The Chevrolet Corvette C5 is a two-seat sports motorcar that dramatically changed the method of the 'Vette from a pedestrian also-ran in the roadster wars led by Japanese and European automakers into a sleek, inviting brute with a massive V-8 complemented by superb handling prowess. The fifth lifetime Corvette reclaimed its rightful distance in performance, which had not been seen on account of the early 1970s.
Origins
The C5 is the fifth of six generations of Corvettes. The first Corvette was launched in 1953 with an underpowered in-line six-cylinder engine, but the C2 1960s models, styled after the Mako shark and equipped with a 396-cubic-inch V-8, cemented its street cred as a high-performance sports car. The 1968 to 1982 C3 Corvettes were equally known for their muscle until the 1970s fuel shortages effectively gutted its horsepower ratings after 1973 due to stricter emission standards. From the early 1970s until the C5 1997 to 2004 models appeared, the Corvette was a shadow of its former self, according to Edmunds.com.
New Look
The C5 Corvette was styled more aerodynamically, abandoning the straight, uninspiring lines of the 1981 to 1996 models. The fiberglass body featured side "coves" behind the front wheels that echoed the 1950s 'Vettes. The iconic crossed racing flags returned with an updated look, along with the old-style grab handles once seen on the mid-1960s models. The quad taillamps, the Corvette's signature look, remained. Inside, it featured an analog, black-light instrument cluster and a centerpiece electronic information center that provided operating data in four languages.
Specifications
The C5 Corvette came as a coupe, hardtop or convertible. It sat on a tidy 104.5-inch wheelbase and its overall length was only 179.7 inches, with an overall width of just 73.6 inches, although the car gave the illusion of being much wider, with its low profile of being just 47.7 inches tall. The C5 weighs 3,300 lbs.
Z06
As if the C5 didn't offer enough performance, Chevrolet launched in 2001 the Z06 model that first was equipped with a 385-hp V-8 and later got a boost to 405 horsepower. Corvette always had been preoccupied with weight issues and is often criticized for its over-reliance on aluminum and plastic.Power and Performance
The massive cast aluminum LS1 5.7-liter V-8 generated 345 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque, the twisting power generated inside the engine that gives a vehicle its get-up-and-go. Power was transmitted via a 6-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic. The C5 could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and the run quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 109 mph.The C5 is no exception to the criticism, especially with regards to the construction of the interior. But the Z06 goes further with the philosophy. The Z06 weighs less than the standard C5 by about 40 lbs. and is equipped with thinner glass, titanium exhaust, less sound-deadening insulation and lighter wheels. As a result the Z06 is capable of clocking 3.9 seconds in the 0-60 mph speed test.
