2012 CORVETTE Order Guide is now online CLICK HERE !

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News

December 23

Pratt and Miller 2011 Overview

 

October 8
C6 Recall
The Detroit News is reporting that General Motors will be recalling 6,006 2011 and 2012 Corvette Coupes in North America due to failure to meet a federal safety standard covering the rear hinges. GM said the issue could allow the rear hatch to separate from the vehicle in a crash.

GM will be mailing letters to the owners with the affected hinges on October 14th. Dealers will replace both rear hatch hinges.

The issue came to light during testing for a future European regulation in early September, and GM halted shipment of the vehicles for three days as it investigated. GM says its unaware of any crashes, injuries or customer complaints related to the issue.

The recall affects 5,755 Corvettes in the United States and 217 in Canada. Most of the rear hatch hinges – about 4,000 – are on 2011 Corvettes.

September 28
C7 Information... "Kinda"
GM stated earlier this year, that it will spend $131 million and will add 250 jobs to improve the Bowling Green, Ky., factory that builds the Corvette.

That’s a dramatic increase from the $39 million spent in 2005 when the site changed over to produce the C5. The facility has built Corvettes for 30 years. Production of the C7 will begin in 2013, and the Corvette will launch as as a 2014 model.

That dramatic increase in spending has led to speculation that the Corvette could be in for a major facelift. Reports have suggested a seven-speed manual transmission could be offered. It’s also possible that the 6.2-liter V8 could be downsized, perhaps to about 5.5 liters. The current V8 in the Corvette ZR1 employs supercharging, but twin-turbocharging has also been rumored as a future technology. A V6--perhaps reinforced with some kind of forced-induction and making a high output--has also been generating considerable chatter among the Corvette community. Click Here, and Check out "Autoweek" for more C7 Information!

August 16
2012 CORVETTE C6’S ARE ROLLING STRONG !
Members –Just checked in with our friends at Bowling Green and all reports are that the 2012 Corvettes are rolling out the door quickly…..to the tune of 3,200 to date! This is a fantastic start for the 2012 model year.

The Corvette Centennial Editions began full production in early August and currently make up only 15% of the 3,200 produced. Word from Bowling Green is that the Centennial Edition orders are coming in at a very strong pace and dealers are waiting for this edition to hit their lots.

The following is a current breakdown of production to date: 
 

*Supplier delays have caused these numbers to be constrained. The Z07 and PDE options are the packages that are affected. Items causing this delay should be cleared up by the end of August and full production will commence.

The number one color produced out of 3,200 C6’s is (70U) Torch Red with a 27% total volume.

July 21
2011 Final Production Totals
The plant has released the final 2011 Corvette production numbers, Click Here!

 

June 30
CORVETTE Turns 58 !
Today, CORVETTE turns 58 years old... Adam Boca from the NCM has written a BLOG about this special day for all of us. CLICK HERE!

June 20

 

June 12
#73 CORVETTE WINS BIG AT 24 HOURS OF LE MANS 2011
What a way to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet! It was indeed a big win for Corvette Racing, on the 10th Anniversary of Corvettes Racings first visit you Le Mans. After losing the #74 Corvette C6.R, which was leading the race because of an accident, the #73 car drove on to victory in GTE Pro driven by Olivier Beretta, Tommy MIlner, and Antonio Garcia. The 73 was a lap down at the 18 hour mark, ( see below ) but made it all back up to take the checkered flag with Garcia at the wheel, following a very strong run by Tommy Milner.
 

From Corvette Racing - Facebook
 

Photo: Corvette Racing

At the 18 hour mark:

• 74 Corvette Retires After Accident, 73 Corvette Second at 18-Hours in Le Mans

• Magnussen Walks Away but Damaged Corvette Withdrawn After Leading Since First Hour

The yellow and black #74 Corvette had led the GTE category since the safety car period in the first hour of the race. Nearly 16 hours later, contact with a Porsche resulted in extensive damage to the front and rear of the car and a loss of drive. Driver Jan Magnussen was unharmed, but the car could not return to the pit lane and was retired.

"I was coming out of the Porsche Curves behind a Porsche, and it looked like he was going to make room for me after the fast chicane after Corvette Corner," Magnussen said. "I went in there, he turned in on me, and instead of just hitting him I tried to take some of the curb and straightline the grass. The curb just kicked the rear out and I went into a huge tank-slapper, hit him, and then hit the wall.

While the front-running Corvette was withdrawn, the No. 73 Corvette of Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia, and Tommy Milner was second at the 18-hour mark, one lap behind the class-leading No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia. Milner and Garcia had triple-stinted through the night, and the crew had replaced the front brake rotors and pads at the halfway point for the run to the finish.

