Chevrolet Corvette (C6)
The Chevrolet Corvette is the sixth generation of the Corvette sports car that was produced by Chevrolet from 2005 to 2013. It is the first Corvette with exposed headlamps since the 1962 model. Production variants include the Z06, ZR1, Grand Sport, and 427 Convertible. Racing variants include the C6.R, an American Le Mans Series GT1 championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE-Pro winner.
Overview
The Corvette C6 featured new bodywork with exposed headlamps, revised suspension geometry, a larger passenger compartment, a larger V8 engine and a higher level of refinement. It is 5.1 inches shorter than the C5, but the wheelbase was increased by 1.2 inches. It is also one inch narrower. The new GM LS2 engine has a power output of at 6,000 rpm and of torque at 4,400 rpm. Like the C5, the Corvette C6's suspension consisted of independent unequal-length double wishbones with transverse fiberglass mono-leaf springs and optional magnetorheological dampers.With an automatic transmission, the Corvette achieves city/highway fuel economies of, while the manual-transmission model returns. The Corvette's manual transmission is fitted with Computer Aided Gear Shifting, which forces the driver to shift from 1st gear directly to 4th when operating at lower engine speeds. This boosts the EPA's derived fuel economy, allowing the buyer to avoid paying the "gas guzzler" tax. GM badges were added to the car in 2006.
Beginning with the 2008 model year, the Corvette received a new engine, the LS3. With displacement increased to, power was increased to at 6,500 rpm and of torque at 4,600 rpm, or and with the optional vacuum actuated valve exhaust. The earlier Tremec T56 manual transmission was replaced with the newer TR6060 in the 2008 model year. Manual Corvette models now had improved shift linkage; the automatic model was set up for quicker shifts, and accelerates from 0 to in 4.0 seconds, faster than any other production automatic Corvette model. From 2008 onward, the steering was revised for improved feel and the wheels were updated to a new five-spoke design. The last Corvette C6, a white 427 convertible, was completed on February 28, 2013.
Z06
The Z06 arrived for the 2006 model year as a homologation vehicle in the third quarter of 2005 and is the lightest of all Corvette models. The Z06 was equipped with the largest-displacement small-block engine ever produced, a new V8 engine codenamed the LS7. The engine has a power output of at 6,300 rpm and at 4,800 rpm of torque. Until the introduction of the LT6 engine in October 2021, the LS7 was the most powerful production naturally-aspirated engine made by General Motors. In addition to the larger displacement engine, the Corvette Z06 has a dry sump oiling system, and connecting rods made out of titanium alloy. The frame of the Z06 is constructed from aluminum, saving over the prior generation C5's steel frame. Other weight saving measures such as balsa wood/carbon fiber composite floors and a magnesium alloy engine cradle were used. The Z06's body differentiates itself from the standard Corvette with its larger front and rear fenders and an intake inlet scoop on the front bumper. The front fenders are constructed with carbon fiber and the rear fenders contain ducts to aid in cooling the rear brakes. The Z06 weighed, giving it a weight to power ratio of, allowing it to achieve a fuel economy of in the city and on the highway. The Z06 was the official pace car for both the 2006 Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 race. Car and Driver recorded a 0– acceleration time of 3.6 seconds and 1/4 mile in 11.7 seconds at in October 2005. The Z06 contains the following enhancements over the standard C6 Corvette:- Hand-built LS7 V8 with dry sump oiling system
- Aluminum chassis with fixed roof
- Larger/stiffer anti-sway bars
- Stiffer springs and shocks
- Larger rear spoiler and front splitter
- Transmission cooler
- Unique front fascia with intake inlet
- Wider carbon fiber front and fiberglass rear fenders
- Functional front and rear brake ducts for added brake system cooling
- Unique light weight forged aluminum 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels; painted finish standard and chromed finish optional
- Wider 275/35ZR18 tires in the front and wider 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
- Larger 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, including cross-drilled front rotors and rear rotors
- Optional 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ trim packages.
