The sixth-generation Corvette will soon be discontinued, to be replaced with a new model after a seven-year career. Introduced in 2005, the C6 Corvette will be proposed in the model year 2013 with a new shade called Night Race Blue, which will be added to the colour palette along with Supersonic Blue Metallic and the lightest Blue Metallic Carlisle.

The my2013 Corvette will also see the introduction of the Black Painted Aluminum wheels, which will replace the current Competition Grey. This last edition of Corvette’s won’t present any new improvements in terms of aerodynamics or mechanics.

Over the years Corvette’s image has been refreshed with the introduction of the ZR1 with 638hp, a car with thrilling acceleration and top class performance. A step below the ZR1, we find the Z06 a sportier racing version of the more comfortable Corvette Grand Sport.

The TV program Super Power Beat Down has organised an exciting drag race between two legendary cars, to fulfill every fans dream. On the starting grid are the Batmobile used in the television series Batman (aired between 1966 and 1969) and the prototype chosen by director Tim Burton in 1989, for his Batman movie. The first Batmobile was actually a Corvette C4 mounting a 6.0-litre V8 L98, with output ranging between 305 and 325 hp. Reaching a top speed of 240-257 km/h can cover a quarter of a mile in 9.5-10-5 seconds.

The Batmobile driven by Michael Keaton, instead integrates the front section of a Chevrolet Camaro to a specially crafted frame, boasting a 5.7-litre V8 engine with 290hp. It reaches a top speed of 290 km/h and takes 10-11 seconds to finish the quarter mile.

In January 2013 the entire automotive industry will be paying tribute to the Corvette, whose 60th birthday is anticipated by this official video featuring the 427 Convertible. The latest addition to the family combines the V8 LS7 engine of the Z06 to a roofless body. This newborn version inherits the Z06 Coupe driveline and introduces the brand new 60th Anniversary package: this consists of Arctic White exterior paint, Diamond Blue leather interior and Pearl Silver Blue full-length racing stripes that follow the outline extending over the canvas roof. The 427 Convertible produces 513 hp and 637 Nm of torque and weighs 1,525Kg.

GM will begin the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of its Chevrolet Corvette with a special edition 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible, equipped with the monstrous 7.0-litre LS7 V8 engine of the Corvette Z06, and here are the first pictures of the model with a special cameo from one of its illustrious ancestors. During the transplant, the unit did not lose any of its 513 hp and 637 Nm of torque as the 6-speed manual gearbox of the Z06 as well as its Magnetic Ride Control suspension have been transferred to the Corvette 427 Convertible too. The combination of low mass and high output will make the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, with a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 190 mph (306 km/h).

The model uses 19″ wheels on the front and 20″s at the back, all of which fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tyres. Bonnet and fenders are made of carbon fibre, a material that has been used to build many other components of the vehicle, resulting in an overall weight of 1,525 kg (3,361 lb).

The new Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible can also be customized with the “60th Anniversary Package” - which will be made available for all other Corvette models in 2012 - which include a white-blue paint job (with the signature two blue stripes stitched on the fabric of the roof as well) and blue leather upholstery for the interior. The very first model will be auctioned off for charity at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson classic car auction. to find out more about the new Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible, check out the official press release after the jump.

View Corvette 427 Convertible official images

Corvette Marks 60 Years of Performance with 427 Convertible

DETROIT – Chevrolet today unveiled the 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition – the fastest, most capable convertible in Corvette’s history – as well as a 60th Anniversary Package that will be available on all 2013 Corvette models.

“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, vice president, Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet. “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.”

The 60th Anniversary Package and 427 Convertible will make their public debut at the Barrett Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan 21, and will arrive at U.S. Chevrolet dealers early this summer.

Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
The Corvette 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models to create the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history.

Its heart is the 427-cubic-inch (7.0L) LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06. Rated at 505 horsepower (377 kW) and 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm), it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Corvette convertible – and, like the Z06, the 427 Convertible is only available with a six-speed manual transmission.

