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.
2012 Corvette Has Two New Catalytic Converters
2012 C6 Corvette Sports Four Cats Instead of Two
EPA Requirements force Chevrolet to add a second set of catalytic converters to the mid-pipes of the 2012 Corvette
If you were to look under the new 2012 Corvette you might be a little surprised at the exhaust design. The C6 Corvette has, since its release, featured two large catalytic converters on the down-pipes, but in 2012 that had to change due to the increasing stringency of EPA regulations. This has resulted in the installation of a second set of catalytic converters on the stock exhaust's mid-pipe.
Here you can see the new set of cats installed on the 2012 Corvette.
Thankfully, for us Corvette fanatics, these extra environmental helping catalytic converters will not result in a decrease in engine power output, and no drops in HP or Torque numbers will be seen. The extra weight of the cats will be minimal, also, and there shouldn't be any reason to expect the 2012 Corvette's performance to drop down from 2011 at all. Less thankfully, this does mean that aftermarket exhaust systems that were functional for the 2011 may not be functional on the 2012--at least, not road legally.
However, not thankfully, this exhaust change has resulted in some issues in aftermarket exhaust fitment. Already Akrapovic, who are one of the world's leading and finest exhaust system manufacturers, has stated that their cat-back systems for the C6 will not install on the 2012 Corvette, and that their axle-back systems, known as the slip-on system style, has issues with fitment as well. Thankfully, being the consummate professionals that they are, Akrapovic is producing a solution to this issue. However, this news also means that similar catbacks from other companies may have fitment issues on the 2012 Corvette.
The change in pipe lengths which were necessary to accomodate the new set of catalytic converters on the 2012 Corvette has resulted in fitment issues with aftermarket exhaust systems designed for older C6 Corvette models.
So, be aware of the changes to the Corvette stock exhaust between the 2011 and 2012 models and be sure to check with the manufacturer or your retailer when purchasing an exhaust for your Corvette.
Fifth Corvette Ever Built Hits Auction Block
RM Auctions to offer 1953 Corvette Chassis #5
Fifth Corvette Ever Produced Expected to Fetch as Much as $650,000 at Auction.
In 1953 one very luck American consumer was able to get his hands on abrand new Corvette. Over the 58+ years since that day that same Corvette has changed hands a few times until, in 1997, the current owners got a hold of it. Those owners then set to funding the undertaking of a five-year long restoration project which brought that beautiful Corvette back to showroom condition. Well, that very same Corvette is now being offered for sale through RM Auctions. Oh yeah, the kicker that makes this particular 1953 Corvette extra-special: it's chassis number 5.
That's right, this gorgeous vehicle was the fifth Corvette ever built. In the time since its release the Corvette has become the most iconic American vehicle on the roads, and has come to define everything great about the American sport car market. Of course, things weren't only this way. When it was first produced the Corvette was a questionable vehicle, and only 300 were produced and sold in the first year.
The first Corvette was produced by hand in Flint, Michigan, and was a rather crude form of sports car. The vehicle lacked side view mirrors, side windows, and even exterior door handles, and was powered by a very weak (and very old) 150HP in-line six engine whose original design dated back to the 1930's. The crudeness of the vehicle, and it's impractical structure and design, lead one Chevrolet engineer to write, very famously, that the vehicle's quality was “objectionable, and in the writer’s opinion not commercially acceptable.”
This same crudeness made for sluggish sales in 1953, and saw many dealers marking down the vehicle's price substantially just to move it. Well, hindsight is 20/20, and the Corvette went on to become the vehicle that would be Chevrolet's flagship, small-block V8 powered, monster of a machine, and those very same 1953 Corvettes that few people wanted to buy have become incredible collector vehicles, as evidenced by the assumed auction value of this one.
