Tirpitz

My thought on all the C6 hoopla and buzz is that it will be at least 2010 before it comes out. All the other posts I have seen in this section talking about 2004,2005,2006, have no sources to back it up. These are the facts:

C1 1953-1962 9 years
C2 1963-1967 5 years
C3 1968-1982 14 years
C4 1984-1996 12 years
C5 1997- 5 years

The shortest run was the C2 at 5 years. Since then it has been at least 12 years between. What I think will happen is that the C5 will get some minor cosmetic changes and power changes (to make sure the 03 Cobra is blown away) in a couple of years (like the C4 did in 1991-1992), then a C6 around 2010-2011. It simply costs too much to completely rebuild the assembly line every 6-7 years. The CERV III started showing up in auto shows as a concept car around 1989-1990, and it was 7 years later that the C5 finally rolled out. No "concept Corvettes" have been shown recently. If GM is actively pursuing a C6, they will not want to rush it. GM is quite busy trying to find the succesor to the F-body (GTO), and doing design work for a possibly 5th gen Camaro by 2005 (probably a 2006 model).

mhaber

Your logic of looking at the history of C1-C5 is sound and you may be right, but I hope C6 comes sooner. Only time will show if your predictions are correct. I think GM learned a lot about secrecy with C5 and I don't believe anybody but the priviledged few really know what's going on with C6 and the true time line for production. I wonder about Bowling Green's ability to run two assembly lines, or however they are going to do it, to produce the Cadillac XLR along with C5/C6. I want C6 to be a quantum leap forward and if we must wait a few more years then I'm OK with this, but I sense Chevy wants to get C6 into the market place and they're currently dealing with Lutz's required changes in C6. My bother-in-law owns a Chevy dealership and he's clear that Lutz has insisted on putting his mark on C6 and this may delay things.


[Modified by mhaber, 12:11 PM 7/26/2002]

Senna1994

Correct about the previous Generations taking so long, but remember the C3 was at a time of Government mandated emissions and fuel standards. The C4 stayed so long because GM was losing Billions at the time. However, the C6 is not a completely fresh platform as the C5 was, therefore the tooling changes for the assembly line is not the same cost as C4 vs. C5. Also GM put out a statement that the next generation Corvette is not going to be late rather a time correction. Bob Lutz will only be around till 2005 and I guarantee you he wants his stamp on the car. Finally if you think the C6 will debut in 2010 you should definately stay off the glue.

Jinx

Are these posts a year old and the timestamps just got messed up, or have you guys been living in a cave?

You're entitled to your opinion, even if it's nuts.

Oh, I suppose it's possible that the preponderance of evidence gathered by the motoring press is all just hallucination. The clinics that forum members and their friends have been to could be an elaborate smokescreen on the part of GM. And the statements that GM has made about the C6 schedule could be BS.

BTW, what concept Corvettes were shown before C4?
BTW, how can BMW afford to rebuild the Z3 roadster/coupe assembly line after just 7 years? (New Z4 bows this fall.)
BTW, if a new Camaro is coming before a new Corvette, why's there so much info about the next Corvette and nothing but wish lists for the next Camaro?

What sources do you have that say C6 is NOT coming until 2010?

.Jinx

Scissors

Whoa! Lay off the drugs! You have some bad math. The C5 has 7 known model years under its belt now, not 5.

The C6 will probably be out in Spring of 2004 as an '05 model. It's a semi-major upgrade from the C5 much in the same way that the C3 was basically a C2 with a new body.

Tirpitz

You got me, 7 years of C5 if you include the 2003's that have yet to ship.

As far as sources, I never said I had any, that these were just my thoughts. Still no sources have been provided saying 2005,2006...etc.
If you have a source, post the link please. Isn't the Caddy XLR on the same chassis as the C5? Why change the Vette chassis when the Caddy version is just starting.

Like I said, the next couple of years may see some styling changes, and maybe a new motor, but the car will still be a C5.

John Row

I agree. Too soon for GM bean counters (they're the ones that actually run the company, no matter what Lutz thinks.) My money is on a 2007 model year C6, but pieces of it will begin appearing before that, i.e. magnetic suspension on the 50th, probably an aluminum frame on the 2005, etc.

