WindRestrictor Soon to be Available for C5 Corvette
The Extremely Popular WindRestrictor is coming for C5 Corvette Convertibles
King Penn Industries' incredibly popular LED Lighted WindRestrictor which had previously only been available for C6 Corvettes is coming for C5 drivers as well - (1/19/2012)
Every now and then a product comes along that's so innovative and exciting it takes a consumer market by storm, and that's exactly what King Penn's LED lighted WindRestrictor did last year for the C6 Corvette public. Designed to help minimize wind noise when driving with the top down, wind buffers/screens are nothing new for Corvette drivers. A number of different net versions have been sold over the years, but none have offered the good looks and quality of the WindRestrictor.
Manufactured from incredible clear acrylic materials, the Corvette C5 WindRestrictor provides the functionality of other wind screens with little to no decreased visibility. This visibility is a large plus over other models similar to it, but is by no means the only point of interest on this product. In addition to the incredible construction, the WindRestrictor is also a unique, stylish, and gorgeous custom product. It's available with a number of different etching options--for the Corvette, much any GM licensed Corvette emblem you can imagine is available--and has available LED lighting which shines through the clear WindRestrictor plate for a fantastic glow.
Also setting the WindRestrictor apart, visually and in construction quality, is its mounting system. Many other wind screens for the Corvette convertible use sub-par mounting systems that are bulky and unattractive and require removing the wind screen when the top is up, but the developers over at King Penn Industries realized this basic structural flaw in the standard wind screen construction and developed their WindRestrictor to be able to remain in place with the top both up and down.
Thankfully, this product is finally available for the fifth generation Corvette. It has been one of my favorites for the C6 since it's release, and will certainly be very welcome for the C5 Corvette as well. The quality and style are undeniable, and the design is unlike any other! Of course, this hasn't been officially announced by King Penn Industries yet, so until it is the release of the product is little more than "rumor" I acquired by talking to the right person on the right phone call, but you can trust me that it will certainly be happening. I'd expect to see the C5 Convertible Corvette WindRestrictor start hitting dealer websites within 3-4 weeks time.
Chevrolet Announces 2013 Corvette 427
Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector's Edition
Chevrolet is unveiling a special edition 427 Corvette Convertible Collector Edition vehicle to celebrate the vehicle's 60th Anniversary
The C6 Corvette will soon see its hallowed production run come to an end, but not without a little excitement and fanfare first. 2013 will see Chevrolet release two special Collector's Edition Corvette models as a means of celebrating both the 60th year of production for the trademark vehicle, and also the final year of the C6. The first of these special editions will be the 60th Anniversary Corvette, but it's the second that's more exciting: the 427 Convertible, which will be the fastest Convertible Corvette ever produced.
"The 2013 model year will be historic for Corvette, marking its 60th Anniversary and the final year for the current ‘C6’ generation," said Chris Perry, who is the acting vice president of Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. Perry then continued, "We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history – the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine."
60 Years of Automotive History - The 2013 427 Corvette Convertible celebrates everything the Corvette has achieved over the last 60 years.
That's right, those math proficient readers out there, 427 means 7.0L. That means that in 2013 we'll see a Corvette Convertible outfitted with the 7.0L LS7 Corvette Z06 engine rated at 505HP and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine, in conjunction with other cues taken from the Z06 and Corvette ZR1 will combine to make the 427 Convertible the quickest and most impressive Corvette convertible ever produced.
The LS7 power plant at the heart of the new 427 Convertible isn't the only thing to set this special edition Corvette apart, either. The 427 Corvette Convertible--which, like the Z06 will only be available in six-speed manual transmission--features a number of other components to help make it a true performance masterpiece. The 427 Convertible utilizes the driveline and rear-axle from the Z06 Corvette for a more optimized driving experience than the base C6 Convertible. In addition to this Z06 driveline, the 427 Convertible will also utilize a rear-mounted battery as the Z06 does for improved weight distribution, as well as Chevrolet's highly respected Magnetic Selective Ride Control Suspension--a system that's rather revolutionary in its construction and function. The 19 and 20 inch front and rear offset wheels will be of the lightweight, machine-face Cup variety seen on the PDE Performance packages of the 2012 Z06 and ZR1, and will wrapped in the much lauded Michelin PS2 Tires of Corvette ZR1 fame.
