Corvette ATAK Exhaust Is Officially Released
I spoke about this a few weeks back, but it is now 100% official. Corvette lovers out there (And I know there are a lot of us) can now have the hottest, newest, coolest, and best sounding exhaust being made (supposedly). The ATAK Exhaust by Borla has been a pretty big deal since its release, and has been selling at numbers well above what Borla can produce. The reviews coming in on the system have been consistently very great too. I haven't heard one on a Corvette yet, but I'll definitely be buying one for mine and letting you guys know about it. For now, check out the Borla #140357 and #140358 that have both been released, and look out for more ATAK systems in the near future.
50 Years of Corvette at Le Mans
This is a pretty cool thing that Corvette and Le Mans are doing. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette's place at Le Mans, Chevy has five very prominent (and gorgeous) Corvettes at the ALMS Race at Laguna Seca this weekend being showcased. The video here shows the vehicles together, and I must say, I'd love to have any of them, as they're all gorgeous cars. A fun watch:
Corvette Sales Numbers Through April
Chevrolet recently released their Corvette year sales numbers as they've been tallied through April 14, 2010, and the signs are good. The introduction of the Grand Sport has worked as hoped, and Corvette sales are doing alright, having already moved 10,487 units. Over half of the models sold have been Grand Sports as well, which is a fantastic touch as they're a slight step up in price over the base and certainly help Chevrolet out. The only issue I seem to see from the numbers are the serious lack of Z06 sales. 4% (ouch!) of all Corvette sales were Z06 models. Which three times as many Zr1's being sold, it seems as though the Z06 now finds itself in a price range where its market will either save the money and go with a Grand Sport, or shell out the extra cash and get themselves a Zr1. Does this mean we may soon see the death of the C6 Z06? I hope not, as that C5 Z06 was what renewed my Corvette love, and the C6 has kept that going. Chevy has plans to retool the Z06 this year, and they're devoting a lot of attention its way, so lets hope that that pays off and we see some more future balance (and an over-all rise) in 'Vette sales numbers.
Here's a nice breakdown of Corvette sales by models:
| Model | Quantity | % of Prod |
| Corvette Coupe | 2,605 | 25% |
| Corvette Convertible | 856 | 8% |
| Corvette Grand Sport Coupe | 3,211 | 31% |
| Corvette Grand Sport Convertible | 2,065 | 20% |
| Corvette Z06 | 402 | 4% |
| Corvette ZR1 | 1,348 | 13% |
| ——– | ||
| TOTAL (through April 14) | 10,487 |
2005-06 Corvette Recall in Effect
Chevrolet has officially issued a recall for more than 40,000 Corvettes built between March of 2004 and January 2006. These specific Corvettes being recalled are those that have the tilt/telescopic steering column (RPO N37). Check your build date on the driver’s side doorjamb to see if your early C6 falls into that time period of manufacture.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) wrote that "repeated movement of the steering column may cause a signal interruption within the column. If this occurs, the message, ‘Service Active Handling System’ will appear in the Driver Information Center, and one or more of the brakes may apply, possibly causing the vehicle to pull to the right or left.” Because of this, GM made the decision to go through with the recall, and will be informing Corvette owners in the weeks to come. All GM dealerships have been informed of the situation and will repair the Corvettes being recalled free of charge. If your Corvette is one of the ones with the potential for issue, you should definitely get the recall work done A.S.A.P. as the problem, while not major, is definitely not good.
Corvette: Kentucky State Car
Following up on a story I had reported on a while back, it has now become official that the Corvette is the State Sports Car of Kentucky. The State Senate passed the bill naming the Corvette such by a vote of 100-0, and the new bill is being passed along to the State Governor Steve Beshear to be signed in to law and made 100% official. This is pretty cool news, as it seemed not too long ago that the bill itself was dead as it had been passed to a state legislative committee. Why so much deliberation was necessary to pass something which was eventually unanimous is beyond my reasoning though. The Corvette plant in Bowling Green and the Corvette Museum both draw huge amounts of tourism dollars in to the state of Kentucky, bringing in over 50,000 and 150,000 visitors each year respectively. Good and fun news coming from the home of America's Sports Car.