The RM Auction for this ultra-rare Corvette will be held on January 20th, 2012. Pre-auction estimates have the vehicle selling for a price that is expected to be between $450,000 and $650,000--numbers that are largely inflated because of the chassis 5 significance. The earlier the build for the Corvette, the more desirable it becomes to automotive collectors, and #5 is about as early as you can find. This once in a lifetime Corvette will certainly make some buyer very happy.
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
A ZR1 LS9 Engine just produced by Chevrolet was the 100-Millionth manufactured by the company.
In the past 56 years, since Chevrolet began producing small block engines, the bowtie emblazoned automotive company and the small block engine has been synonymous with one another. In that time, every iconic car produced by Chevrolet has been known and linked to their famous small-block engine design in some manner. Most recently, the fifth generation Camaro has become a small block powered icon on both road and track, much like it's LS small block powered big brother, the Corvette.
The sheer number there--100,000,000 for those who like lots of zeroes--really highlights the durability, reputation, and potential of the small block and speaks to the iconic nature of the GM engine. It is fitting then to also consider that the first small block, introduced in 1955, was built for the first generation Corvette and the 100-millionth produced was a hand-crafted work of art LS9 made specifically for the sixth generation Corvette's special edition ZR1--the fastest Corvette ever produced.
Of course, the transition from the first small block to the modern pinnacle LS9 is a long one, filled with numerous exciting and memorable engines. In 1992 Chevrolet first introduced its second-generation Small Block, known as the LT1, in to its Corvette. This engine became an absolute staple on tracks across the globe, and adorned various vehicles from that Corvette, to the F-Body Camaro and Firebird, and the B-Body Impala SS and Caprice Police car. The LT1, which featured a newly developed reverse cooling, is still being used in races all across the globe today.
Following the second generation, Chevrolet then introduced their first LS Engine in 1997. This third generation small block, which was first placed in the C5 Corvette, was an even greater step forward. The LS engines are all-aluminum small blocks, and the first of them, the LS1, was rated a naturally aspirated 350HP and 365 lb ft of torque--numbers that, today, are still incredibly impressive for a naturally aspirated 5.7L engine. The LS engine was then featured, in some form, in numerous different vehicles and even had a more powerful, LS6 version introduced in the C5 Z06 Corvette in 2001. This LS6 featured the same 5.7L displacement as its LS1 brethren, but put out a stomach churning 405HP and 400 lb ft of torque.
Those numbers were fairly mind-shattering for a naturally aspirated engine of the LS6's size and weight, at least, until 2005 when the first of the fourth generation small block was released. In 2005 the Corvette went from its fifth generation vehicle to the now current sixth generation, and with the change in body also came the biggest change: the introduction of the Chevrolet LS2. The LS2 was almost identical to the LS6 engine in performance and displacement, but also featured a much more even Torque curve through-out the RPM range, and had the potential to be modified for incredible gains. It was from this base LS2 that the LS7--the now revered 505HP and 470 lb ft torque monster--was produced and introduced to the 2006 Corvette. Just one year after the update of the small block, this engine seemed to be where everything was building, and the Z06 became the undeniable greatest performance bang for the buck on the globe. Within the year, there were Z06's running against quarter-million dollar European exotics on racetracks all across the globe, and each one came with the distinctive sound and tone that only a Chevrolet small block V8 can deliver through the exhaust.
Of course, Chevrolet wasn't finished there (thankfully, they're dedicated to the production of envelope-pushing performance machines) and we saw such engines as the 430HP LS3 (now outfitting the base-level C6 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro SS), the LSA (a 556HP Supercharged monster that can be found in the world's fastest production sedan, the Cadillac CTS-V and will also hit the streets in the body of the new super-Camaro ZL1 this year), and the engine that would be made as number 100,000,000--the LS9.