The 427 Corvette is the fastest Convertible Corvette ever produced, and rivals the world's fastest convertibles in every facet.
To better improve performance, and offset the added weight of the Convertible, the 427 Corvette Convertible will also feature a great deal of carbon fiber. Each piece is dry carbon fiber that's vacuum formed, just as Chevrolet has utilized on the Z06 Carbon special edition and ZR1. Up front, the "CFZ" Carbon Fiber front splitter is optional, and the 2011 Z06 Carbon raised Carbon Fiber hood is standard. The side-skirt/rocker panels, also of the "CFZ" Carbon Fiber variety, are optional down the side, but the special edition Carbon Fiber Z06-Style fenders and Carbon Fiber floor panels are standard on the vehicle. With all optional equipment, this special edition 427 will certainly save a great deal of unnecessary weight, and feature a much improved--and very performance minded--boost to aerodynamics, and drag and downforce numbers.
In fact, fully outfitted, the final curb weight of the 2013 427 Corvette Convertible will be 3,355 pounds. This curb weight, when coupled with the 505 HP LS7 Engine underneath the raised carbon fiber Corvette hood, will result in a power to weight ratio of 6.64. This ratio--which is ultimately the most important stat in considering performance potential, since it utilizes raw HP numbers and also accounts for vehicle weight--puts the 427 Corvette Convertible above such other super cars as the: Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (6.90 p:w ratio), Audi R8 RSI Spyder (7.58), and Ferrari California Convertible (8.31), among many many other road-shredding convertible monsters.
Once you've seen this vehicle in all of its beauty and understand everything that it's capable of, it's easy to see how this car is truly the product of 60 years of Corvette progress.
The expectations for performance from this vehicle are amazing, too. The official 0-60 numbers are expected to clock in sub 3.9 seconds, with a top speed in excess of 190mph and expected quarter-mile time below 12 seconds. All of this combines to make the 427 among the world's fastest convertibles, in any automotive price class or category.
Like other Corvettes, various amenities will be available for the 427 Corvette based on the trim line selected. The 427 will be available in 2LT, 3LT, and 4LT configurations--and price will be adjusted accordingly, you can rest assured. Each 427 Convertible Corvette will also be marked with a unique VIN number sequence to verify its place as a true collectible automobile, now and in to the future, just as the ZR1 Corvettes are.
And if you want to make your 427 Convertible a truly unique collectible, you can elect to order it in the special edition 60th Anniversary Package trim. This package will actually be available on all Corvettes produced in 2013, and will feature Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents (the Convertible Corvettes purchased with this package will also be outfitted with matching blue convertible tops).
In addition to the custom paint job and interior, the 60th Anniversary Package will feature a few other goodies. Chief amongst them is the much envied ZR1 style rear spoiler. In addition to this spoiler, the 60th Anniversary package will also feature: special 60th Anniversary Corvette badging, gray-painted brake calipers, and the “60th” Anniversary Corvette logo emblazoned on the wheel center caps, and embroidered on the steering wheel and seat headrests. An optional blue striping package will be available for this who wish to have it, and will be identifiable by the full-length Pearl Silver Blue racing stripes, and (this is the real exciting one, I think), tonally-matching stripes stitched in to the Corvette Convertible top that extend the racing stripe graphic over the top of the Convertible as well. A custom stitched, racing stripe top on a 427 Corvette--how cool does that sound?
Of course, to mark the Anniversary and celebrate the life of the beloved C6, all 2013 Corvettes will feature 60th Anniversary badges on the fascias and the “waterfall” panel on convertible models, as well as 60th logos in the instrument panel gauge cluster and on the door sill plates. If you want one of these special 60th Anniversary Edition 427 Corvette Convertibles, be sure to attend the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, where Chevrolet will auction off the very first one produced (with much sought-after matching VIN number) and will donate the proceeds of to AARP's Drive to End Hunger. That's right, you can buy yourself the coolest Corvette to hit the road and help out those in need at the same! If this sounds like something you might be interested in, be sure to check out the January 21st auction.
(Click the gallery images below for full, background-sized Corvette images)
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- 60 Years of Automotive History – The 2013 427 Corvette Convertible celebrates everything the Corvette has achieved over the last 60 years.
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- The 427 Corvette is the fastest Convertible Corvette ever produced, and rivals the world’s fastest convertibles in every facet.
