Personal Prediction For C6

[Rob]

Here's my own personal prediction for the C6 and the future of Corvette. These are my own personal, uneducated beliefs based upon gut feeling and none other than some of the rumors we've already heard in the last year:

1. Bob Lutz has had a much greater effect on the future of Corvette than what is readily apparent to us. His influence will be minimally seen in the C6 that we are now starting to see the spy shots of.

2. We've already heard that when he came aboard at GM and saw the C6 design which was pretty much, already completed, he did not agree with the direction the C6 was heading and called for it to be totally revamped.

3. Because a total revamp would cost way too much money and push the release of the all new C6 off a few more years, thus causing the C5 generation to continue nearly as long as the C4 did, it was decided to conduct a minimal reskin, and introduce some new technology seen in powertrain design. As a result, the C6 will be a short lived generation like the C2 (mid-year) generation was. Maybe 2-4 years?

4. An all new Corvette - drastically redesigned, will appear after the C6 featuring a few different powertrain choices, technology and quality that will truly elevate it into the level of a world-class sports car that will literally take on anything and everything.

As I said, I think Bob Lutz's influence will become quite apparent in a few years.

Again, this is all just personal predictions on my part. I don't have inside information (and even if I did, I'd remain silent here). I could be completely wrong with any or all of this. Who knows. We'll see.

Discuss....

 

[Rob]

Spy Shot Summary

jujubee picture:

Autoweek Pictures:

 

[Rob]

AutoSpies Pictures

 

[Rob]

Motor Trend / Road & Track / Car & Driver Artist Conceptions

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c6/index.html

 

[LMN8R]

Nice summary

Seems like we can talk about C6 here. Nice.

IMHO you're right on, as usual, here Rob. Don't forget the interior, though. From what I understand, the interior is supposed to be outstanding on this thing.

That's one of the things that have been overlooked by many enthusiasts. We spend much more "car time" behind the wheel of the car, not outside staring at it. If the interior is leaps and bounds beyond my current Rubbermade 98 coupe, we're half way there. I love my car. Truly. I'll never get rid of it. The interior sucks. I wish it did not, but it does.

As for the assortment of spy photos, I'm not too sure we can make too many judgments yet. Still too much camo.

Hopefully we can have some good C6 talk in this thread. Just a thought.

Greg

 

[Edmond]

I still can't believe that with all the secrecy behind the car, they drive it in plain daylight camo or not. I would've figured that they'd try to keep it as secretive as possible.

I think quite a few people are lusting for a bigger motor. I think that's probably the biggest single thing, if you started a poll, people want. Can they put a bigger motor in the car and still have it pass emissions? Of course, Lingenfelter and the other tuners have done it, so that means GM could too.

As for Lutz, I know that GM has been around for a long time and they probably have a lot of politics behind them, I hope he (as a new comer to GM) can break through those political walls for the sake of car junkies!

 

[LMN8R]

I think that Lutz is enough of a passionate car junkie to "break through."

Pardon the Cadillac undertones...

Greg

 

[StillDreaming]

Grreat set of photos. Keep them coming guys..... Makes it all exciting..... I would feel lucky to drive any of them........ C6 will be to expensive for me.... Still exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SlowRide]

Has anyone heard if there will be a new wheel designed for the C6?

 

[blocker44]

Has anyone heard if there will be a new wheel designed for the C6?

You may be seeing the new wheels in these spy shots. Just picture this wheel in high polish.

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Where did they get that guy who created the white rendition of the C6 from the spy shots? That is bad and not even close!!! Maybe he works for GM :L :L :L

 

[CFour]

The Jujubee pics are the closest so far. FYI it was the "Coves" and head light shape is what Bob Lutz had changed on C6. He said they were to 2004 Viper like. They have been changed and said changes will be "on time" for the 05 intro.

 

[LongTimer]

4. An all new Corvette - drastically redesigned, will appear after the C6 featuring a few different powertrain choices, technology and quality that will truly elevate it into the level of a world-class sports car that will literally take on anything and everything.[/B]

I started to disagree with your point 4. but realize I need your deffinition of the current lowest priced participant in the "World Class" market segment to which you refer.

On other points, don't forget that what ever direction the vette takes, it is very likely that the XLR (under the skin) will also follow. Certainly several articles out there are worded in such a way that support your view for a shorter run of C6s. New body pannel technology is only a few years away as is the Aluminum side rails. A simultaneous adoption of both could result in a C7. However, the "sunk" engineering costs must be recovered (ammortized) of a minimal number of sold units. Profit in a very soft economy may impact this.

 

[SlowRide]

Since it has been said to think of the new C6 as a C5.5. Other than marketing reasons and hype. Does this new Vette warrant recieving the name C6? Think back to the C3's. They went through many changes yet stayed C3.

68-72...cosmetically, few changes

73...unique body style for that year

74-77...cosmetically unchanged

78-79...fast back introduced

80-82...new front and rear spoilers.

Of course to get the most attention GM will call the latest rendition the C6. But should they just have updated the C5 then give the Vette a total overhaul for the C6? Or does the new C6 have enough changes? Just an observation.

 

[CFour]

C6 has 100% new body panels. They may somewhat resemble C5 styling but none of the exterior panels will be re used from C5. So C6 IS in fact all "new" in the styling department. GM is a very conservitive Corp. Don't ever expect a rad styled anything from GM. Don't forget there daring attempt at a "special" 50th Anniversary edition. So daring they were, they had to pic a color they used before, so daring they were, they didn't make gold emblems for fear it would be to gaudy. Now look at the 04 LeMans edition look familiar minus white stripes? Please! C6 is about as sexy and daring as it gets over in Warren!

 

[Edmond]

GM is a very conservitive Corp.

That's an understatement!:L :L :L

 

[CFour]

Another funny thought is that STODGY old Cadillac seems to be the only GM division making kinda daring designs at GM so what's up with that? I must say they have come up with some forward thinking/looking styles. I can't wait to see the Corvette Z06 powered CTX. That one might even snatch some Corvette buyers away!

 

[Tuna]

the C6 will be a short lived generation like the C2 (mid-year) generation was.

Actually, the only thing short lived about the C2 was the body. The chassis soldiered on under the C3 all the way to 1982. What a difference a body can make!

 

[Edmond]

Another funny thought is that STODGY old Cadillac seems to be the only GM division making kinda daring designs at GM so what's up with that? I must say they have come up with some forward thinking/looking styles. I can't wait to see the Corvette Z06 powered CTX. That one might even snatch some Corvette buyers away!

I think some of the Pontiacs are getting quite radical. Pontiac always seemed like the more daring brand in GM's family.

I think GM is trying to make Cadillac something it's not, a sports car. Caddy's were meant to be cruisers, not something with 400 HP or something like that. People who buy Caddy's want a comfortable ride. I did race a Caddy once, one of those Northstar ones (something like that) and it was pretty fast.

 

[LMN8R]

I think that Pontiac should be getting more radicle, but all of the vehicles except for the Aztek look like Grand Ams. Big Grand Ams, little Grand Ams and pretty soon GTO Grand Ams with Vette engines.

I do think that Caddy's design is right on. To me, you can see that edgy CTS-type look in other manufacturers' concepts and new cars. Again, this is my opinion, but I think those cues show up in the Ford 427 Concept, the new Chrysler 300 C, the Infinity I something, and even the Murano looks like the SRX.

Those comparisons may not be too popular, I guess we'll see.

Greg