What the car is and where it came from
The C6 is the sixth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette. It was produced from 2005 to 2013 and succeeded the C5. Its new bodywork brought back exposed headlamps, the first on a Corvette since the 1962 model. The range grew to include the Z06, the ZR1, the Grand Sport and the 427 Convertible, and a racing version, the C6.R, won in the American Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The standard car used a 5,967 cc (6.0 L) GM LS2 V8 rated at 400 hp and 400 lb-ft. From the 2008 model year the LS3 replaced it, at 6.2 L, 430 hp and 424 lb-ft, along with a new TR6060 manual gearbox. The suspension was independent, with unequal-length double wishbones, transverse fiberglass mono-leaf springs and optional magnetorheological dampers. A Z51 package added a stiffer suspension, larger brakes and a transmission oil cooler. The coupe had a removable roof panel, solid or transparent black, and the open car had a power soft top.
What it gets right
The C6 is 13 cm shorter than the C5, yet its wheelbase is 3 cm longer and the passenger compartment is larger. It also brought a higher level of refinement, and from 2008 the steering was revised for improved feel. The Z06 is the lightest of all Corvette models, with an aluminum frame that saves 62 kg over the C5’s steel one.
What it does not
The manual gearbox carries Computer Aided Gear Shifting, which forces the driver to shift from first straight to fourth at lower engine speeds, so that the buyer avoids the gas guzzler tax. The aluminum frame belongs to the Z06; the Grand Sport, for one, has a standard steel frame.
What it changed
The C6 range ran from the standard car up through the Z06 and the ZR1. The Z06 used a 7.0 L LS7 with 505 hp. The ZR1 revived an old nameplate and paired a supercharged 6.2 L LS9 with carbon-ceramic brakes; Motor Trend recorded 3.3 seconds to 60 mph. The 2010 Grand Sport replaced the Z51 option. The last C6, a white 427 convertible, was finished on 28 February 2013.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It suits drivers who want a V8 Corvette with a removable roof, a bigger cabin than the C5 and a choice of how far up the range to go. It is less suited to anyone who dislikes the forced first-to-fourth shift or wants hidden headlamps.
Is it worth your time
Yes, if you want to understand the Corvette of 2005 to 2013, when exposed headlamps came back and the range reached from the 400 hp LS2 car at launch to a 638 hp ZR1.
