C6 Corvette Archives - Page 57 of 59

September 19, 2013

[PICS] Vettes and Jets on the Lex 2013

One of the coolest recurring Corvette shows that happens once every couple of years is Vettes and Jets on the Lex. Over 300 Corvettes are loaded onto the flight deck of the retired aircraft carrier USS Lexington for a two day Corvette show. The Corvettes are parked next to many of the retired jets from our Armed Forces and proceeds of the event goes to support The Wounded Warrior Project.

One of the attendees was Tim LeGros who goes by the call sign of “SoSlow1″ on the Corvette Forum. On Sunday morning as the sun was rising, Tim hit the flight deck of “The Blue Ghost” as the Lex was called and took these great photos showing the Corvettes intermingled with the Jets on the flight deck.

The event is really a three day affair as the Corvettes converged Friday evening in Corpus Christi, TX. Loading of the cars onto the flight deck is an event unto itself as the Corvettes begin loading on the Lex at 5am Saturday morning.

Check out these photos and videos from the 2013 Vettes and Jets on the Lex:

Here’s a video of the Saturday morning loading:

The Corvettes are off loaded on Sunday:

Source:
Corvette Forum
Photos and videos courtesy of Tim LeGros

September 18, 2013

C6 Corvette Convertible Picked in Edmunds Best Used Cars for 2013

Photo Courtesy of CorvetteImages.com

Edmunds.com editors have compiled their list of Best Used Cars for 2013 and the Chevrolet C6 Corvette Convertible was selected as the winner in the two-seat sports car category. The editors used a variety of data to help narrow their choices including their own consumer ratings, crash test rankings, owners costs and availability.

Eligibility for the Edmunds Best Used Cars for 2013 is limited to vehicles 2-7 years old which means it must have been made from 2006-2011. Cars older than 7 years typically have too many miles on them while newer cars haven’t fully taken the depreciation hit that typically make a 2-3 year old car with low miles the best value.

Here’s what Edmunds says about the 2006-2011 Corvette Convertible:

The expression “bang for the buck” might as well be trademarked to the Chevrolet Corvette, given its relative affordability and incredible, supercar-level performance. How do zero to 60 in less than 4.5 seconds and a top speed of nearly 190 mph sound? And that’s just the base model. Should that be insufficient, you can always go with the 505-hp Z06 or the 638-hp ZR1. Depending on the trim level, you can have a fixed roof, removable roof or full convertible.

These years reflect the sixth-generation (“C6″) Corvette, which bowed in 2005 and boasted more power, better build quality and sharper styling than the outgoing C5. Notable changes include the debut of the Z06 in ’06, more power, a nicer interior and sharper steering for the base model in ’08, and the arrival of the thundering ZR1 in 2009. Whichever Corvette you set your sights on, you’ll have a car that can run with exotics. At the same time, prices on used Chevrolet Corvettes are so reasonable that you needn’t be a professional athlete or rock star to afford one.

The Corvette was the only vehicle from General Motors to make the 19 category list, which is mostly dominated by imports. The Ford Mustang wins the performance car segment. We said to ourselves, “What about Camaro?” and then realized they didn’t begin sales of the new Gen 5 model until 2009.

You can check out the other category winners as well as review more of the selection criteria at Edmunds.com

Source:
Edmunds.com via GM Authority

September 17, 2013

Nurburgring Lap Times, Jim Mero and the 2014 Corvette Stingray

Over the last two weeks we’ve seen a couple videos of the 2014 Corvette Stingray working out on the Nurburgring. One of our posts on Facebook wondered aloud if GM vehicle dynamics engineer and Corvette Track Rat Jim Mero was in Germany. Based on these photos from Chevrolet Europe, we believe the answer is yes.

Frequent readers and Corvette fans who follow the Nurburgring know that Mero was the driver behind the C6 Corvette ZR1s impressive ‘ring time of 7:19.63 back in 2011. He was also driving the Corvette Stingray when it set a time of 2:51.78 at VIR. As a refresher, the C6 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package ran VIR at 2:53.50 in 2011 while Meroâ€™s best time ever at VIR was in 2008 in the C6 Corvette ZR1 with a time of 2:45.63.

As the primary driving engineer responsible for working with the Corvette’s suspension and chassis tuning, Mero is the ideal person to drive the Stingray at Nurburgring.

“NÃ¼rburgring is renowned for its demanding race track and it is perfectly suited for our purpose, which is to fine-tune the ride and handling characteristics of the European Corvette Stingray,” said Jim Mero, vehicle dynamics engineer at General Motors. “We are paying particular attention to the suspension set-up and the steering at NÃ¼rburgring. European roads are quite distinct and different from those in the U.S., and so are driving habits.”