The LS9 is an absolute marvel worth talking about as well, especially considering that everything before it brought us to this point. The LS9, which can only be found in the top of the line Corvette ZR1, produces an amazing supercharged 6.2L engine based on the LS3 block and putting out a ferocious 638bhp and 604 lb ft of torque. Those numbers, in combination with the Corvette's lightweight body and wide, aggressive stance, have produced a vehicle that runs track times that best it's $250,000+ competitors. Today, the ZR1 is the undeniable greatest bargain on wheels that exists for the performance minded consumer, and, as such, is the only engine fitting to be given the designation as number 100,000,000 of its kind.
Of course, Chevrolet's not stopping at 100,000,000 and the future of the small block engine holds a great deal of excitement. Already, official reports have come out that Chevrolet is updating their engine for the seventh-generation of their Corvette, and we may see the introduction of such features as direct injection and an upgraded combustion chamber design, as well as the improved performance and efficiency numbers to match. GM enthusiasts should expect to see the next small block engine first hit the streets in the C7 Corvette, scheduled for release some time in 2014.
Jalopnik Unveils What Might Possibly Maybe Potentially Be the C7 Corvette
Jalopnik Claims This is the 2014 C7 Corvette
But I don't think it is...
A few weeks ago, Jalopnik released artist renderings of what they claim--with great confidence--to be the C7 Corvette. They claim that "The exclusive images you see here, derived from hours spent secretly poring over the sheetmetal of two seventh-generation Corvettes, show the next step in the supercar's iconic evolution. These aren't photos, but this is absolutely the next-generation Chevy Corvette in ZR1 trim. GM so doesn't want you to see these." Well, this may ultimately be the case but I am wont to be skeptical until we get something official from the boys with the bowtie.
Jalopnik's Exclusive C7 Corvette Spy Photo
This isn't meant to lampoon or insult Jalopnik, either, as they're a very legitimate and respectable journalistic website, but simply to express my own personal opinion and display my general disbelief at these sorts of "automotive rumors". Firstly, they claim that these images were derived from hours spent "secretly poring over the sheetmetal of two seventh-generation Corvettes". I have extreme difficulty believing that GM, with this vehicle being 2 years out from dealers still and at least a year away from show, would knowingly allow for a press member to look over their body design for their flagship vehicle. Maybe the term "secretively" is meant to insinuate that this poring over occurred behind Chevrolet's backs, but, that's even more difficult for me to believe. I have been in to major automotive manufacturer's R&D areas before, and they--especially GM, who is infamous for this--keep these things heavily guarded and under lock. If the GM exec's were unaware of a person--much less a press member--poring over their "sheetmetal" designs, I would be considerably surprised.
Secondly, if they were able to pore over this sheetmetal closely enough and for long enough to provide an artist with the information necessary to do a proper recreation of the vehicle, why didn't they just take photos? These images may very well be based on insider information that they're privy to, and in fact most likely are rooted in some degree of truth. Again, I have nothing but respect for Jalopnik and wouldn't expect them to outright fabricate anything, but the claims they make seem to indicate that they know for certain that the C7 Corvette will look like the one in these photos and will not, under any circumstances, undergo any stylistic changes between now and the 2014 release date.
Jalopnik's Exclusive C7 Corvette Spy Photos - Is that a Camaro rear end?
Thirdly, they claim "GM so doesn't want you to see these." Let's ignore the emphasized "so" which is more reminiscent of my teenage niece's vocal style and inflection than of a professional journalistic endeavor, and focus on the meat of that sentence: GM doesn't want us to see these. If this were true, there's only thing that would be certain: We wouldn't be seeing them! GM has real leverage over automotive journalists because they are the hand that feeds, ultimately. Yes, readership is what sells ad space and subscriptions, but you won't gain readership without having a media connection that the average person cannot acquire, and Jalopnik has something great going for them. They're one of the top 10 automotive journals in existence today, and they thrive on their connections to insiders at major automotive manufacturers. In short, GM giveth, and if they piss off GM, GM will undoubtedly taketh away. If GM didn't actually want us to see these photos, they would tell Jalopnik the publication of them would lead to a revocation of their journalistic inside scoop, and ultimately, Jalopnik would not show them. GM's non-action, and seeming ignoring of Jalopnik's release of these photos, points to them being little more than a well-done bit of rumor-mill fodder.