March Corvette Sales Numbers In
Well, Corvette sales numbers were up for the month of March to 955, which is a solid and respectable number for a 5th year model vehicle, but one that I'm sure GM would like to see rise. Of course, the 331 rise in sales over the February numbers is a good sign, even though it is down 20% from the same time last year, a year in which sales were depressingly low for the flagship GM vehicle. Thankfully, the Corvette's little brother Camaro is selling well enough to ensure that GM has no serious worries, and should continue to until the C7 is released.
On the C7 front, Road and Track recently published a small article on the C7's plans. Apparently, GM had originally planned on making it a mid-engine car, but their bankruptcy issues forced them to put that aside for now. I'm kind of happy they did, personally. I understand that performance benefits that a mid-engine vehicle offers, but I am a bit of a purist and love the front-engine design of the Corvette. Anyways, the info we have about the C7 suggests a better-performing, more fuel efficient, design-enhanced monster, and the hints towards a supercharged Z06 are very promising. We'll see what the future holds for GM, and for the Corvette, and hopefully the sales will stay strong through the rest of the year.
Corvette Racing Preview from Mobil 1′s The Grid
More previews keep coming out of Corvette Racing's 2010 American le Mans year. Seems to be a whole lot of press surrounding the team this year (even more than usual), which leads me to believe that a solid showing from the team could mean a whole lot for the entire Corvette world. With all of the press, if the C6.R tears up the track, I'm certain we'll be seeing serious rises in Corvette sales. I hope this happens, as the Corvette sales numbers have started to seriously stagnate, and that's never a good thing. Right now big brother's being kept afloat a little by his little brother, the Camaro. So, here's to you Corvette Racing, may you make the best of the circuit this year and win as many races as you can! We're cheering you on.
New Carbon Z06
Chevy, in anticipation of the Corvette Racing season and towards a greater pursuit of their ideals about bringing production and racing vehicles closer together, have released info on their next iteration of the Corvette. The special edition Carbon Z06 looks likes a pretty fantastic Corvette too. Based around the Z06 and its lightweight body (with some of the components made even lighter here) and the 505HP LS7, the Carbon Z06 also utilizes braking, suspension, and the Magnetic Selective Ride control aspects of the ZR1 making it a fantastic balanced track Corvette.
Beyond the mechanics (which also feature more track-ready wheels and tires than the Z06 was already employing), the vehicle has a lot of powerful visual cues added to it. From the body kit, the ZR1 style front-splitter and spoiler, and the specific paint job in either blue or orange, every visual touch of the Z06 makes it one fantastic looking Corvette. I also, personally, love the GM Black-out lights on the car. Those black-out kits for the C6 are some of the greatest looking exterior touches anyone can install, and its nice to see Chevy take that to heart themselves.
There will only be 500 of these Carbon Z06s constructed, so get one while they're available.
Here's some images of the vehicle (click thumbs for larger images), and the official release below:
Taking track-to-street technology to a new level
DETROIT -- When the 2006 Corvette Z06 was introduced, it represented the closest connection to the Corvette race cars ever. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 closed the gap between racing and production even further. This year, Corvette continues its tradition of track-to-street technology transfer with the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.
"Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette's first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. "With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast."
The Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is another example of the expanded Corvette line-up. Five years ago, customers had the choice of a Corvette coupe or convertible. With the addition of the Z06, Grand Sport coupe and convertible and ZR1, Corvette enthusiasts now have more choices than ever.
"For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette Chief Engineer. "For technical tracks like Laguna Seca, the Z06 Carbon could shave up to three seconds off the Z06 lap time."
This limited edition Z06 will boast Brembo carbon ceramic brakes with specific dark gray metallic calipers. These powerful brakes were first introduced on the ZR1. Black 20-spoke 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels complement the car's Michelin PS2 tires. Other mechanical features include Magnetic Selective Ride Control for the first time on the Z06 and enhanced cooling. The car also features a special carbon pattern engine cover.
The Corvette Z06 Carbon will be available in two colors: Inferno Orange and the all-new Supersonic Blue. Black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon fiber raised hood, and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter enhance the Z06's dynamic design and reduce mass and aerodynamic lift. For track events, customers can also install the Euro-styled racing numbers that come with each car.
The Z06 Carbon's ebony leather and suede interior is complemented by blue or orange seat stitching to match the exterior color chosen. Other features include a unique steering wheel emblem, sill plate and logoed headrest. The suede used on the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors add to the luxury of this limited edition Z06.
