C6 Corvette Design: Reality or Restraint?

[Rob]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48716

 

[JBsC5]

Wow! What a great link.


Thanks

JB

 

[Rob]

Wow! What a great link.

Thanks

JB

Thanks JB. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[c5vetter]

Rob,

great byline! still think the C6 leaves a lot to be desired - there just isn't that WOW FACTOR in my mind - as you said evolutionary, not revolutionary, and I was looking for that, personally - nothing that somebody else hasn't done in a sports car - haven't seen one in person as yet, so may change my mind when I do

 

[Rob]

Rob,

great byline! still think the C6 leaves a lot to be desired - there just isn't that WOW FACTOR in my mind - as you said evolutionary, not revolutionary, and I was looking for that, personally - nothing that somebody else hasn't done in a sports car - haven't seen one in person as yet, so may change my mind when I do

Well, one of the points I forgot to mention in my article was...."expectations". One of the problems with the C6, is that because of the past, Corvette enthusiasts have set high expectations on each new generation of Corvette to come, and each time the next generation has arrived, the design has had a higher sense of "revolutionary" over "evolutionary". However, as you look at Corvette design in the upper end of the spectrum; C4 to C5 to C6, you see a heavier emphasis on "evolution" than you do on "revolution". That was why I was trying to drive home my point that it's possible we could be seeing a slow down of revolutionary Corvette design, because, we already have a winner on our hands in terms of design.

Hell, the C6 comes with a coefficient of drag of 0.29. That is damn good!

Again for me, personally, the C5 didn't wow me when I first saw it unveiled in January of 1997. In fact...I was disappointed.

However, as I got a chance to really study the look of the car, it grew on me...and continued to grow on me more and more. Now, I love the look of the C5.

Now that the C6 is out, I can honestly say, I have the instantaneous "wow" factor that was missing when I first saw the C5 unveiled. Maybe it's because the look of the C5 is still present in the C6, but I don't feel like I'm going to have to warm up to this newest generation of Corvette. I already feel warmed up to it and that's why I'm REALLY excited to see this car in person someday because I have a feeling, if I'm this excited about the look of it now, I'm going to REALLY like it in person.

The only questionable design flaw I find with it - is that third brake light.

A friend of mine just bought a brand new Cadillac CTS and she took me for a ride in it a couple weeks ago. (I was really impressed with this car. Cadillac has a winner on their hands with this model...)

I took a good 5 minutes walking around the car and admiring the design. As I approached the rearend, the first thing that caught my eye, was that third brake light and I instantly thought....."C6". When I got back home, I took a look at a C6 picture I have and sure enough....I could see the CTS' third brake light there.

The design looks better incorporated into the CTS than it does on the C6. I would have rather seen engineers incorporate the 3rd brake light into the rear bumper.

Then again, I've despised the whole concept of 3rd brake lights on cars ever since they came out. Realizing that it's the government's law and not that of the automotive manufacturers...my feeling is, if you can't tell the difference between BRAKES ON and BRAKES OFF, then you need to get your eyes checked and get out from behind the wheel of an automobile.

Just my opinion....

 

[Corvette Junkie]

Hell, the C6 comes with a coefficient of drag of 0.29. That is damn good!

I thought the C5 was 0.29 and the C6 is now 0.28.

 

[Stallion]

The C5 was .35 I think.

 

[Rob]

I thought the C5 was 0.29 and the C6 is now 0.28.

Yes, that is correct. I made a mistake.

 

[Rob]

The C5 was .35 I think.

Nope.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/1997/97specs.html

 

[Corvette Junkie]

Yes, that is correct. I made a mistake.

We'll over look this one. :t