ZR1
The ZR1 is the high performance variant of the Z06 and was first reported by several print and online publications, based on rumors that General Motors was developing a production version of the Corvette above the Z06 level under the internal code name Blue Devil. The car was originally rumored to feature a supercharged LS9 engine having a power output of more than.The October 12, 2006 issue of AutoWeek published photos by photographer Chris Doane of a C6 Z06 with special auto-manufacturer-issued license plates with a hood bulge, widely thought to confirm the presence of a supercharger on the Blue Devil. Other names attached to the project included Corvette SS, after the late '50 racing car, and Corvette Z07. In February 2007, a worker at a Michigan shipping company posted pictures online of a powertrain development mule that was being shipped to Germany, believed to be part of the Blue Devil program. The car had manufacturer's license plates, carbon-ceramic disc brakes, enlarged fender vents, a hood bulge, and an engine with a positive-displacement supercharger in the valley between the cylinder banks and a water-to-air intercooler atop it.
GM began to release details on the Blue Devil project in April 2007. The company confirmed the existence of the project in an interview with Car and Driver on April 13. Engine power levels were confirmed to be between, but contrary to prior rumors of a supercharged 6.2-liter engine, the engine was only confirmed to have greater displacement than the 7.0-liter LS7 in the Z06. Motor Trend confirmed the official name for the production version of the Blue Devil, resurrecting the old ZR1 nameplate. The ZR1 had originally been used on developmental cars in 1971, and again as ZR-1 as the top of the line variant of the C4 Corvette. General Motors officially introduced the Corvette ZR1 on December 19, giving a press release and photographs of the car. GM confirmed a supercharged 6.2 L LS9 V8 having a power output of at 6,500 rpm and of torque at 3,800 rpm. Motor Trend tested the ZR1 in October 2008 and achieved a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 11.2 seconds at 130.5 mph. At the time of testing, the ZR1 was faster in the quarter-mile than almost every other car Motor Trend had ever tested. Notable cars that were faster than the ZR1 included the Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, and the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. The ZR1 is engineered to reach speeds up to.
Carbon fiber is used on the roof, hood, fenders, front splitter, and rocker moldings; the hood and fenders are painted over, while the roof and splitter are merely covered in a clear-coat, retaining their original black color. A polycarbonate window is placed in the center of the hood, allowing the engine intercooler to be seen from the exterior. The wheels were the largest ever placed on a production Corvette, with both front and rear wheels increasing in size and diameter over the Z06. Carbon-ceramic brakes are included. The brake calipers are painted blue, as are the engine intercooler trim and the ZR1 logo. Magnetic Selective Ride Control was also included on the car, with sensors to automatically adjust stiffness levels based on road conditions and vehicle movement.
Grand Sport
The 2010 Grand Sport was unveiled at the 12th annual C5/C6 Corvette Birthday Bash, held at the National Corvette Museum. The Grand Sport replaces the previous Z51 option. The GS or Grand Sport was equipped with the following enhancements:- Specific manual transmission with different gear ratios
- Larger/stiffer anti-sway bars
- Stiffer springs
- Revised shocks
- Larger Z06 rear spoiler
- Transmission cooler
- Functional front and rear brake ducts for added brake system cooling
- Unique light weight forged aluminum 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels
- Z06 brakes, including cross-drilled front rotors and rear rotors
- Specific rear axle ratio on automatic transmission equipped models
- Optional 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim packages.
- Wider front and rear fenders with integrated Grand Sport badges
- Wider 275/35ZR18 tires in the front
- Wider 325/30ZR19 tires in the rear
- 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear calipers
- Dry-sump oil system
- Hand-built LS3 6.2 L V8
- launch control
Engines
| Type | Years |
| LS2 | 2005–2007 |
| LS3 | 2008–2013 |
| LS7 | 2006–2013 |
| LS9 | 2009–2013 |
The LS2 was replaced by LS3 from model years 2008–2013.
The LS3 engine in the GS convertible or Grand Sport coupe equipped with an automatic transmission has wet sump instead of dry sump lubrication.