Fourthly, and finally, they claim that the Corvette they're sharing is in a ZR1 build. Let's just look over the release history of the Corvette. The base model is the first Corvette built, shown, and announced and the vehicle which they use to drum up interest. Chevrolet then takes a year or two--as they did with both the C5 and C6--to release a higher performance equivalent to their base. In both of those models it was branded as the Z06, and the Z06 name has become synonymous with track performance world round. I know that just saying "Z06" will strike fear in to the hearts of other racers at most tracks as people know that vehicle's potential. Why then, without a base-model production yet, or a Z06, would Chevrolet be developing their first prototype C7s in ZR1 trim. If anything, it would be base-level trim for now--maybe Z06--and the ZR1 would only come down the road if the GM brain-trust deemed a super high-performance package necessary.
Jalopnik's Exclusive C7 Corvette Spy Photos
Ultimately, even if they are fake, these photos are something important: they're something to talk about. They have definite stylistic cues that the C7 Corvette could, and most likely, will take. They are built on the other rumors we've received through the grapevine in the months leading up to now, and they look good. Again, I believe that there's a grain of truth to these--maybe a few insider words from a designer on where their cues are coming from (I see hints of Ferrari in the front hood lines, and the large, long, and sloped rear window is more reminiscent of a European mid-engine racer than anything else GM has made in any recent bit of history, as well as the obviously Camaro inspired tail-lights adorning the rear of the vehicle in the Jalopnik photos)--and I imagine that the finished C7 we see in dealers and on roads will be similar to these pictures, but it won't be that exact car. Things will change, and Jalopnik will have gotten some things wrong, that's inevitable. Until GM officially releases their own photos of the C7, also, I'll wait to make my judgement. Here's to hoping that comes relatively soon, and also, that GM goes with different tail lights. No offense to the Camaro, it's a gorgeous car, but those look out of place on the real, classic, American race car that is the Corvette.
Product Spotlight: Painted Corvette License Plate Frame
Here's a great product I came across that's available at a great price: Painted Aluminum Corvette License Plate Frames. Trying to keep up with a semi-regular product spotlight series, these seemed--based on their quality, great looks, and affordable price--like a logical next product.
The manufacturing for these is really cool, and, SouthernCarParts--who is one of the major retailers for them and a company that I personally enjoy dealing with (I feel like, as far as Corvette products go, they're like my everyday Cheers-esque bar where everyone knows my name)--provides a lot of information for how they're produced. Beginning with a solid brass, heavy cast mold, the base aluminum plate is formed. Each plate is then CNC machine cut for precision, and given a precise, fast machine engraving. The Engravings on these are of the Corvette lettering, with your choice of either Base Corvette C6, Z06, or ZR1 badging emblem to accompany it. Once engraved, the plates are given a multi-coat paint job using actual GM paints. I questioned this, but, was assured that the paint being used is derived from the GM WPA code, and, I'll be damned if the one I received didn't match perfectly. The paint is applied in a multi-coat process, with a final clear coating, for shine and durability and looks just like the stock Corvette paint job.
The last part of the production process is the one that impresses me the most. The Corvette engravings on these plates are actually hand-filled with an acrylic epoxy. Typically, hand-filling means that a product is prohibitively more costly than machine ones, but these are definitely affordable. The quality of the acrylic epoxy is perfect, there are no imperfections, and the plate looks awesome to be finished off with these emblems. These things are absolutely gorgeous.
As with any license plate frame, this is easy to install. The painted screw caps are a nice touch to help keep the whole thing looking uniform, and once installed, the plate really looks like it belongs on the vehicle. All-in-all, I'm really happy with the product, considering that it cost under $115 and adds more Corvette badging with an OEM (or better) quality finish. That can never be a bad thing, can it?
