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Gasoline was 21 cents per gallon and the 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible could be had for only $2,774 without options like the $145 AM radio. Yet in October fifty years ago one of the original designers of the Corvette, Zora Arkus-Duntov, pleaded with Chevrolet that while sales of the early Corvette appeared to be a failure, the car was worthy of life. Almost a third of the 3,265 cars produced remained unsold in December of 1954. But instead of canceling the project, even more resources were dedicated to make the Chevrolet "America's Sports Car." After driving the new 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, I'm happy to report that the world is a better place because General Motors didn't give up when the early going got tough. Perfection may be unobtainable but this car comes as close as any I have ever driven. No car has ever evoked so much passion throughout history as the Corvette and this sixth generation Vette is a fitting climax to a half-century of automotive obsession. The styling is not a revolutionary departure from the 1997-2004 C-5 Corvette, but more evolutionary with five inches of overhang removed to tighten up the design. Gone are the popup headlights or "air brakes" that have been tradition since 1962. Instead sleek 900 Lumens High Intensity Discharge Xenon bulbs gives high performance lighting to this high performance car. Sharper creases, larger wheels and cool retro Stingray styled coupe glass make this Corvette a true work of art. Underneath the hood the latest LS2 engine produces a tire shredding 400 horsepower and 400 lb. ft. of torque. As incredible as the zero to sixty in 4.2 seconds and 186 mph top speed is, this large 6.0 Liter engine can sip gasoline to the tune of a remarkable EPA estimated 18 mpg city and 28 mpg highway rating. Smooth and well behaved, this engine is fast becoming the benchmark General Motors powerplant for marquee performance cars. The 2005 Chevrolet SSR, Cadillac CTS-V and Pontiac GTO will all share this LS2 Corvette engine. After acquiring Borg Warner, Tremec is the recognized leader in high performance transmission with the T-56 six speed found in the Aston Martin Vantage, V-12 Vanquish as well as the Ford SVT Mustang Cobra, Dodge Viper and Chevrolet Corvette. There is simply no better way to harness these horses. Climbing inside the 2005 Corvette you know you have arrived in the latest technology, as you never have to remove your key fob to open or start the vehicle. Just a simple touch of your finger and the door electronically pops open. Snuggling into the leather-heated seats another simple touch on the starter button brings the Corvette to life without removing the key fob from your pocket or purse. Power telescoping steering wheel insures a perfect fit for any driver. Heads up display keeps your eyes on the road and high technology assists rather than distracts the driver. This is by far the finest Corvette interior ever. Let's face it, this baby will extract between $43,000 and $53,000 from a bank account. Buyers at this level expect a little pampering with their excitement. Extremely comfortable, the usable interior space has grown even though the exterior size has shrunk. Space for golf bags and luggage are ample in the coupe I drove. My test vehicle came equipped with the Z51 performance package featuring firmer non-adjustable suspension, yet the ride was never harsh or uncomfortable. I could have driven the 2005 Corvette across the country with comfort approaching that of a luxury sedan rather than a high performance sports car. The decision to continue the Corvette project over 50 years ago may have been a risk, but today's newest generation 2005 Corvette is the best in a grand tradition as "America's Sports Car."
2005 Corvette
$51, 960 MSRP as tested 18/28 EPA MPG Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2003 - Stan Risener