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- Once you’ve seen this vehicle in all of its beauty and understand everything that it’s capable of, it’s easy to see how this car is truly the product of 60 years of Corvette progress.
Chevrolet to Assemble LS9 Live at SEMA
If you're going to SEMA this year, you're in for quiet a treat. Ok, so, that's an obvious statement, because you'll be at SEMA, but Chevrolet will be doing especially cool. At their Chevrolet booth, to try and keep attention and crowds up, they will have a team of mechanics and engineers there assembling, from scratch, a LS9 engine--you know, the monster under the hood in the Corvette ZR1. Since Chevy began offering their build your own LS9 program, a lot of interesting videos and press has come out concerning the program. This latest push towards that same promotional direction, is a great one too.
SEMA has quickly become one of the world's premiere car conventions, and now draws major interest from every major manufacturer (both of vehicles and of vehicle modifications). At SEMA, you're certain to see a near limitless number of beautiful cars from all corners of the globe, but there exist few vehicles on Earth that compete with the Corvette ZR1, which is what makes this display so cool. The LS9 is an absolute marvel of modern automotive engineering. It is fairly basic, really, as it's built on a long-tradition of Chevy small-block V8s and hasn't changed much of the over-all function or design in a long time, but it's the vast minor improvements made over the year that make the LS9 such an incredible beast. So, if you're at SEMA this year, be sure to stop by the Chevrolet booth and check out the ZR1 powering LS9 production display--and ask questions while you're there, too! The mechanic and engineer crew is there not just to build, but also to answer questions for the people attending!
Mid-Engine V6 Turbo – The Future of the Corvette?
If someone were to say they were buying a V6 Turbo Mid-Engine vehicle, one of the last cars that would come to mind for me would be a Corvette. At least, that's how it used to be. Following closely behind reports that Chevrolet's moving to a smaller displacement, forced induction engine to provide their stock Corvette with the power expected in a Corvette at the MPG efficiency mandated by the Government, more word (or rumour, depending upon how you look at it) is hitting the streets concerning the Corvette's future. An anonymous source, who was a former engineering head for Saab and a reputable inside source, just came forward and gave details about his direct involvement in the development of a mid-engine Corvette build. Supposedly, GM had been exploring the mid-engine chassis as a reputable future for the Corvette to provide improved performance handling in a more concise and evenly weighted package. The mid-engine thing, while a little blasphemous to the history of the Corvette, is very cool to me. Mid-engine designs are incredibly well weighted and should provide a greater rear-end grip on the C7 Corvette. But, the other news is not as exciting.
I understand where GM stands right now: between a rock and a hard place. On one hand they have their loyal fan-base of Vette-ophiles who expect a V8 and love Chevy for delivering that. On the other hand, there's the government who's placing heavy mandates (for better or for worse, that's a politics argument I don't want to host) on the MPG efficiency of new vehicles. These more stringent vehicle requirements pretty much guarantee that the V8--in its current state--will become a thing of the past. This is terrible and sad news, especially considering that the new Turbo-V6 Corvette powersource means less true HP and Torque, and less ceiling for vehicle modification. The beauty of the Naturally Aspirated V8 is that, with the addition of a forced induction system, you're suddenly pushing HP numbers so gaudy they'll make your grandmother blush. Selling the Corvette with a stock forced induction system means that the engine's already being pushed to its more extreme levels. More HP can always be had, but it's suddenly not as easy. Of course, the vehicle will provide equivalent HP in a more efficient package, so there's the trade off. The biggest issue in all of it for me, considering the equivalency out of the gate in HP, is the loss of exhaust tone. Sometimes, nothing but a V8 will do, and such is the case with my Corvette. If I want a 500+ HP vehicle that sounds like a 250HP vehicle, I'll buy Japanese. Sorry Nissan GT-R, you're a beautiful, incredible, piece of technologically advanced machinery, but you lack the soul that the Corvette has.
Of course, there's other good news in all of this. The same former Saab engineer who spoke on the mid-engine designs also detailed a wet-clutch transmission that they had had in the works which was designed to withstand over 590 LBS of Torque. 590 Torque! That's a pretty fantastic number! Also, wet-clutch transmission! That right there, is something I am excited to see in the new Corvette. So, there you have it, the rumored future of the Corvette. What do you think? Sound off!