The LS7 was co-developed with the Corvette Le Mans-winning GT1 engine and features lightweight titanium connecting rods and intake valves, as well as racing-inspired high-flow cylinder heads and a dry-sump oiling system. It is assembled by hand at GM’s Performance Build Center, where customers who purchase the 427 Convertible Collector Edition can purchase the Corvette Build Experience option and assemble the engine that will power their new car.

Supporting performance elements in the Corvette 427 Convertible include the driveline and rear axle system from the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. The standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels are wrapped in ZR1-style Michelin PS2 tires. Lightweight machine-face Cup wheels – introduced on the 2012 Corvette Z06 with Z07 and Corvette ZR1 with PDE performance packages – come standard and include unique gray-painted pockets. Black Cup wheels or chrome ZR1-style wheels are also available.

The 427 Convertible also features several carbon-fiber components that help reduce weight, including:
• Carbon fiber raised hood (introduced on the 2011 Z06 Carbon Edition)
• Carbon fiber Z06-style fenders
• Carbon fiber floor panels
• The “CFZ” carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels are optional on the 427 Convertible, and included with the 60th Anniversary package

The weight reduction brings the 427 Convertible’s curb weight to 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg). Combined with its 505-horsepower LS7 engine, it gives the 427 Convertible a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 – or one horsepower for every 6.64 pounds of vehicle mass. That’s better than:
• Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet – 6.90
• Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder – 7.58
• Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible – 7.82
• Ferrari California Convertible – 8.31

The combination of low mass and high output will make the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, delivering estimated 0-60 performance of 3.8 seconds, quarter-mile performance of 11.8 seconds, lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and a top speed of more than 190 mph.

The 427 Convertible is available in 2LT, 3LT and 4LT trim levels and will carry a unique vehicle identification number sequence, similar to the Corvette ZR1.

Corvette 60th Anniversary Package
All 2013 Corvette models, including the 427 Convertible, will be available with a 60th Anniversary Package, featuring an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede accents. Convertible models will have a blue top.

Additional content includes a ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging, gray-painted brake calipers and the “60th” logo on the wheel center caps, steering wheel and seat headrests. An optional graphics package adds full-length racing stripes in Pearl Silver Blue, including a tonal stripe stitched into the convertible top, extending the graphic theme over the roof.

For 2013, all 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 sill plates.

Charity Auction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
The first Corvette 427 Convertible offered to the public will go to the highest bidder at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction, on Saturday, Jan. 21. Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports are teaming up for the auction, including four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick. Proceeds from the sale will benefit AARP’s Drive to End Hunger initiative.

Drive to End Hunger is part of a multi-year sponsorship for Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet which aims to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans.

A legacy of 427-powered Corvettes
Early 427-powered Corvettes, particularly convertibles, offered from 1966 to 1969 are some of the most-coveted and collectable Corvettes ever produced.

The first 427-powered Corvette rolled off the assembly line for the 1966 model year. Two performance levels of the 427 were initially offered – an “L30″ version rated at 390 horsepower and the “L72,” which cranked out 425 horsepower. Both were rated at 460 lb-ft. of torque.

The range of 427 engines grew in 1967, with the addition of the “L71″ and “L88″ options. The L71 added a unique triple-carburetor induction system that helped boost output to 435 horsepower. Known to collectors as “427/435″ cars, these ‘67 models – especially the convertibles – are especially sought-after collector cars.

The “L88″ delivered 430-horsepower (with a single four-barrel carburetor) thanks to racing-tuned aluminum heads. Intended for customers who would immediately transform their new Corvette into a race car, the L88 was installed in just 216 production Corvettes between 1967 and 1969.

In 1969, a special “L89″ 427 engine combined the L71’s induction system with the L88’s aluminum heads, offering maximum horsepower with an approximately 100-pound weight advantage over the standard iron heads. Also in 1969, Chevrolet built two “ZL1″ 427 Corvette coupes. The ZL1 engine was essentially an all-aluminum version of the L88, with the aluminum cylinder block and heads offering a tremendous weight advantage for racing. More of the engines were sold as crate engines to racers.