Nurburing Lap Times, Jim Mero and the 2014 Corvette Stingray

Chevrolet Europe Technical Director Patrick Herrmann (left), Jim Mero (center) and an unknown engineer (right)
look at data from the 2014 Corvette Stingray

So far GM has been mum on the C7 Corvette Stingray’s Nurburgring time but we just know that setting a fast lap would be on the table.

Remember that 7:19.63 Corvette ZR1 time that was set by Mero in 2011? While they were in Germany for that test session, the Corvette team also ran the 2011 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package which earned a lap time of 7:22.68. As the Stingray was faster than the 2011 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package and Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup tires at VIR, can we assume that the C7 Corvette Stingray will be faster on the Nordschleife?

Source:
Chevrolet Europe

September 4, 2013

The Corvette Vanity Plates of Corvettes at Carlisle 2013

One of the topics I love covering at the big Corvette shows are the vanity plates that owners put on their Corvettes. Corvettes at Carlisle is no exception as the thousands of Corvettes parked in the fun field and surrounding lots make for a target rich environment when it comes to seeing the fun and witty comments that owners put on their cars.

As we’ve mentioned before about vanity plates, there appears to be two camps when it comes to putting the perfect 7-character (or less) saying on the license plate. You will have owners describe their Corvette (Stevz C6, 1 QYK Z, MY HOTC6) or they tend to describe their state of minds (KIDZRGON, JUS CHLN, CRAZY4U).

Most of the plates we saw hailed from around Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio. We did see a couple from farther destinations including Maine, Florida and of course Michigan.

From walking the rows of cars at Corvettes at Carlisle we could have had three times the amount of photos, but these were some of our favorites. If you see your Corvette’s vanity plate, let us know!

August 30, 2013

[PICS] Arctic White Corvette Z06 on D2FORGED CV3-LP Lightweight Wheels

[PICS] White Corvette Z06 on D2FORGED CV3-LP Lightweight Wheels

Here’s a great looking set of forged custom wheels from our friends at D2FORGED.com. These are 20 inch front and rear CV3-LP wheels mounted on an Arctic White 2011 Corvette Z06.

From the factory, a Corvette Z06 was set up with 19″ front wheels and 20″ rear wheels. D2FORGED CV3-LPs on this Z06 are 20×10″ front wheels and 20×13″ rears. The wheels have a brushed aluminum centers with a chrome lip finish. The CV3-LPs are lightweight too with the fronts weighing 20 lbs each while the rears weigh 21 lbs each.

Here a gallery showcasing D2FORGED’s CV3-LP Lightweight Wheels

If you like these, head over to D2FORGED.com and use the dealer locator to find a retailer near you. You can also call 800-913-3513.

Source:
D2FORGED.com

August 30, 2013

Corvette Museum Offers $10 Raffle for the Very Last C6 Corvette Coupe

Corvette Museum Offers $10 Raffle for the last C6 Corvette Coupe

Knowing that the C6 has reached the end of production is kind of sad, isn’t it?

But we have a way to put a smile back on your face. How would you like to have the honor of owning the last Corvette C6 coupe ever built?

You could be the lucky person who can make that claim if you just happen to buy the winning ticket for the 2013 60th Anniversary Coupe being raffled off as a fundraiser for the National Corvette Museum.

The drawing will be held Saturday, August 31 at 3:30 p.m. (CT), and best of all, tickets are just $10 each!

Ticket sales will be cut off early, so donâ€™t wait to place your order.

The car will be loaded and will come with a letter of authenticity to prove this is indeed the last C6 coupe built, signed by Plant Manager Dave Tatman and Christopher Perry, VP Chevrolet Marketing.

The long list of options include 6.2 liter V8, 436 HP engine; 6-speed automatic transmission / paddle shift; Magnetic Selective Ride Control; Dual-mode performance exhaust; Chrome aluminum wheels; 4LT Premium Equipment Group including heated seats, custom leather-wrapped interior, memory package, navigation system with AM/FM CD player, head-up display; Dual Roof Package; and 60th Anniversary Design and Stripe Package.

You donâ€™t have to be present to win, but you are running out of time to buy your tickets! To purchase tickets or learn more visit online at www.corvettemuseum.org/raffle or call 800-538-3883.

Source:
National Corvette Museum

August 28, 2013

[VIDEO] 2013 Corvettes at Carlisle â€“ Corvette Seller Mike Furman

[VIDEO] 2013 Corvettes at Carlisle - Corvette Seller Mike Furman

At the 2013 Corvettes at Carlisle, CorvetteBlogger spoke with Corvette seller Mike Furman from Criswell Corvette in Gaithersburg, Maryland about his 35th anniversary in the business. By the end of this year, Furman will have personally sold 3,000 Corvettes!

We talk with Mike about the visits his dealership receives from Corvette enthusiasts all over the world, as well as his latest personal Corvette which he bought earlier this year.