Chevy to Hault ZR1 Production?
There have been some rumors lately that, come 2011, GM will pull the plug on ZR1 production. While, at first, this seems like a genuinely negative move by Chevrolet, it does make some sense. The rumors cite poor sales versus cost of production as reasons for the potential end of the production run, but there are most likely other factors at play. We've been told we'll see a C7 Corvette come either 2012 or 2013, so haulting production on the ZR1 opens it up for that new C7 to be the top dog. Doing it in 2011 also gives them a year to convert those plant resources to C7 production.
The question then becomes, not when the ZR1 Production will end, but when will it start again? Here's where the issues with this come in. I love the ZR1, and I'm sure most of you do also. With the new, more stringent, MPG laws taking place, it doesn't seem that there's really a place for the ZR1 in the Chevrolet line-up anymore. Getting Z06 power to meet the MPG demands will be a task, and asking someone to do that from an engine as potent as the ZR1 is really pushing it (or pushing the price skyward). So, we shouldn't worry then about the C6 ZR1's end, but instead about the C7 ZR1's beginning. It would be nice to see a C7 ZR1, but nothing can be certain. I'd be inclined to believe that Chevrolet would find a way to get even greater performance from their C7 'Vette past the promised Z06 build a few years in to its production, but nothing's certain. Maybe then, those of us without ZR1s, should start saving up our extra change to get one while we still can. I'm certain that the ZR1 will be quiet a collector's item one day, as its hand-produced engine, rarity, and beauty will keep it coveted for decades to come.
Corvette Assembly Plant to Remain Open Through Summer
It is standard for GM to shut down various plants during July for maintenance, cleaning, and equipment upgrades. While this is standard though, every year a few plants remain active to keep up with vehicle demands, and this year (for the first time in a few years) the Bowling Green Corvette Plant made that list. This is great news for GM and the Corvette brand, as it shows that while even though a number of Corvettes sit on lots at the moment and sales have dipped in recent years the demand for the Corvette still remains very high. The Grand Sport and ZR1 popularity certainly have something to do with this too. This news is also great for the Bowling Green employees I'm sure, as they've faced cutbacks and lay-offs over the last few years, and I'm fairly certain that the extra work is a welcome sight. So, good for those men and women and good for GM and Corvette, an absolute win-win here!
GM Talks C7 Design
Ed Welburn seems to be taking a pretty interesting approach at redesigning the Corvette for the C7 model. I don't know how much I like the whole "lets become more European" school of thought he is employing. The Corvette is a profoundly American car, if not -THE- American car, and I see no reason to try and change this. Its sales (although weak this year) have always been strong enough to justify this, and the Europeans who don't see the beauty of a car with this much performance for this price tag, must simply be blind. Who says their education systems are better? Obviously, they lack something if they can't see the impressive styling and performance of the Corvette for themselves. Of course, the new 'Vette will be gorgeous regardless, and will be an impressive piece of engineering, I have faith in Chevy (the C5, and the Gen 5 Camaro have pretty much won them all the faith one could possibly give) and am excited to see what really happens. Official article from Automotive News below:
Late last year, Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design, invited GM's 10 styling studios to submit design proposals.
Some "were absolutely phenomenal," Welburn said. "There is a lot to pick from. The direction that we take is very important, and the decision has not been made."
Global input on the Corvette's design is one of several steps GM is taking to attract buyers in Europe, where the car has little appeal, and young U.S. buyers who favor imports.
"We have challenges in the States with the Corvette," Welburn said in an interview at the Geneva auto show. "The average age of the customer is really rising."
The current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54, according to the Power Information Network, a unit of J.D. Power and Associates.
Corvette sales are in a tailspin. Last year 13,934 were sold in the United States, down 48 percent from 2008.
The current Corvette debuted in the 2005 model year. Prices range from $49,880 for the base coupe to $107,830 for the ZR-1. Both prices include shipping.
A redesign is due in two to three years, industry sources say.
Corvette critics often cite the sports car's size, saying it looks big. They also point to what they say is a cheap-looking interior.
Welburn admitted the interior has a problem: "The execution, materials selection -- it's got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that."
Welburn said today's Corvette is about the same size as the Porsche 911, but the styling makes it look bigger. "We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has," he said.
In addition to styling, content, pricing and marketing strategy are under discussion, he said.