By 1970, the big-block engine grew to 454 cubic inches, just as the trend in high-compression, high-performance engines was beginning to wane. The four-year run of 427 Corvettes was already established as the golden era of performance

We have just come across this footage showing a Corvette ZR1 tuned up by American company Late Model Racecraft - labeled the ‘Fastest ZR1′ in the world - rocketing the quarter mile (402 meters) in a staggering 9.68 seconds and crossing the finish line at 236 km/h (147 mph).

The one-minute long video includes the on-board camera footage of the run, with the 6.2 litre V8 engine of the model screaming its mufflers out with rage and the telemetry data on display on the screen. We don’t know for sure what the good people at Late Model Racecraft have done to this Corvette, but to get that kind of performance out of a Corvette ZR1 they surely did a great job.

via | Motor Ward

In one mega group-test Evo sees which is the best road-racer model out of the Porsche 911 GT3, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the Audi R8 V10 and the Corvette ZR1. While describing this test as determining the most “hard-core” model, the introduction doesn’t really specify the criteria.

In fact, after a look at the engine specs and details, the Corvette is pegged as one of the more interesting models due to its very fast engine. But if you were to explain from the beginning that by “road-racing” you mean vehicles that can go fast elegantly, corner well, and give an overall fast but assured driving experience, you’d probably understand that the ZR1 is not quite in the league of the others (although some accusations of bias were levelled at Evo in the comments).

After an initial drive, Evo says:

Later we lunch on burgers, chips and chocolate milk from the cabin next to the Döttinger-Höhe petrol station and swap opinions. We’re divided over the GT3’s centre-locking wheels, Johns Barker and Hayman unconvinced by them, Ollie and I loving them. (The two Johns reckon age has given them taste; Ollie and I think their eyesight must be going.) We all agree that the Porsche’s gearshift can be a little baulky, though. The Aston is impressing hugely, with everyone saying how much more it gives you over the V8. And as Barker comments, ‘It’s only when you check the speedo that you realise how bloody fast you’re going, which is the ultimate compliment, really.’ Ollie says the ZR1 ‘makes everything else feel slow, but is so crude’. ‘Bonkers,’ says Hayman even more succinctly.

The ZR1 is pretty much already out of contention, but it’s hard to know which of the other three will come off tops. The Porsche was initially written off as being too underpowered to compete, but if you’re a classic sports car afficionado, you’d know this is taking for granted Porsche precision, style and technology.

Evo tester Henry Catchpole says:

Having driven it last month, I know how good the Porsche is. I drove the Aston last month as well, so I know how good that is too. Both are five star cars. Both are challenging for top spot along with the Audi. I won’t be happy going to sleep tonight without a proper back-to-back drive between the V12 and the GT3.

So we can see that the R8 V10, either through being excluded a little or literally because it just doesn’t quite cut it, is not really a final contender to be number one. Which leaves us the Porsche 911 GT3 and the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. With the classicism of driving pleasure focus combined with modern technology, Porsche once again outshines the rest. The conclusion is:

The Corvette crashed in the 24 Hours and, metaphorically at least, it crashed and burned in this test too. You can’t help but love that engine and if you think that driving fast should feel like permanently wrestling an accident, then you just might love the ZR1. But if you want a good Corvette, buy a Z06 and save yourself £54,000.

And if you want an R8 (and why wouldn’t you?) then you can save yourself money there too by buying a ‘basic’ one that looks identical to the V10 but has two fewer cylinders. Unlike the Corvette, this isn’t because the V10 is a flawed car – far from it – but where the standard R8 has an almost Lotus Elise-like delicacy to it, the V10 seems to just sit a bit more heavily on the road and is therefore slightly less magical. Of course, the upside of the V10 is access to that fantastic engine, but it would have been nice if Audi hadn’t relied entirely on an extra 100bhp and a different soundtrack to differentiate it.

However, where Audi and Chevrolet have disappointed in their attempts to improve on their smaller-engined models (albeit to wildly varying degrees), Aston has struck gold. In a way the V12 Vantage is the car we always hoped the V8 would be, with a decent ride, proper performance and engaging handling. When you add this to classic Aston lines, it’s a fantastic car. ‘This is clearly the best Aston the company has ever made for people like us,’ says JB. ‘Money no object I’d have it over the Porsche. Maybe.’