An optional Z07 performance package that includes the mechanical upgrades introduced on the Z06 Carbon can be added to a regular 2011 Z06. This package also includes Competition Gray 20-spoke wheels and all the chassis and cooling upgrades.
The CFZ Z06 carbon fiber package includes black carbon fiber rockers, splitter and roof panel with the full-width body color spoiler. It can also be purchased with or without the Z07 package on regular Z06 models.
The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, as well as the new Z07 and CFZ Z06 option packages will be available in late summer.
2009 Corvette Sales Numbers
Chevrolet recently released their sales numbers for the 'Vette in 2009, and while they remained pretty steady through the year, they're not impressive looking back over the year prior. Of course, they don't take in to account the cost of the ZR1 and Z06 over the coupe models and the numbers of those sold this year versus last (or the Grand Sport numbers for that matter). Even considering those numbers, the drop-off was pretty significant. Hopefully this means we'll either see a drop in the MSRP price of the ZR1 and Grand Sport as a means of increasing product interest, or we'll start getting more info on the future of the vehicle. Maybe info on a C7, hybrid powered, Corvette. Whatever the move is, I hope they make it big and make it soon.
| 2009 Corvette Delivery Statistics | |||||||
| Month | Calendar Year-to-Date | ||||||
| Month | 2009 | 2008 | % Change | Months | 2009 | 2008 | % Change |
| January | 842 | 2,015 | -58.2% | Jan-Jan | 842 | 2,015 | -58.2% |
| February | 1,027 | 2,071 | -50.4% | Jan-Feb | 1,869 | 4,086 | -54.3% |
| March | 1,183 | 2,692 | -56.1% | Jan-Mar | 3,052 | 6,778 | -55.0% |
| April | 1,407 | 3,190 | -55.9% | Jan-Apr | 4,459 | 9,968 | -55.3% |
| May | 1,643 | 2,904 | -43.4% | Jan-May | 6,102 | 12,872 | -52.6% |
| June | 1,396 | 2,082 | -32.9% | Jan-Jun | 7,498 | 14,954 | -49.9% |
| July | 966 | 1,870 | -48.3% | Jan-Jul | 8,464 | 16,824 | -49.7% |
| Aug | 746 | 4,242 | -82.4% | Jan-Aug | 9,210 | 21,066 | -56.3% |
| Sept | 1,585 | 2,318 | -31.6% | Jan-Sept | 10,795 | 23,384 | -53.8% |
| Oct | 1,154 | 1,170 | -1.4% | Jan-Oct | 11,949 | 24,554 | -51.3% |
| Nov | 952 | 1,093 | -12.9% | Jan-Nov | 12,901 | 25,647 | -49.7% |
| Dec | 1,033 | 1,324 | -22.0% | Jan-Nov | 13,934 | 26,971 | -48.3% |
| 2008 Corvette Delivery Statistics | |||||||
| Month | Calendar Year-to-Date | ||||||
| Month | 2008 | 2007 | % Change | Months | 2008 | 2007 | % Change |
| January | 2,015 | 2,234 | -9.8% | Jan-Jan | 2,015 | 2,234 | -9.8% |
| February | 2,071 | 2,784 | -25.6% | Jan-Feb | 4,086 | 5,018 | -18.6% |
| March | 2,692 | 3,158 | -14.8% | Jan-Mar | 6,788 | 8,176 | -17.1% |
| April | 3,190 | 3,227 | -1.1% | Jan-Apr | 9,968 | 11,403 | -12.6% |
| May | 2,904 | 3,300 | -12.0% | Jan-May | 12,872 | 14,703 | -12.5% |
| June | 2,082 | 3,055 | -31.8% | Jan-Jun | 14,954 | 17,758 | -15.8% |
| July | 1,870 | 2,377 | -21.3% | Jan-Jul | 16,824 | 20,135 | -16.4% |
| August | 4,242 | 2,877 | 47.4% | Jan-Aug | 21,066 | 23,012 | -8.5% |
| September | 2,318 | 2,837 | -18.3% | Jan-Sept | 23,384 | 25,849 | -9.5% |
| October | 1,170 | 2,484 | -52.9% | Jan-Oct | 24,554 | 28,333 | -13.3% |
| November | 1,093 | 2,438 | -55.2% | Jan-Nov | 24,647 | 30,771 | -16.6% |
| December | 1,324 | 2,914 | -54.6% | Jan-Dec | 26,971 | 33,685 | -19.9% |