Official photography of redesigned 2005 Corvette released. April 5, 2004: 10:17 AM EDT
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN/Money staff writer
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The 2005 Corvette, called the C6 because it is the sixth major redesign of the sports car, will be officially introduced at Detroit's North American International Auto Show this week. General Motors made photos of the car available today.
"The C6 is more competition-influenced -- given our championship experience with Corvette Racing -- than any previous Corvette" said Dave Hill, chief engineer of the Corvette and vehicle line executive for GM Performance Cars.
The standard engine on the C6 is a new 6-liter V-8, delivering 400 horsepower and 400 foot-pounds of torque. It is the largest and most powerful standard small-block engine ever offered in a Corvette, according to a GM statement.
The standard manual transmission will be available with two different sets of gear ratios. One, reserved for the Z51 Performance Package, will offer more aggressive acceleration. The shifter is also redesigned and is an inch shorter.
Autos
36 month new
5.91%
48 month new
5.98%
60 month new
6.03%
72 month new
3.78%
36 month used
6.31%
The C6's automatic transmission is an upgraded and strengthened version of the C5's. The C6 version of the transmission also shifts at higher engine speeds. It includes what GM calls Performance Algorithm Shifting which automatically selects the optimal gear for a given driving condition, according to the company's statement.
The C6's standard wheels are an inch larger in diameter than the C5'S and half an inch wider.
Check out those headlights
Among the most striking design changes are the overall shortening of the car and its exposed headlights. This is the first Corvette in 40 years not to have pop-up headlights, a design feature that started with the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray.
"C6 has exposed the headlamps for the first time since 1962, and believe me, there was a lot of emotional discussion around that," said Tom Peters, chief designer of the C6.
Fixed headlights offer the advantages of lower weight, less complexity and superior lighting performance, according to a GM statement. The lights use Xenon low-beam projector-style lenses and tungsten-halogen high-beam projector lenses. Each of the car's four lenses is encircled by a chrome ring and is covered by a clear housing.
The C6 lacks traditional door handles. They are replaced by membrane-activated switches inside a recess behind each door. The doors unlock when a specially coded keychain is brought near the car. Once the keychain is brought inside the cockpit and the brake or clutch is depressed, the engine can be started by pressing a rocker switch on the instrument panel.
The car will be offered in eight colors: Precision Red, Magnetic Red, Daytona Sunset Orange, Le Mans Blue, Millennium Yellow, Machine Silver, Arctic White, and Black.