I think the reason we haven't seen any real spy photos is that there isn't a design for it, yet.

Tirpitz

When the Corvette "Limited edition" or "Special Edition" C5 starts showing up in showrooms, the year after that will be the C6.

I think some of the hype about the C6 is being generated by the auto magazines so they have something to write about.

Bwright

Remember, the C5 was actually supposed to debut in 1993 but management and financial turmoil at GM seriously disrupted the schedule. GM faces no such problems now. In addition, the imminent debut of the Cadillac XLR suggests that the C6 cannot be far off as the two cars are to share the same line and use a lot of the same componentry/technology. The costs of these things need to be amortized right quick.

My guess is that spy shots of a C6 in testing will surface by this time next year with the actual car released sometime in early 2004. They sell every C5 they make so there is no rush. Lutz would, however, like to preside over the launch of a C6 and his contract, as I believe someone indicated, should be up in a few years.

2010? :nono: nu uh

Scissors

Actually, it has been officially stated: "Originally targeted for a late fall 2003 introduction as a 2004 model, the C6 is now set to arrive by late spring 2004, Corvette brand manager Rick Baldick said at the recent unveiling of the Indianapolis 500 Corvette pace car." as per this site .

Um...they aren't. They've been saying for a long time now that the C6 will be using the same basic chassis with minor modifications.

As I said, the C6 will be as much a C5 as the C3 was a C2.

The C3 used the same chassis and engines, basically, as the C2. Hell, the Viper is on its second body, but its third generation.


[Modified by Scissors, 7:14 PM 7/26/2002]

Senna1994

Exactly Scissors your right on the money. Also Jinx you are great, you seriously are funny, I always laugh reading your rants. You are definately the Dennis Miller of this website. BTW I hope Tirpitz gets off the crack pipe and starts reading the facts from GM (XLR on a C6 platform) and not spouting off about fantasy cars (Camaro) oh I mean GTO. :hat

Jinx

Thank you Scissors for doing the research and finding the GM reference. If the guy in charge of marketing Corvettes says C6 is coming in spring 2004, I think we can dispense with the "no C6 yet because C4 and C5 took fourteen years" argument once and for all.

.Jinx
Dennis Miller has writers. I have no one to blame but my cat.

AP

They will be upto 8 years by the 2004 model ...

bigdan

i toured the factory last may. the XLR line was being worked out, they had two partially assembled ones on the floor. the caddy will only take up a small amount of space in a corner, more or less (completely seperate from the vette line), as it's a low volume vehicle.

Cherm

Great post! I was just going to post about the same thing. What's the rush with evolving away from the C5? It's such a great car that still has a lot of room for improvement.

Make a Kick-azz version!! With less in the way of creature comforts and a lot more in the way of POWER!

Also seems like it wouldn't take much for the current Coupe to have something close to 400 HP standard.... And maybe a supercharged option??


[Modified by Cherm, 12:17 PM 7/28/2002]

KouKou

As long as it's here by 2006 I'm happy

GDP

Kickass version will be during the final year of production, much like the Grand Sport C4, just so they can kick it up a notch for sales when the impending C6 will come the following year.

Sal Collaziano

...he was only stating his thoughts. He's probably being impatient like the rest of us. Like, "Forget it, these things are never coming out..."

Jochen

The C5 is a great "kick butt" car. Why change it so fast to a C6 as long as it still sells like hot dogs ?
Right now the C5 has the best automotive press a corvette EVER had in europe. The car here is sold as a competition to a Porsche 911 not to a Z3 like in the states, and it compares excellent to the Modell 996.

Even the very conservative german auto magazines print great articles about the covette like comparison tests with a Ferrari 360, Jaguar XJR or Porsche 991 (The C5 got second place !).

As long as the C5 can beat those great cars for a third of the price, why invest so much money in getting out a 2004 C6 ?

My personal oppinion: As soon as we will see the first REAL spy shots, we will have to wait another 3 years to say "hi" to the first C6 to get sold.

Jochen

Jinx

Joshen -- clearly you did not read the thread above. The "C6 isn't coming that soon and isn't needed anyway" argument has already been bludgeoned. Way to pay attention. Thanks for playing.

For related information, see this thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=353248

.Jinx


[Modified by Jinx, 11:15 AM 8/24/2002]