It’s hard to believe that it was just a decade ago that the
Corvette was about to be sent to the graveyard, a victim of
cost-cutting and declining sales. In the early 1990s, GM’s senior
management threw in the towel as sports coupe sales plummeted and
the automaker’s balance sheet dwindled – just before Christmas
1991, then-GM Chairman Bob Stemple announced the company would
shutter 21 plants over four years. There was little room in the
budget for a fancy sports car that would bring minimal sales.
The decision to send the ‘Vette to the grave did not sit well
with then-Chevrolet General Manager Jin Perkins – a
straight-talking Texan – who funneled more than $1 million to
build the CERV IV (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle IV)
concept, which was a direct precursor of the C5 (5th
generation) Corvette. Once the concept was complete – engineers
put the interior and powertrain of the C5 in a C4 in just 90 days
– the Chevrolet team showed the concept to GM’s senior
management, who were convinced the company should keep the ‘Vette
alive. Perkins’ bet paid off.
Perkins deserves to be honored for his wiliness to stick his
neck out on the line to save the ‘Vette so that it could evolve
into the C6, which is one of the best performance car values on
the market. Period. Notice the term “value.” This car is not
cheap –as-tested our Z06 came to $81,170 – but when compared to
some of its similarly powerful brethren (the Z06 packs a 505 hp
7.0-liter V8) like the Ferrari F430, BMW M6, Dodge Viper and
Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s a bargain. Incidentally, the only
vehicle that comes close in terms of price is the ’08 Ford
Mustang Shelby GT500 (500 hp) which starts under $44,000, but is
still more pony car than high-performance sports car.
To meet European pedestrian crash legislation, designers
chucked the pop-up headlamps and replaced them with xenon
headlamps that sit behind slush clear lenses. This gives the car
a more industrial look while making it markedly more aerodynamic
at night. The Z06 – the current king of the Corvette’s power
roster – gets additional unique exterior touches, including a
splitter located along the bottom of the front fascia, wheel arch
extensions, wider rear fenders to cover the 19-in. rear tires
(18-in. tires are used up front), a taller rear spoiler and four
large, no nonsense stainless steel exhaust outlets.
Inside, the Z06 looks like the rest of the Corvette lineup,
albeit with a specially-designed gauge cluster (with the Z06 logo
and 7,000 rpm redline tachometer). Unfortunately, it’s also the
one area that lets you know this car is cheaper than the
competition. A plethora of plastics cover every part of the
cockpit, and although the grade is better than you’ll find on
most Chevrolet’s, it’s not on par with the materials used in a
Ferrari or a Lamborghini. One glaring example is the infotainment
system, which looks like an afterthought thanks to its big,
clunky appearance. Likewise, the seats seem better tailored for a
less premium sports sedan than a high-performance coupe.
What makes the Z06 really shine, however, is what’s underneath
the hood: the LS7 V8. It produces a hearty 505 hp @ 6,300 rpm and
470 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,800 rpm, and is the Z06’s heart and
soul. Utilizing technologies developed in the Corvette racing
program, the LS7 trims the fat (shedding nearly 60 lb. compared
to the base Corvette Coupe) by using titanium connecting rods,
cast-aluminum flat-top pistons, and CNC-ported aluminum cylinder
heads with titanium intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust
valves to provide maximum performance. This mates to a 6-speed
manual transmission that provided excellent responsiveness thanks
to its short-throw design.
The Corvette is a testament that Chevrolet and GM can build
great cars that excite the heart and soul for reasonable cost,
and it should be a template for all GM’s engineering and
development teams for how to succeed in the future. Thanks again,
Jim.
Vehicle as Driven:
Engine: 7.0-liter 8-cylinder
Horsepower: 505 @ 6,300 rpm
Torque: 470 lb-ft @4,800 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 105.7 in.
Overall length: 175.6 in.
Height: 49 in.
Width: 75.9 in.
Curb Weight: 3,162 lb.
