Ken
Gone but not forgotten
From The Bangkok Post:
Friday 04 February 2005
ICONIC MARQUE MAKES THE MARK
Sixth-generation corvette passes test with flying colours on the straight and outright performance but needs some improvement in the handling department
TAN T. SIRIKUL
Mention supercars and the models that would most likely pop into minds of car enthusiasts are the likes of the Ferrari Enzo and Mercedes-McLaren SLR. Or not as extravagant are the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX8 and Honda NSX from the land of the rising sun.
And, of course, there are those with big-bored engines from the other side of world like the Ford Mustang that starred in Gone in 60 seconds, the Dodge Viper and, you can never forget, the Chevrolet Corvette.
The Corvette is the sixth generation in the model's 52-year history (see sidebar). Design hallmarks include the classic round tail-lights and the badge itself: two chequered flags in remembrance of brand founder and renown car racer Louis Chevrolet.
The Corvette _ even in convertible guise as driven here _ has that nostalgic side profile with xenon lights up front housed in clear-lens casings. The five-spoke mag wheels measure 18 inches up front and 19 behind.
At first sight, the front wheel arches feel flimsy in build. But that's because it is made of carbon-fibre to reduce weight as much as possible.
Aside those iconic lights at the rear, the third brake light is neatly integrated into the top of the boot. And those macho-looking quad exhaust pipes just adds up to the car's brutality. The rag-top must be opened and closed manually _ the electric version is an option.
The interior is quite the same of the previous generation's. There's a mix of leather and aluminium panels which have a quality feel. The steering wheel which is nice and chunky to hold on is clad with leather. In fact, the interior is very easy to use, including the adjustments for the snug driving position.
Highlights include keyless access system in which the driver can start the engine without having to insert a key, OnStar GPS system (as reported in Motoring last week), DVD player, touch-screen navigation system and head-up display which made driving at General Motors' proving grounds in Arizona less strenuous, especially for a sports car like the Corvette.
The 6.0-litre OHV (over head valve) V8 pumping out 400hp at 6,000rpm is smooth-running, even when coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission with long gearings. Actually, the six-speed manual gearbox is standard.
You'll notice that the engine is peaky, as evidenced by the frequent need to get into kickdown when you need a decent thrust forward _ there's not enough low-rev flexibility and, to top it off, gearchanges aren't that smooth.
Considering that the Corvette is a high-performance car with real muscle, handling could have been better. The steering is light and the chassis is set up on the soft side to, perhaps, benefit on ride comfort. But this makes driving on the limit nervous.
When the car is about to lose control, the stability control system intervenes by getting the car back into line. As well, the engine and transmission automatically cuts power delivery. The good part about the Corvette's handling are the fine brakes.
I had the chance to sit as passenger with a GM tester who deactivated all the electronics. As expected, the Corvette feels edgy on the limit and the driver was applying an unusually large amount of counter-steer to correct the car's direction everytime the tail goes wide.
As a flagship sports car representing GM, this open-top Chevy should have better handling, even though it is second to none when it comes in terms of performance and straight-line ability. Maybe, that's what open-top motoring is all about.
But the good part is the price. With 400hp performance, this Chevy costs around two million baht in the US, meaning that it could end up in Thailand at nearly eight million baht. There are plans to bring the car over here.
Friday 04 February 2005
ICONIC MARQUE MAKES THE MARK
Sixth-generation corvette passes test with flying colours on the straight and outright performance but needs some improvement in the handling department
TAN T. SIRIKUL
Mention supercars and the models that would most likely pop into minds of car enthusiasts are the likes of the Ferrari Enzo and Mercedes-McLaren SLR. Or not as extravagant are the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX8 and Honda NSX from the land of the rising sun.
And, of course, there are those with big-bored engines from the other side of world like the Ford Mustang that starred in Gone in 60 seconds, the Dodge Viper and, you can never forget, the Chevrolet Corvette.
The Corvette is the sixth generation in the model's 52-year history (see sidebar). Design hallmarks include the classic round tail-lights and the badge itself: two chequered flags in remembrance of brand founder and renown car racer Louis Chevrolet.
The Corvette _ even in convertible guise as driven here _ has that nostalgic side profile with xenon lights up front housed in clear-lens casings. The five-spoke mag wheels measure 18 inches up front and 19 behind.
At first sight, the front wheel arches feel flimsy in build. But that's because it is made of carbon-fibre to reduce weight as much as possible.
Aside those iconic lights at the rear, the third brake light is neatly integrated into the top of the boot. And those macho-looking quad exhaust pipes just adds up to the car's brutality. The rag-top must be opened and closed manually _ the electric version is an option.
The interior is quite the same of the previous generation's. There's a mix of leather and aluminium panels which have a quality feel. The steering wheel which is nice and chunky to hold on is clad with leather. In fact, the interior is very easy to use, including the adjustments for the snug driving position.
Highlights include keyless access system in which the driver can start the engine without having to insert a key, OnStar GPS system (as reported in Motoring last week), DVD player, touch-screen navigation system and head-up display which made driving at General Motors' proving grounds in Arizona less strenuous, especially for a sports car like the Corvette.
The 6.0-litre OHV (over head valve) V8 pumping out 400hp at 6,000rpm is smooth-running, even when coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission with long gearings. Actually, the six-speed manual gearbox is standard.
You'll notice that the engine is peaky, as evidenced by the frequent need to get into kickdown when you need a decent thrust forward _ there's not enough low-rev flexibility and, to top it off, gearchanges aren't that smooth.
Considering that the Corvette is a high-performance car with real muscle, handling could have been better. The steering is light and the chassis is set up on the soft side to, perhaps, benefit on ride comfort. But this makes driving on the limit nervous.
When the car is about to lose control, the stability control system intervenes by getting the car back into line. As well, the engine and transmission automatically cuts power delivery. The good part about the Corvette's handling are the fine brakes.
I had the chance to sit as passenger with a GM tester who deactivated all the electronics. As expected, the Corvette feels edgy on the limit and the driver was applying an unusually large amount of counter-steer to correct the car's direction everytime the tail goes wide.
As a flagship sports car representing GM, this open-top Chevy should have better handling, even though it is second to none when it comes in terms of performance and straight-line ability. Maybe, that's what open-top motoring is all about.
But the good part is the price. With 400hp performance, this Chevy costs around two million baht in the US, meaning that it could end up in Thailand at nearly eight million baht. There are plans to bring the car over here.