"The 74 Compuware Corvette was running great, just tires, fuel, and drivers all night long," said team manager Gary Pratt. "We had seven hours to go, a two-minute lead, but it was still a hard race, and Jan knew that. The crew was doing a good job, the pit stops were clean, we just needed to bring it home. We still have one bullet left with the 73 Corvette. The car's a lap down, but we can make that up."
 

And..... they DID !!!!

May 5
Commemorating 50 Years of Corvettes and Astronauts (GM Communications)
On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to travel into outer space. When he returned to terra firma, Shepard got behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette – and the legends of America’s favorite sports car and spacemen have been intertwined ever since.

On May 7, 2011, approximately 30 of America’s surviving astronauts are expected to gather at Cocoa Beach, Fla., where they will participate in a parade commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Shepard’s historic sub-orbital flight. Fittingly, they will be driven in Corvettes representing all six design generations built since the famed sports car’s 1953 debut.

“Each astronaut will ride in a Corvette from the generation current at the time of their mission,” parade coordinator John T. R. Dillon III said.

Dillon, a Safety Engineer at the Kennedy Space Center, is also a Corvette owner and member of the Cape Kennedy Corvette Club, which counted four astronauts among its original membership when it was founded in 1967.

“All of the astronauts were test pilots back then; they flew performance aircraft and they moved into performance cars with a well-honed appreciation for handling, acceleration and so forth," Dillon said.

Shepard brought along his 1957 Corvette when he reported for Space Program training in April, 1959...he would own at least 10 Corvettes in his lifetime. His enthusiasm for sports cars was shared by several of the other adventurous and dedicated young men who would train with him to become America’s first astronauts.

Six of the Mercury astronauts would take Rathmann up on his Corvette offer. Stalwart family man John Glenn opted for a new Chevrolet station wagon instead. Glenn’s wagon reportedly proved just the thing for those occasions when the seven astronauts needed to travel together.

During an interview in 1998, Rathmann said, “Al Shepard was a racer...he was always wanting to be the fastest guy.”

That ambition was shared by fellow Mercury astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom. The two-lane blacktop duels fought by Shepard and Grissom in their big block-powered Corvettes would truly become the stuff of legend. In his quest for a competitive edge, Grissom had his last Corvette, a 1967 convertible, specially geared and modified to accept extra-wide rear racing tires.

When Apollo 12 astronauts Dick Gordon, Charles Conrad and Alan Bean ordered new 1969 Corvettes through Rathmann, they asked that the identically equipped 390-hp 427 Stingray coupes be custom finished in a special black-accented Riverside Gold color scheme designed by Bean. A unique red, white and blue insignia was also added to the front fenders. NASA administrators reportedly fretted that a subsequently published LIFE Magazine photo of the space-suited Apollo 12 astronauts and their matching Corvettes could be misconstrued as a forbidden product endorsement.

Even so, another photo of a trio of American astronauts with their Corvettes would appear in LIFE, during June 1971. Apollo 15 lunar mission crewmembers Jim Irwin, Al Worden and Dave Scott had been photographed with their Corvettes and a training version of the battery-powered Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) they would deliver to the moon. The “moon buggy,” as it was also called, utilized a mobility system built by General Motors. The Apollo 15 crew Corvettes were each a different color...red, white and blue. Dual racing stripes on each car rounded out the American flag colors.

The enduring association with America’s astronauts has contributed greatly to the legend of the Corvette.

"In the 1960s, astronauts were the American heroes that every child idolized and every adult respected,” said Corvette historian and former Corvette Quarterly editor Jerry Burton. “That so many of them drove Corvettes really helped to establish Corvette as America's sports car.”

Released in 1979, author Tom Wolfe’s bestselling book, "The Right Stuff,” recounted the beginnings of America's space program. The book’s success sparked a revival of interest in the original Mercury 7 space heroes—and their Corvette adventures.

“Prior to that, astronaut-related Corvette stories were just kind of folklore...I think that it is thanks to Tom Wolfe that the Corvette is today so solidly cemented to the legend of the pioneering astronauts,” said Burton.

That association continues even today. The 1995 movie “Apollo 13” featured two era-authentic Corvettes, one of them used in a key scene featuring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell. The 2009 movie “Star Trek XI” opens in the year 2245, with a 12-year old James T. Kirk driving a 280-year old 1965 Corvette Sting Ray.

These stories, both fiction and non-fiction, contribute to the persistent urban legend that astronauts have owned more Corvettes than any other kind of car. That is likely a timeworn legacy of the first decade of the American Space Program. It is probably fair to say, however, that more astronauts have had more fun behind the wheel of America’s Sports Car than in any other automobile.