Over the last few months that Mike has been one of our sponsors, we’ve been amazed with his enthusiasm and attention to the smallest details when working with customers. Mike shares many of his stories of new Corvette deliveries and dealership visits on the Corvette Forum like this one where he got a customer in an out in a 2013 427 Convertible in under an hour. Yep, he’s done this once or twice!

If you’re interested in ordering a brand new 2014 Corvette Stingray or one of his remaining 2013 Corvettes, call him at 301-212-4420 or visit him on the web at criswellcorvette.com/mike_furman.aspx.

August 28, 2013

NHTSA Upgrades Investigation into 2005-2007 Corvette Headlights

Photo Courtesy of CorvetteImages.com

And then there was…no light?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said this week that it is expanding its probe into complaints that low-beam headlights have suddenly quit working on some C6 Corvettes.

The investigation started in May after NHTSA received 30 reports that both low-beam headlights stopped operating at night without warning.

Since then, NHTSA has reviewed 95 complaints and reports from owners, mainly concerning 2005-07 Corvettes though there have been four cases reported in 2008 models. Now, the agency will be doing what it calls an “engineering analysis” that could lead to a recall if the investigation proves it to be warranted.

GM is cooperating with the investigation and says the problem is caused by a wire in the electrical center similar to a fuse box that can break because its location in a hot area near the engine makes it susceptible to stress.

However, no technical service bulletins have been issued, and GM told NHTSA in June that warranty claims related to the problem have been “extremely low.” The issue would be covered by warranty for the first 36,000 miles or three years.

GM says that the high beams and fog lights continue to operate, allowing a driver to still use the car until it is fixed. The automaker told NHTSA that the “rate of inoperative headlights does not present an unreasonable risk to vehicle safety” and that it knows of no crashes or injuries caused by the problem.

But that doesn’t make the issue any less real to the few Corvette owners who have suddenly been affected by it.

That includes one Arizona man who reported his low-beams went off in 2011, “placing me in the dark and almost caused a wreck. I drove the rest of the way with my high beams.”

Another driver told NHTSA that when his lights went out, he ran over a discarded tire as he tried to pull the road. Others said the problem is intermittent, which is even more annoying, and some have said that their low-beams came back on later, usually after the car had been parked.

The investigation will include a total of 103,374 2005-07 models.

Source:
Detroit News
Photo Courtesy of CorvetteImages.com

August 26, 2013

[VIDEO] 2013 Corvettes at Carlisle â€“ Downtown Parade

[VIDEO] 2013 Corvettes at Carlisle - Downtown Parade

One of the highlights of Corvettes at Carlisle is the Saturday evening parade where hundreds of Corvettes make their way from the fairgrounds to downtown Carlisle. Leading the parade was Bill Miller in a classic C1 Convertible while Lance Miller was driving his 2012 Carlisle Blue Corvette ZR1.

Behind them was the GM / Corvette Team reps all driving the new 2014 Corvette Stingrays.

When the Corvettes get to downtown, they are parked in the middle of the street and the crowds come off the sidewalks to check out all the cool cars.

Check out the fun and excitement when the Corvette parade hits downtown Carlisle, PA:

Here’s our photos from the event as well:

August 22, 2013

Corvette-Powered Laraki Motors Epitome Concept at Pebble Beach 2013

Photo Credit: Drew Phillips/AOL

Well, if youâ€™ve been thinking about hopping up your C6 and wondered if the chassis could handle more horsepower, then look no further than the amazing Laraki Motors Epitome Concept that wowed the crowds at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concourse dâ€™Elegance last weekend.

If youâ€™re rich enough, you can build a car and then name it after yourself, which is apparently what Abdesslam Laraki, a yachting industry mogul, did.

And who could blame him for wanting to see his name on this monster.

The Laraki packs a potent punch, using whatâ€™s believed to be a Z06 C6 chassis and a massively reworked 7.0-liter Chevrolet small block with twin turbos that can deliver upwards of 1,750 horsepower.

The car has two fuel tanks â€“ one for your run-of-the-mill gas and another for 110 octane racing fuel. Using only the latter produces just 1,200 horsepower, but you can push a button to switch over to a mixture of both fuels and youâ€™ll get an estimated 1,750 horsepower.

The car is dazzling to look at, with an appearance similar to the Bugatti Veyron, and has massive amounts of carbon fiber to help keep its weight down to about 2,800 pounds.

Of course, this monster of a machine doesnâ€™t come cheap. Each of the nine examples that will be made in the early going will go for a cool $2 million.

And to think, you were worried about having the money to fill TWO tanks with fuel. Definitely not a problem if you can afford this baby.

On the other hand, the same amount would buy a whopping 39 2014 Stingrays, which sounds like a much better way to spend $2 million to us. No more worrying about mixing and matching the exterior and stripe colors â€“ just buy one of each.

Source:
Autoblog
Photo Credit: Drew Phillips/AOL