Autoblog

Final C6 Corvette built in Bowling Green

Chris Paukert — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Chevrolet, GM

With all of the attention given to the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray lately, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's already well along in production, yet tooling up for the new C7 has only just begun. In fact, production of the outgoing C6 generation in Bowling Green, Kentucky just halted on Thursday.

As the C6 has aged, production numbers have predictably ebbed along with demand, but this year, the addition of the 427 and 60th anniversary models resulted in an uptick in vehicles built - this, despite a model year shortened by around 25 percent to accomodate the new model changeover. The final C6 Corvette ever, No. 13,466 built this year, was a white 427 Convertible destined for the General Motors Heritage Center museum. The car's 7.0-liter V8 heart was assembled by Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter himself.

In total, Bowling Green pushed out 215,100 C6 Corvettes over nine years. If you're still a C6 fan at heart and are hoping to get a good deal on a phase-out model, step lively - Chevrolet reportedly had about 6,100 unsold units, which Autoweek suggests is good for around five and a half months of supply at the model's current sales rates. Given that demand will likely slacken even further as the C7 draws closer, that should be a big enough stockpile to keep dealers satisfied until 2014 Stingrays begin showing up on their forecourts.

Continue reading Final C6 Corvette built in Bowling Green

Final C6 Corvette built in Bowling Green originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrate 60 years of Corvette by checking out these historical images

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:54:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Design/Style

Following yesterday's introduction of the C7 Corvette that shows the car's future, Chevrolet has released a slew of images celebrating 60 years of the car's past. First introduced in 1953, the Corvette has evolved into a global sports car that is likely to be the star of this year's Detroit Auto Show.

General Motors has dug into its photo vault to give us a look at the Corvette starting with the C1 Corvette from 1953 right through the most powerful 'Vette ever, the C6 ZR1. Be sure to check out the gallery of classic Corvettes, and then check out our coverage of the new C7. General Motors has also supplied a press release posted after the jump to give more information about each generation of the iconic coupe.

Continue reading Celebrate 60 years of Corvette by checking out these historical images

Celebrate 60 years of Corvette by checking out these historical images originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Corvette C7 prototype spied testing!

John Neff — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

The Corvette is the very definition of a halo car, and the fact that 2013 marks its sixtieth year in production is nothing short of a miracle. The seventh-generation Corvette is still a model year away, during which time Chevy plans to send off the C6 with a special edition 60th Anniversary 427 Convertible.

Development of the C7, however, continues at full speed, and we have the very first shots of a prototype being tested in cold weather to prove it. The car in question is wrapped in vinyl covering, underneath which hides the familiar black-and-white swirl paint job we see so often on prototypes. Even still, we can identify some aspects of the evolution that will take place between the C6 and C7.

For one, comparing profile shots of this prototype with the C6, it's apparent that the front wheels have moved farther forward, increasing the dash-to-axle ratio and likely the wheelbase. The rear end also appears to be larger, with a higher deck lid and slightly longer overhang. We also noticed that this prototype's side mirrors are a different shape than the C6's, and its dual tailpipes are positioned closer together to form a perfectly spaced line of four pipes.

There's no evidence of a split rear window and a mid-engine layout is clearly not in the cards. These photos should put those wild rumors to rest, but what's under the hood and how the interior has been improved are still unknowns.

Chevy Corvette C7 prototype spied testing! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross

Zach Bowman — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:46:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Autocross critics are quick to tell you that the pastime is a good way to learn bad habits behind the wheel. We say that, while it may be true, caning a vehicle around a parking lot while dodging a few cones is a good way to have a lot of fun behind the wheel in a fairly low-risk environment. Most autocross courses are designed to keep the speed down and the technicality up, which keeps both drivers and their vehicles safe from any real damage. Or at least, that's how its supposed to work.

A driver behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette recently found out just what can go wrong when there isn't enough runoff around a cone slalom at a Speed Ventures autocross. According to YouTube, the driver had just returned from a break, meaning that both the track and the vehicle's tires were cold as he came into the esses. The vehicle's rear breaks lose in a slow, drawn out slide that culminates with the entire passenger side of the vehicle getting cozy with a nearby curb. It's gut-wrenching at best. Hit the jump to check out the carnage for yourself.