Corvette Caliper Covers
Just came across a very cool product that I wanted to share.
Made from aircraft grade aluminum (not sure what classifies something as being aircraft grade, but, it sounds fancy) these MGP caliper covers look great and apparently are very functional. When I first saw the product listing, I didn't believe in the claims of functionality. They're caliper covers, and I just always assumed that caliper covers were purely a cosmetic upgrade.
However, the heat reductive properties of Aluminum, as well as the heat channels formed by the placement of the caliper cover, actually result in lower brake surface temperatures (of 20-50 degrees! a huge jump). Lower temperatures means lessened brake fade and increased performance and explains, ultimately, why even the most expensive big brake kits utilize similar covers.
Of course, the actual benefits don't stop there, either. Corvette Caliper covers are great for shielding brake dust and keeping that annoying stuff off of my alloy wheels. That helps to keep the wheels looking great-- a plus considering that caliper covers highlight the wheels even further.
Of course, some people go for the same look by painting their calipers. This is definitely an option, but, one that will cost an equivalent amount to caliper covers, and be less removable if you wanted to return the brakes to stock down the road. Also, painted calipers wont offer the same brake heat dispersion or dust blocking benefits of covers. I used to paint the calipers on my older vehicles, but, with these aluminum covers now being available, I can't ever see myself going that direction again.
Ultimately, these are affordable, effective, and great looking modification pieces. I was really happy to get them and, even though the install took a little longer than advertised, was happy to install them. Coupling them with my DBA rotors, and Hawk HPP+ pads, I'm pretty certain my brakes are performing at a level comparable to a $6000 big brake kit for just a fraction of the price.
C7 to have 7 Speed Manual – The Stick-Shift is not Dead Yet
A few weeks ago, Chevrolet announced that they expected more than half of their new Camaro ZL1's sold to be automatic. This followed the news that over 70% (a truly vast majority) of Camaro SS's sold were automatic. This news caused my friend who writes my brother blog, CamaroNewsBlog to declare the death of the manual as imminent (Click here for the CamaroNewsBlog article). While I do understand his worry, I tend to disagree, and it seems so does Chevrolet. This past week a person familiar with the development of the C7 Corvette stated that not only is the manual still alive and well in the Corvette world, it will also be offered in a 7-Speed version come 2014.
This news follows close on the heels of Porsche moving to a 7-Speed manual in their 911, and with good reason. The tigher CAFE standards require automakers to get extra MPG numbers wherever they can, and a 7-speed manual will allow for that by providing more ideal highway cruising transmission conditions. Of course, while that's the tame excuse for the 7-speed, it's not what gets me excited. If moving to a 7-Speed were a performance inhibitor you can rest assured that neither the Corvette team, nor their brilliant German-peers at Porsche, would go that way. Instead, I believe that a 7-speed can offer even greater performance for a more skilled driver.
While shift times can cause seconds of time loss on an inexperienced driver, for a true experienced race-enthusiast there is no such thing. A talented driver can shift in ways--through throttle and clutch control--that actually beat out the performance of the finest automatic transmissions on Earth. By adding in an extra gear, also, Chevrolet will allow themselves some room in the tuning department to really play with transmission ratios. An extra gear will allow for shorter low-end gears, and, thus, the capability for a much quicker, high-torque, blast-off. In conjunction with this, the use of two overdrive gears (as GM currently uses on their Z06 and ZR1 transmissions) allow for more top-end HP-based speed numbers. What this will amount to will be quicker take-offs for the experienced Corvette driver on a proper course, and much higher speed numbers through the straight-aways.
