Hey guys,
I was looking at the C6 Z06 and I was thinking of getting one but after driving and comparing it to my C5 Z06 I dont think that the difference is big enough between the cars to spend the extra $80000 on the car, especially considering that I am keeping my C5 Z06 and not selling or trading it in.

I think I will wait and see what is in storage for the next generation C7 considering its just around the corner.
I have heard some rumores that its supposed to be some narly setup in the C7, that it might be a DOCH engine.

Im wondering if anybody has read or heard anything about the next generation?
Are they gonna make a C7 Z06 or something similiar?
What do you guys think?

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=142

 

I am not saying THIS IS THE SCOOP. Just what I have heard from an ex GM tech with contacts. Since the feds are making the car makers get better MPG's the C7 will have supercharged V6... yes V6. We are going through the 80's again where power drops until the car makers figure out how to make big power again. That is the RUMOR I hear.
Jeffy'

 

I think I will keep my good ole' N/A 5.7L V8.

 

ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have similar information - and it isn't as pretty as a supercharged V6. A lawyer I know who works inside the auto industry (as much as I can say, well that and she drives a certain nameless vehicle that you'd love to have - FREE) advised me that the power is about to go out the window in 2012 and to have what I wanted to keep prior to that. I traded out of my C5 Z06 into a C6 Z06, and I will likely buy another one that I will park in 2010 or 2011.

 

what goes around comes around.....wohoo the 80s are back

 

I really dont think personally that the Corvette will be affected much by this so called "gas crisis".
First of all, people don't buy a car like this for economy, they buy it for the performance, history and entusiasm of it.
I doubt that GM will put out a car worse than the previous one just because the gas prices are high in the US.
That would not be even smart business strategy considering they are now putting cars on the market that will outperform most exotics that are priced several times higher.
As history shows even in the 80s they were still V8s and the gas crisis led to a more efficient car when they came out with the TPI in 1985.

Secondly, this "gas crisis" is a total crock of sh@#!t, its obvious that they are screwing the american public on money.
When I moved here from Europe in 1997 gas in Sweden was 8Kr/liter (about $1.30/quart) while it was $1.03 here in San Diego.
Over a 10 year period gas went up to 11Kr/liter in Sweden, thats about a 25% increase in 10 years while here it went up to $3.69 which is a 370% increase in the same time period.
Also, only gas that regular people use at the pumps is what went up this much, not aviation avgas, jet A or even regular motor oil. These only went up some 30-40% over the same time frame.

All these little stories I hear on the news about barrels of oil going up and so on is just a way for them to manipulate the public so that they won't have a civil war on their hands at the end of the year.
If that is true then gas should go up equivalent 370% in the whole world and not just here.

How is this linked to the Corvette?
If they wanna export these cars to the European market were gas hasen't gone up as much they have to have a desirable car that can compete with the European sports car market.
I doubt that GM will sacrifice and risk their whole export market just to make an "economical" Corvette so that it will fit the high gas prices here.
They have to come out with a vehicle that will be able to compete with other cars in the same class performance wise and yet still be efficient enough to be reasonble as a daily driver here.

Also, sales of SUVs have not dropped all of that much either.
I think that sales of huge SUVs and trucks will drop long before the sportscar market will be affected by this considering most of these soccer moms actually can get their stuff done in a decent size station wagon rather than a trendy SUV.
There is definetely a replacment there.

How is the Corvette entusiast do 4 seconds to 60 or over 200 mph on a V6?
Is the consumer and sports car entusiast gonna accept a V6 in a Corvette, even with the best supercharger?
I doubt it!
There is simply no replacement in this area.
I think that the cars will become more efficient over time just like they became from the 80s till now, I dont belive for a moment that GM will degrade their flagship over something like this.
Ferrari, BMW, Porsche or Lamborghini are not gonna stop making their high performance cars over something like this,
why would GM?

I do think that some higher performing car models like Chevrolet Impala
or maybe the new Trans Am or Camaro thats due to come out in -09 might get a power cut.
It definetely opened the doors for a new era of economy cars like the hybrid.

I did hear rumors that they might go back to the 32v four cam V8 again in the Corvette to increase efficiency and get more power out of it.
They definetely have the technology to do it considering they did it once.
That is really when I would be interested in buying a brand new Corvette.

 

GTA-nitz,
It is not related to the price of gas that power will drop, or that people will not want a preformance car. I don't like where gas prices are going but does it stop me from driving my cars NO. It is the US Government is requiring the auto makers to have their cars averaging some thing like 27mpg (it may even be higher) to put a car out. As for exotics if they don't make the grade you won't see them here in the states. That is why like the guy above said get what you want now or proably do with out.
Jeffy'

 

No question that the H/P wars are going to end--sports cars will be made lighter with a drop in power--super charged or turbo will set the way--Just give us a good looking vette and no more hatchback sloped window crap

 

GM simply need to bring some of the cars they sell in Europe over here!!! Have you seen them? They're sharp, and some of them get 40+ mpg! Super efficient diesels and regular gas powered cars.