Continue reading Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross

Chevrolet Corvette redefines curb rash during autocross originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friends videotape man "trapped" inside C6 Corvette with dead battery

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 14 May 2011 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Humor

How NOT to get out of a C6 Corvette - Click above to watch video after the jump

Are sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette coupes attempting to take out their owners? After one man recently became "trapped" inside his ZR1, another driver, captured above, also believed he was stuck inside his 'Vette. The real issue here, however, isn't folks being outsmarted by their cars; it's that vehicle owners don't even bother learning how their cars work.

When the battery dies on a C6 Corvette, the door-release buttons stop working. General Motors isn't in the business of creating sports cars that turn into traps, so it installs (very obviously marked) levers on the floor that, when pulled, manually open the doors. Not rocket science, guys. No need to panic. But hey, when you do freak out, and your friends are kind enough to find it hilarious and videotape it, well, we're happy to share.

Click past the jump to watch. Just be advised: the language is not safe for work.

Continue reading Friends videotape man "trapped" inside C6 Corvette with dead battery

Friends videotape man "trapped" inside C6 Corvette with dead battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 May 2011 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Rossi SixtySix visits Jay Leno's Garage

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Specialty, Design/Style

Jay Leno drives the Rossi SixtySix - Click above to watch video after the jump

Remember the Rossi SixtySix? It first entered our radar at SEMA back in 2008, when we saw renderings of the C6-meets-63/66 Corvette. We didn't hear any more about the car until this summer when it was announced that the first one was ready for production. Fast forward a few months and the car, as most cars tend to do, has ended up in Jay Leno's Garage.

Leno spends some quality time with the Rossi SixtySix, as well as its Director of Design, David R. The car's design inspiration is the C2 Corvette, but the underpinnings are all modern since it's a C6 underneath the skin. And despite its model name being the SixtySix, there's a split window in the back, which came from the 1963 Corvette. The point isn't to mimic a specific model year, however, but rather to create a unique version of a car that many people love. We think the end result does a better job than the C5-based convertible we saw at the beginning of 2008.

Regardless of the name, the SixtySix is all Corvette. Rossi takes a modern C6 donor car and applies its own body work to the chassis. The cost, including a base Corvette, will run you $130,000. The tires, wheels and suspension receive an upgrade but the powertrain remains stock. It's up to you where you want to start under the hood, be it with the 435-horsepower base Vette or the 505-hp Z06. We're going to assume you wouldn't do this to a ZR1.

After talking design, Jay takes the car out on some local Southern California roads, providing real insight into a car that has gone from vaporware to very real. Follow the jump to check it out.

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading Video: Rossi SixtySix visits Jay Leno's Garage

Video: Rossi SixtySix visits Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ferrari, Luxury

Cadillac CTS-V is the new smoke monster - Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is a lot of things. It's a luxury two-door that's also a muscle car. It's a supercharged beast with a fire-breathing LSA mounted under the hood. And it's also a smoke machine. Monticello Motor Club invited a slew of vehicles out for its first annual Drift with the Supercars event, and while a few dedicated drift cars showed up, a handful of other lust-worthy rides arrived to ruin their rubber. The CTS-V Coupe was on hand, sharing the track with a Ferrari 575 Maranello, C6 Corvette, 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS and a Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series.

The Cadillac fared exceptionally well against the rest of the competition and took home the title of Best Drift in New Car. Check out the tire-shredding, sideways action in the beautifully shot video after the jump.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Steven J. Ewing and Chris Shunk / AOL

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello

Video: Cadillac CTS-V drifts its wheels off at Monticello originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM prepping for 50th anniversary of Corvette at LeMans with one-off Z06

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Racing

Corvette celebrates 50 years at Le Mans - Click above for high-res image gallery

At next month's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Chevrolet Corvette will celebrate its gold anniversary, having run the French race for the first time fifty years ago.

The first party to mark the milestone will be this weekend at the will be marked by having the current Corvette racing team joined by 'Vettes and 'Vette drivers from the last fifty years at the six-hour ALMS race at Laguna Seca Raceway. Follow the jump for the full release on Corvette's activities for this weekend, and have a look at a dressed up one-off Z06 built to commemorate the pedigree.

Gallery: The Corvette celebrates 50 years at Le Mans

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading GM prepping for 50th anniversary of Corvette at LeMans with one-off Z06

GM prepping for 50th anniversary of Corvette at LeMans with one-off Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Humor

Corvette C6 w/Nitrous Oxide - Click image to watch the video

Or at least a Z06. Now, we're all for drag racing - it's one of the purest forms of sport around - much like World's Strongest Man minus all the steroids. Or is that plus nine billion times the steroids? Either way, little is more adrenaline pumping than watching a nitrous-venting 1976 Chevrolet Camaro run the quarter in 8.5 seconds. Especially when you stop and think about how totally terrible Camaros were when Jimmy Carter took office. *Shudder.*

Anyhow, the reason you can get dirty old Camaros to run so quick are the mods. In fact, a constant, never-ending stream of modifications always makes that next hundredth of a second seem just within reach. Drag racing is the sport of the tinkerer - just ask Don Garlits. You can always shed weight, but then you reach a point where structural integrity becomes an issue.