Maybe. Arguments were put forward that the new GT3 is now too fast, too grippy and too brutal. Barker suggested that Porsche should have designed it with the same power as the previous generation car but with less weight. And we nodded. But every time anyone came back from a drive in the GT3 they would just get out of the car smiling and shaking their head. You simply can’t deny this 911 its victory. It is wonderful. If you want the ultimate road racer, the car that will turn any road into your own personal Targa Florio and make you long, day and night, for your next stint behind the wheel, then you need a GT3.

For the full gallery of pics and further comments, see the Evo review.

The Corvette C6R GT2 has been released with this gallery set showing the yellow and black livery has been maintained. The GT2 is replacing the GT1 and will compete with the Ferrari 430 and Porsche 997 in racing events. The drivers for Corvette Racing are: Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia, Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Marcel Fassler.

The new GT2 is based on the Corvette Z06 with some features from the ZR1. This is to move it closer to the market for fans to purchase, with an alluminium production series chassis and steel, not carbon, brakes. While based on the GT1 seven-litre engine, the GT2 has a reduced engine capacity to six litres to use at the beginning of the championship, to be substituted then by a V8 5.5-litre unit. It will soon be introduced on GM group cars and will be manufactured by General Motors Performance together with the LS9 from the Corvette ZR1.

When the first images of this car emerged, we were pretty sure it would be the new generation of Chevrolet Corvette. After all, why would GM build an entirely new car only to appear in a movie, even if a blockbuster like “Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen”? It made no sense at the time and makes even less sense now (if that is possible). This concept, named Stingray Corvette Concept, was supposed to be revealed at GM’s Centennial, but it ended up being presented only this year, at the Chicago Auto Show.

There is no word on engine or technical specs, probably to help GM deny we are in front of Corvette C7. We only got to know the car will be an Autobot called Sideswipe in the movie. Due to the company’s problems, any new car will take a while to emerge, especially one that is so important to GM’s history as Corvette. Denying will also help GM develop the car in peace. We just hope this peace does not change the mean appearance of this 21st century Stingray when it arrives at dealerships, somewhere around 2012.

Source: GM

Chevrolet Stingray Corvette Concept

So the Corvette ZR1 is not news, but it’s still something to get excited about. Passing it so many times at the Bologna motor show, we finally conceded to its fascination and took these shots. Isn’t she lovely?

The three madmen from Top Gear have been cooking up something again, with the troup of Clarkson, Hammond and May turning up in Reno, Nevada, with a small convoy of supercars. It appears that the Bonneville Salt Flats was the destination, an immense salt deposit near Salt Lake City in Utah.

Whatever for, you might ask…? Well, it’s clear that a test drive was on the cars and the photos suggest we could see an attempt at the maximum speed of the Corvette ZR1. Bonneville has often been the theatre for new speed records and it could be the ideal place for a crazy experiment like this one.

The rear window is all you need to understand how this car’s style was developed. Its sloping lines escape towards the rear, reflecting the purity of a stingray. It has plenty of cinema charisma, as Corvette shows the first images of the Centennial Design; the mysterious concept car destined to be a protagonist in “Revenge of the Fallen”, the colossal sequel to Transformers.

We love the evocative rear, but aren’t so convinced about the front - too little Corvette, too much invention, which doesn’t continue with the rear lines. But for the film, it could nearly steal the show.

Source | Jalopnik (Thanks to themozz and lupin3rd for the tip)

We only know a few numbers (7:26.4) about this version, and yet talk is already out about the next generation. The Americans are aiming to get on top of European competition with this Corvette ZR1, which will have twin turbo combined with a V6 engine. The car should abandon the classic V8 and will follow the Nissan GT-R example.

No news is available on the twin clutch transmission or the central engine. The new ‘Vette though, starting with the the C7, will be counting on an attractive engine and reducing emissions and consumption.

Source | Autoblog