For the life of me I don't know why they don't do that.

 

I believe what you are refering to is the fact that the TOTAL average of a manufaturers entire linup has to average out to 27mpg (not sure of the exact #). The Vette can get 12mpg as long as the whole linup still meets the required average. Im with GTA-nitz, I dont see anything drastic happening as far as power reduction. The HP wars may come to a stand still but I certainly dont see them putting out slower corvettes

 

i think you are right but...
1)if it is your budget why not put the c5 toward a zr1 if you can get on a list
2)i'm sure i'm in the minority,but i'm not so sure that c7 is just around the corner...i still think it debuts later than projected...

 

Dude, what you just said makes no sense.

If that is the case why did it take so long for the hybrid to enter serial production?
Why was the EV-1 a car that you could only lease and not buy and why were all of them junked as soon as they were returned from their leases?
All of that technology is old but was never developed till now just because the gas companies are virtually steering the whole economy and the government.

Are the SUVs also gonna disappear in America?
Or are they gonna produce a 8000 lbs Cadillac Escalade that gets over 27mpg?
Let me tell you that both of these scenarios are highly unlikely to happen in the next 5 years.
I doubt that the SUVs and trucks will Dissapear too.
Thats why what you said makes no sense.

In 1989 a Corvette had 245 hp and got 26mpg, today it has over 400hp and gets over 28mpg and tomorrow it will have probably 600hp and still get 28mpg.
Could you get over 400 hp if you built your 1989 Corvette?
Sure, but definetely not at the same milage as a 2003 Z06.

These cars will get more efficient and it doesn't mean necessary less power or a smaller engine with forced induction either.
There is many ways to do this,
for example try making the V8 a DOCH 32v with electronically controlled valve timing and right there by increasing its volymetric efficiency throughout its power band its already more efficient than a OHV V6 with a turbo.

I agree with Vette-kid about what he said that the whole line have to meet a certain standard and not every individual car.
What he said makes total sense considering we already have a higher standard than many of these SUVs meet as individual vehicles and they still sell them.
The day they start making big, heavy SUVs that get 30 mpg all day long, they won't have any problems making an aerodynamic 3000 lbs Corvette get the same or better milage, belive me!
Im also sure that certain vehicles like high performance cars will be exempt from rules like these considering the limited numbers that they are produced in comparitivly to a regular passenger car or SUV.

 

If Honda/Acura and BMW are going the diesel thing starting next year i don't see why GM wouldn't follow suit. Plus the BMW 335D is supposed to have like 430 ft-lb torque and only at 1750 rpm

 

Actually Jeffeyvyette is correct. It is called the CAFE bill that was just recently passed. I requires the enitre fleet to average 35mpg. I work at GM and they have cancelled many vehicles in the past year pre and post CAFE. Take a Look.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12...-of-cafe-bill/
Andy

 

That looked like a whole lot of RA-RA circle the wagons and save the SUVs crap to me... personally I'd like to see the SUVs disappear. In Atlanta, they are mostly driven by people who can't drive and either don't know it or don't care. They won't get the out of the way, the make all sorts of erratic maneuvers, and they are generally doing everything but trying to drive the vehicle. I vote for putting them on the bus.

 

I plan to keep my '02 Z06 until the C7 comes out. I'll probably skip the first model year to let them work out the first year bugs, and for the price gouging to subside, so most likely 2013. While I like the C6 Z06 a lot, its not worth the huge amount of money to me, for what I think is a marginal upgrade in performance, especially when I can't even exploit all of the performance of my C5 Z06 as it is. I always said I would replace my Z06 when I get bored with it, and I'm not even close to being bored with it, even after owning it for 6 years. Instead, I'm going to autocross it more, track it more, invest in high performance driving school, and do a few upgrades to the car to fix the things that bug me with it (seats and stereo).

For a $50k+ premium, I want a significantly different car from what I have now, and I think the C7 will qualify, especially if its DOHC, mid-engine, and has DSG option.

 

IMO- don't worry about Corvettes taking any significant drop in power. I imagine the total HP could come down, but if the weight and the total torque curve improve to compensate, and you can save a couple bucks at pump, then who cares? Have you guys seen what BMW did with their 3.0 TT? 300hp but with an amazing torque curve. Dinan has pushed it up to 407 hp and even more torque. GM's turbo DI ecotec is 2.0L and 260hp. What if they gave the same treatment to the 3.6 DOHC v6? If they hit the same power per L they'll get 468hp. Then there will be more and more aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber... maybe even titanium. Anybody know if it's possible to hydroform TI? Anyway, I have faith that the C7 will continue to kick-***, even if it does get 35mpg.

 

A Corvette Z06 should have serious power, handling and style. The C6Z
style missed my expectations by a long shot. The power and handling are top notch. The C7Z06 will be my next Corvette depending on what it evolves into. Any one who designed an Aztec(C6) should be last on the list to envision a new Corvette generation.
I am keeping my C5Z and will modify (LS7) it if GM designers fail again.