More power is typically (if not always) the answer. To get there, you got your lumpy cams, bundle o' snakes headers, intake pipes the size of telephone poles, hot lifters, blowers, turbos and, of course, nitrous oxide (N2O). We say "of course" N2O because most drag races are over before you can count to ten. Besides, motors are cheap but Friday night glory at New Jersey's Island Dragway lasts forever, right? In this case, however, the ol' nitrous bottle might be more at home hooked up to another car - might we suggest a '76 Camaro? Find out why after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Tampa Bay Examiner]

Continue reading VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1

VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Chris Shunk — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Chevrolet, GM

2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 - Click above for high-res image gallery

I received an Indy 500 poster on my birthday in 1986 that featured a Yellow C4 Corvette pace car leading the pack. My dad hung the poster above my bed, and I can honestly say that I stared at it every night for years. The Corvette was my dream car for my entire childhood, but as an adult I turned my attention to European rides like the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 360 Modena.

When the C6 Corvette hit the scene for the 2005 model year, the Bow Tie brand's halo vehicle again had me pining for some General Motors muscle. GM gave the base Vette the same 400 horsepower as the C5 Z06, and I figured it was all the power I could ever want. That is, until the 2006 Z06 came along. The Z06 was kicking ass on the track and in enthusiast magazines, and it was toppling competition that far exceeded the Corvette's $70,000 price of entry. We never had the Z06 in the Autoblog Garage, so we were more than happy to take it off Chevy's hands for a week. Hit the jump to see if the Z06 met our lofty expectations from childhood.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Continue reading Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: SEMA Show, Classics, Performance, Chevrolet

Click on the image to enlarge and view another angle of the Rossi 66

There is a trend in the works that takes a modern Corvette chassis, jettisons the stock fiberglass bodywork and adds a new shell that mimics the look of an older, classic 'Vette. We have seen Classic Reflection Coachworks' take on the '62 'vert with C5 underpinnings, and now a company by the name of Blue Fusion has tackled the iconic split window. One problem: their press release continually refers to the 1966 split window, which doesn't exist as the only year the two-piece rear glass was produced was '63. But, let's not let silly little things like facts get in the way. The resultant Rossi 66 cribs the workings of a modern C6 Corvette and adds a unique Sting Ray look.

Blue Fusion plans to debut its Rossi 66 at the upcoming SEMA event in November, assuming that the company is able to find the funding it needs to actually produce its first car. So far, all we have to look at are the renderings below, though we can clearly see that the '66 '63 body looks much better grafted onto a modern platform than the '62 does. We'll see if it makes an appearance in Sin City later this year.

Gallery: Blue Fusion Rossi 66

[Source: Blue Fusion via Jalopnik]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware

SEMA Preview: Rossi 66 melds Corvette C2 looks with C6 hardware originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit's involvement in CARS

John Neff — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford, GM, Porsche

As anyone who reads Autoblog is aware by now, we're pretty jazzed about Pixar's upcoming June 9th release of CARS, which is shaping up to be a celebration of the auto on celluloid. A pair of recent Detroit News articles reveals just how large a part the domestic duo of Ford and GM has played in the movie's making, in addition to our already reported on involvement of Porsche.

The film's director, John Lasseter, has been a good friend of Ford's design diva J Mays since 2000. The pair visited SEMA and attended the Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance together. Mays even visited Pixar's studios in Emeryville, CA on more than one occasion to check on the film's progress. The most prominent Ford in CARS ended up being a 1949 Mercury Police Cruiser - the town's sheriff (pictured above).

Lasseter also visited General Motors and spent time with some of the General's designers. The director was one of the very first people to view the redesigned C6 Corvette, in fact. CARS features a few cars from GM including a '59 Impala lowrider named Ramone, a '75 Cadillac Coupe de Ville named Tex and an unnamed green HUMMER.

J Mays and the Blue Oval's current head of things that go fast, Hau Thai-Tang, were among a group of 700 who viewed an early screening of the movie at Pixar's studios last weekend.

[Source: Detroit News]

Detroit's involvement in CARS originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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