Corvette Model Gallery

Refined Perfection - 2005 - present

After its introduction in 1997, the C5 became unexpectedly successful, to the point that GM was confident in investing on the next generation to keep the momentum going.  Around 1999, Dave Hill, Corvette executive and chief engineer  since 1992, started passing notes around and the C6 began to take shape.  They started compiling a list of little things in the C5 that would need to be perfected.  The original idea was to debut the new C6 for the 50th anniversary in 2003, but the economy, Sept. 11 and other factors delayed the whole project.  The performance goal was to get C5 Z06 performance standard on the base Corvette.  Another aspects addressed were interior road noise and interior material's quality.  Part of the Corvette team were Chief Designer-Tom Peters, assistant chief engineer Tadge Juetchter, Powertrain system engineer Bill Nichols, Chassis-Dave Zimmerman, Electrical-Stan Modjeski, Interiors-Fernando Krambeck, Exterior-Luke Ananian, Structure-Ed Moss,  HVAC and cooling-Mark Pickering and well over 200 other engineers and over 1000 staff.   The C6 debuted in 2004 as a 2005 model in both coupe and convertibles.  The convertible becoming available a bit later in the year.  The Ultra High Performance Z06 debuted in 2005 as a 2006 model.  Base engine is a 400 HP 6.0 liters V8 version of the gen 3 called LS-2, while the Z06 has the biggest production small block ever created by GM, a 7.0 liter (427 cu in) 505 HP/470 lbs-ft torque monster.  The Z06 was designed in conjunction with the C6-R factory road racer.  The C6-R continues the C5-R legacy of winning performance, Winning the 2005 LeMans 24 hr race among other races.

The models:

 

 

 

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Page updated  04/18/08