The 2010 Chevrolet Corvette is the best
high-performance value in America. It is a sports car that delivers supercar
performance for the price of a midsize luxury sedan. New for 2010 is the Grand
Sport model, which is distinguished by special exterior styling and a stiffer
suspension. The new Grand Sport will be available as a coupe or convertible.
Also new for 2010, manual-transmission versions of the Corvette gain Launch
Control, a system designed to let average drivers look like a pro when
accelerating hard from a standstill, and side-impact airbags are now standard.
The Corvette has a long standing reign as Chevrolet's flagship sports car, and
it's offered as a hardtop or a convertible. In addition to the base model,
Chevrolet also sells two high-performance variants of the sports car: the 505-hp
Z06 and the ZR1, which is powered by a supercharged 638 hp V-8. Competitors to
the Corvette include the Ford Shelby GT500, Dodge Viper and Nissan GT-R. The
Corvette is a two-seat sports car available as a targa-roof coupe, convertible,
or the high-performance Z06 and new ZR1 hardtop coupes. The Corvette coupe goes
for $45,170 and the convertible $53,510. The Grand Sport model will start
at $55,720. Corvette Z06 coupe is priced at $70,175. The ZR1 starts at $104,920.
Driving the 2010 Corvette
Regardless of the model, the Corvette is still the
American masterpiece in performance motoring. You have the ability to change the
traction and stability controls in several ways, with settings that are geared
for driving on or off the track. You can smoke the tires. You can accelerate
more quickly than you ever could in an older 'Vette, but the power application
is smoother than ever. The 2010 Corvette is extremely responsive and
maneuverable, and somehow manages to feel more refined than ever; yet it's still
incredibly tough.
Power for the 'Vette
The base model Corvette and the Grand Sport model
use the same all-aluminum 430-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 engine. They are both
available with a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic
transmission. Both the base model and Grand Sport have an optional exhaust
system which bumps engine output to 436 HP. Chevrolet recommends premium gas for
this engine, but it's not required. The ZR1 adds a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8
capable of a 205-mph top speed. The Z06 uses a 7.0-liter V-8 engine, which
makes 505 hp at 6,300 rpm and 470 pounds-feet of torque at 4,1350 rpm. It
teams exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and Chevrolet says it
can go from zero to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Corvette Design
The Corvette coupe features a one-piece removable
roof panel in body color (standard) or transparent plastic ($750).The dual-roof
option ($1,400) includes both. The convertible comes standard with a manually
operated soft top; a power soft top is part of the 3LT option package ($5,100)
and has a heated glass window in back. Standard features for the Corvette
include leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control with a
pollen filter, power everything (including seats), cruise control, tilt
leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote keyless entry and starting, AM/FM/CD
stereo with auxiliary input jack, XM satellite radio, auto-dimming rearview
mirror, automatic headlights, alarm, fog lights, xenon headlights, OnStar
telematics, and P245/40ZR18 front and P275/35ZR19 rear run-flat tires on alloy
wheels. The Convertible adds sport seats with adjustable lumbar support and side
bolsters. The Corvette sports swoopy exterior styling and bulging front
fenders. The Corvette's body panels are made of composite material, and the
current model features exposed headlights as opposed to flip-up ones that have
been used in past versions of the sports car.
Grand Sport
2010 Grand Sports will be offered in all of the
colors available for the base Corvette. Hash marks on the front fenders are
optional and available in four colors. The front and rear fenders are also
larger, and the front fenders feature three vents behind the front wheels and a
Grand Sport badge. Manual-transmission Grand Sport coupes have a dry-sump oil
system and a differential cooler, and the transmission itself features shorter
gearing. Automatic models have a shorter final-drive ratio, and the changes
lower both models' zero-to-60-mph times by 0.2 seconds, according to Chevrolet,
which puts them around 4 seconds. The Grand Sport's special five-spoke alloy
wheels measure 18 inches in front and 19 inches in back, but the front wheels
are 1 inch wider and the rear ones are 2 inches wider than base models. The
shocks, springs and stabilizer bars have also been modified, and Chevrolet says
it can pull 1 g when cornering.
The Z06 model is available only as a fixed-roof
coupe. The Z06 brakes are upgraded, its tires are huge, and it's offered only
with the six-speed manual transmission. The head-up display comes standard. The
Z06 offers unique styling cues designed to improve performance. It is outfitted
with 18-inch wheels in front and 19-inch rims in back, and drilled front brakes
measure 14 inches across, while the rear ones are slightly smaller, at 13.4
inches. The Z06 ratchets up the Corvette's performance capabilities with the use
of a more powerful V-8 engine, larger brakes and a firmer suspension. Chevrolet
says the car can pull more than 1 g when cornering. The slit near the hood feeds
cold air to the engine, and scoops in front of the rear wheels funnel air to
cool the brakes. When a car's top speed is 198 mph, as the Z06's is,
aerodynamics become even more important; the sports car has a splitter for extra
downforce. The Corvette Z06 coupe comes with dry-sump lubrication and coolers
for the power steering pump, gearbox and rear differential. Beyond the engine,
the Z06 also includes hydro-formed aluminum frame rail.
ZR1 Model
This super-Corvette, which comes in limited
availability, weighs in at a scant 3,324 pounds; the ZR1 is based on the
aluminum chassis of the Corvette Z06. It adds carbon ceramic brake rotors and
standard magnetic ride control, plus a carbon-fiber roof, front fenders, rocker
moldings and more. The ZR1 has a 205-mph test-track top speed. The ZR1
uses Brembo brakes, which feature carbon ceramic matrix rotors for excellent
heat dissipation. The advantages of these brakes are superior friction and
thermal properties. The ZR1 also offers Xenon High Intensity Discharge
headlamps, which provide significant forward lighting power.
Summary
This is the best value high performance vehicle
around. The 2010 Corvette benefits from its stylish appearance, RWD
handling, excellent instrument layout and legibility, it's heritage,
and, of course, its performance. Options for the 2010 Corvette include DVD navigation
($1,750), which includes the Bose audio and voice recognition; chromed aluminum
wheels ($1,850); polished aluminum wheels ($1,295); and dark gray painted wheels
($395).Customers can also opt to take delivery of their cars at the Corvette
Museum ($490).The event is broadcast on the internet and customers receive a
plaque, special door badges, and a one year membership to the museum.
There are also packages available, such as the Preferred Equipment Group (2T,
3T, and 4T), and the Z51 Performance Handling Package, which is geared towards
hard core drivers.