under sticker in '72 when they had the gas crisis and they were giving gas guzzlers away.

[Paul Vincent]

But, you could buy a '72 Vette (soft top only) for about $4995 in '72, and you could buy a '78 (not 25th anniv) for app. $9,000. If the C6 Z06 is $65,000, then I have to believe that Chevy is finally ready to defang the Viper. But if it is to have app 500 hp and tq., then will it really be possible for it to weigh 3100 lbs (and still have all the creature comforts)? It can be done, but it will take a magician to pull it off (for $65,000).

[JAvery20]

500hp... wow i think i can say what everyone is thinking.

WOOHOO!