"It is a key time in the development of the Corvette," Welburn said. "There is a lot of debate and a lot of study on the bandwidth of Corvette."
But, he added, "It can't mutate into something that gets so far away from Corvette that it is no longer a Corvette."
22,000 Corvettes Being Recalled
Imagine this: You're driving your beautiful 2005-7 Corvette or 2006-7 Z06 down the highway on a beautiful, sunny, day and everything is wonderful, when all of a sudden your roof unattaches from your vehicle and goes flying across the highway behind you, smashing in to another vehicle. Sounds crazy, but apparently it could happen, but no worries, GM is fixing this. Based on a complaint filed by the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport, the problem was brought to boys in Bowling Green's attention and a recall is underway to correct the issue. If you own one of these model Corvettes, I highly recommend taking advantage of the recall. While the problem itself is extremely rare, it's still nice to get all of the seals and roof components updated for free. So, avoid losing your roof on a highway and go for the GM recall.
2006 Corvette
Nice to see that GM is doing well!
By DAN STRUMPF (AP) – 17 hours ago
NEW YORK — Just a tiny fraction of General Motors customers have returned their cars for refunds under the automaker's heavily advertised money-back guarantee program — and most buyers aren't even choosing to participate in the plan, opting for a rebate instead.
About 400 vehicle buyers, or "less than 1 percent" of sales since the program launched, have signed up for GM's 60-day money-back guarantee program, spokesman Tom Henderson said Tuesday. The rest took a $500 rebate, he said.
Of those 400 vehicles, just 15 have been returned in the four days since customers could begin doing so, Henderson said.
GM launched the money-back guarantee program on Sept. 14 with an advertising blitz, including TV spots starring GM Chairman Ed Whitacre, in a bid to get on-the-fence vehicle buyers to consider GM products after its stint in bankruptcy court this summer.
The program runs through Nov. 30 and allows customers to return any new 2009 and 2010 Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC or Buick vehicle for a refund of the purchase price and sales tax if they are unsatisfied with their vehicle.
The policy allows buyers to return their vehicle between day 31 and day 60 of ownership, meaning the first refund requests started coming in on Thursday. Reasons for the returns have been "across the board," Henderson said.
One returnee was the buyer of a Chevrolet Corvette, who bought the sports car with a manual transmission and found it "painful to shift," GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters during a briefing last week. Once the buyer returned the Corvette, he wound up exchanging it for the same model — but with an automatic gear box, instead.
The return had nothing to do with dissatisfaction with the car other than the choice of transmissions, Lutz said.
"He brought it back because he made a mistake," he said.
A report Monday by CNW Research said the program has been successful in getting consumers to consider buying GM products. The program has "spiked interest in the company's products far beyond any recent previous effort," the research firm said.
AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this report from Detroit.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Nothing more classic than a Corvette.
CLASSIC CHEVROLET CARS-
There are few material things in life that are as priceless as an American classic car, specifically, the Chevrolet.
Invented in the early 1900s, the original Chevrolets — whose namesake, Louis Chevrolet was actually a race car driver for the Buick brand — were envisioned as being manufactured for the wealthy, this is evidenced by the introduction of the “Classic Six”, one of Chevrolet’s earliest models that also had a whopping price tag of over $2000 — a significant price for that day and age, and one very few people could actually afford.
It was also because of this difference in the idea for the vision of the company that the partnership of Louis Chevrolet and William Durant — the founder of General Motors and the one who hired Mr. Chevrolet to drive the Buick vehicles in promotional races — went their separate ways. This bit of history is often included in the story told by those selling classic cars, as it helps illustrate the richness and uniqueness of the Chevrolet brand.
As the years progressed, Mr. Durant continued to compete with Ford and Dodge by introducing automobiles with advancements in engine and body innovation and creativity that ultimately laid the groundwork for the Chevrolet models to surge in popularity.
For instance, the Chevrolet Corvette; arguably one of the most sought after for those buying and selling classic cars. Introduced in 1953, this car has been a mainstay in the antique automobile industry — and is also still in production today — and with such inventive ideas as using fiberglass for the body to make the car faster and more aerodynamic, it is the end all, be all in the classic car market. Few cars hold this distinction: the Ford Mustang is one, and the Chevrolet Camaro is also one.
Source:AllCarz