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- #1
Sunday, February 29, 2004
By Ed Garsten / The Detroit News
DETROIT — Already changed from the top down, the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette is taking its top off.
The sixth-generation of the venerable sports car will doff its hardtop Monday when General Motors Corp. unveils a convertible model during media previews at the Geneva Motor Show. The drop-top’s first U.S. appearance comes Tuesday at the Cleveland Auto Show.
For the first time since 1962, Corvette will offer an optional power-operated soft top. The power roof adds just 19 pounds to the Corvette’s 3,200-pound base weight and opens or closes in 18 seconds at the touch of a single button, GM said.
The roof itself is made of a five-layer fabric, designed to conceal the supporting structure yet preserve the car’s aerodynamics and profile while keeping the cabin quiet — a tough task for a ragtop.
“This convertible will undoubtedly be the quietest convertible we’ve ever had,” said Rick Baldick, Corvette marketing director.
Consumer demand for a power soft-top convinced Chevy to offer the option, Baldick said. Ragtop models — with power or manual roofs — are expected to account for half of all Corvette sales once the coupe and convertible versions hit the market in the fall.
Maintaining the structural integrity of the car is always a challenge when designing convertibles, but Baldick said GM was able to accomplish that by flip-flopping the normal order of doing things, beginning with the fifth-generation Corvette.
“We designed the convertible first and then put a top on it,” said Baldick.
You can reach Ed Garsten at (313)223-3217 or egarsten@detnews.com.
'05 'Vette goes ragtop in Geneva
By Ed Garsten / The Detroit News
DETROIT — Already changed from the top down, the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette is taking its top off.
The sixth-generation of the venerable sports car will doff its hardtop Monday when General Motors Corp. unveils a convertible model during media previews at the Geneva Motor Show. The drop-top’s first U.S. appearance comes Tuesday at the Cleveland Auto Show.
For the first time since 1962, Corvette will offer an optional power-operated soft top. The power roof adds just 19 pounds to the Corvette’s 3,200-pound base weight and opens or closes in 18 seconds at the touch of a single button, GM said.
The roof itself is made of a five-layer fabric, designed to conceal the supporting structure yet preserve the car’s aerodynamics and profile while keeping the cabin quiet — a tough task for a ragtop.
“This convertible will undoubtedly be the quietest convertible we’ve ever had,” said Rick Baldick, Corvette marketing director.
Consumer demand for a power soft-top convinced Chevy to offer the option, Baldick said. Ragtop models — with power or manual roofs — are expected to account for half of all Corvette sales once the coupe and convertible versions hit the market in the fall.
Maintaining the structural integrity of the car is always a challenge when designing convertibles, but Baldick said GM was able to accomplish that by flip-flopping the normal order of doing things, beginning with the fifth-generation Corvette.
“We designed the convertible first and then put a top on it,” said Baldick.
You can reach Ed Garsten at (313)223-3217 or egarsten@detnews.com.