Of course, there's a downside to the 7-speed also: difficulty. A 7-speed transmission, especially with shorter lower gears, will be tougher on a less experienced driver and will curb the sales of the manual Corvette further. The average commuter will almost certainly continue trend the way of the Automatic transmission when an extra gear is thrown in to the equation, but, the Corvette also seems fairly free from these concerns. The beauty of the 'Vette comes in the appreciation of it as both a driving vehicle and a performance vehicle that all of its consumers (both the imagined 50+ standard, and the elusive mid-30's young professional 'Vette enthusiast like myself who would rather drive an American rocket on wheels than a German luxury sedan), a consumer base that will almost certainly continue to covet the manual for its enjoyment and feel. People who drive Corvettes want to feel their driving experience and for that their is absolutely no substitute from the manual. Give me a 5, 6, or 7 speed over an automatic any day of the week.
C7 Corvette Manual 7-Speed Transmission - Photo courtesy Edmunds Inside Line
Hands-on: Corvette Centennial Edition Z06
A few months ago, we posted an article here at CNB concerning the soon to be released Z06 and ZR1 Centennial Edition packages. These special edition Corvettes were being designed to function as a tribute vehicle to Louis Chevrolet, and to honor the 100th birthday of the automobile company he founded.
Louis Chevrolet, who was a Swiss-born mechanic and race car driver, had worked for Buick for a few years before getting in to designing his own vehicles. This passion for automobiles ultimately lead him to, on November 8th 1911, found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. Well, it's not officially the 100th birthday yet, but I was the sort of kid who used to peel the corners up on the wrapping of presents to get a sneak peek, so I decided to let that trend continue as an adult and went by my local Chevy dealer the second I heard they had a Centennial Edition Z06 on the lot. I knows the guys there pretty well--I've bought my last six cars there, my wife's last 2, and sent a number of friends their way--and I think they got a little excited when they saw me pull up. I think they thought they had a sucker for a sale; however, I was not there to buy a new Corvette (but, I wouldn't let them know that, would I?), just to check one out.
I was able to recognize the new Centennial edition Z06 immediately. The red-trimmed, powerful looking, Carbon Metallic 'Vette, adorned in sexy Carbon Black wheels to match, is as recognizable as any Corvette I've ever seen. As I got closer, the little touches became obvious as well. The blacked-out Corvette emblems, red caliper covers, unique 100th anniversary badging, and gorgeous hood stripe trim all came together perfectly to make a car that has fewer resemblances to the classic "top-down, fire engine red, highway cruiser" Corvette idea (not that there's anything wrong with this!) than it does to the Batmobile (the good Batmobile, not one of the cheesy or clunky ones). It's a gorgeous 'vette ultimately, and one that takes some bold style choices, and pulls them off with great results.
Of course, that's just the outside of this Corvette--and it's the sort of outside that will strike fear in to the hearts of Porsches and Vipers everywhere. Nobody has ever really had issue with the Corvette exterior. No, it's the Corvette interior that has been much maligned in recent years, and this new package from Chevrolet directly addresses that as well. And when I say address as well, they've actually dressed it up very well!
The interior had a few major highlights for me at first, but upon reflection I realized that it wasn't the highlights, but instead the package as a whole that really impressed. The Alacantra Black fabric is far and away a major improvement over the stock Corvette seats, and the red stitching is a fantastic touch--especially on the dash, where it makes the Vette look 1000x improved in style and quality. The revamped steering wheel looks great, especially in this new blacked out form with Alacantra wrapping, and the new center console lid feels more padded than ever (something that was definitely needed!). All in all, the interior is the real star of this upgrade package, and looks better than any other Corvette I've seen before it (with exception to some of those, all custom leather-wrapped Corvettes of the DSVettes and other company variety).
In conclusion, I must say that I was really impressed with the new package. It felt comfortable while driving, and definitely felt more luxurious than my current Z06. I didn't upgrade, and I'll say right now that that's not because I didn't want to. If I'd had the money (or the wherewithall to come home to the misses with a different Z06 than the one I left in) I would've made the change right then and there. For an almost $5000 upgrade package, this package definitely delivers! Good work Chevrolet, I was very impressed.