For more information about the heady early years at the Cape, see Wally Schirra‘s biography, “Schirra’s Space.” For more information on the historic connection between astronauts and Corvette, see Corvette Quarterly stories from 1989 and 2006.

May 4
GM to  invest $131 million in Bowling Green Plant
General Motors said Wednesday it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green Assembly plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs.

“This is a significant day for anyone who believes that America should build world-class, high-performance products,” said Mark Reuss, GM North America president. "Corvette has no domestic peer for performance and pedigree and stands alongside the world's best supercars with almost 60 years of continuous heritage.

"This investment in Kentucky is among $3.4 billion made in the United States since mid-2009 to keep or create more than 9,000 jobs for American workers," Reuss said.

The announcement came at an event held at the plant with employees and several special guests, including Gov. Steve Beshear. The governor last June signed a bill designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.

“Kentucky has a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with GM and this significant investment further demonstrates the strength of our partnership,” Beshear said.

The plant in Bowling Green is scheduled to continue building the current generation Corvette for at least the next two model years, including the 2012 model year that begins this summer.  During this period, the investment starts to take effect, preparing the facility for the next-generation Corvette.

Bowling Green is the exclusive manufacturer of all versions of the Chevrolet Corvette –Coupe, Convertible, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1.  Corvette’s current generation, the sixth in its 58-year history, has seen the car enter the realm of the world’s highest-performing cars.

Nearly 400 production workers, represented by the UAW Local 2164, assemble these vehicles on a one-shift, 10-hour, Monday-Thursday production schedule. The plant employs many specialized operations, including unique hand-crafted techniques. Bowling Green has been home to Corvette production since 1981.

“We need to rebuild the great American middle class.  There is no better way to achieve this worthy goal than providing meaningful jobs like the ones being created in Bowling Green,” said UAW Vice President Joe Ashton. “ Our members have earned this investment through their hard work focused on the Corvette customers’ unique desire for high performance, quality, and style.

“I offer my congratulations to a great American Union Workforce, Local 2164, for a job well done.”

The additional jobs will be filled in accordance with the United Auto Workers -GM National Agreement.

Approximately 50,000 tourists visit the Bowling Green plant annually to catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process, some even watching their new cars being completed before taking delivery from the neighboring National Corvette Museum.

 
GM / NCM  Video

April 28

Chevrolet announced today that it will once again elevate Corvette’s performance capabilities with a series of improvements for the 2012 model year that improve on-track performance and on-road comfort. They include enhancements to the high-performance Z06 and ZR1 models as well as interior upgrades across the Corvette lineup.

Sports car fans will get their first look at the 2012 models – including the racing-inspired appearance of the Chevrolet Centennial Edition  – at a special event this weekend at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky. Production begins in July.

“We constantly strive to make the Corvette a better car on the road and the track,” says Tadge Juechter, Corvette vehicle line director and chief engineer. “For 2012, the Corvette lineup achieves its highest performance level ever, while at the same time being easier to drive and enjoy thanks to several changes and new features inside the car.”

New Michelin Cup ZP tires elevate Z06/ZR1 performance
Corvette’s greater performance for 2012 begins with the new, optional Michelin^® Pilot^® Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires, which are available on the two highest-performing models, the lightweight, 505-hp (377 kW) Z06 and the maximum-performance, 638-hp (476 kW) supercharged ZR1. They are competition-oriented tires, optimized for warm, dry conditions to increase cornering and handling capability.

When combined with the Corvette’s exclusive Performance Traction Management (PTM) technology – which manages torque delivery for maximum performance – the tires are expected to help set new benchmarks for Corvette performance. Engineers estimate an 8-percent gain in maximum lateral acceleration, to more than 1.1g, and improved braking distance. Testing at Virginia International Raceway has demonstrated improvement of approximately three seconds per lap.

The Cup ZP tires were developed by the same Michelin engineers who develop tires for Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series and are essentially street-legal versions of a racing tire. They are included in the optional Z07 performance package on the Corvette Z06 and a new PDE performance package on the ZR1. The 285/30-19 (front) and 335/25-20 (rear) tires are matched with all-new aluminum Cup-style wheels in satin black or machined finishes. They are about five pounds lighter (2.2 kg) and stronger than the 20-spoke wheel offered in 2011.

Performance Traction Management (offered on the Z06 for the first time in 2012) is an advanced system that optimizes traction for greater and more consistent on-track performance. The system also integrates traction control, active handling and selective ride control systems to enhance race track driving consistency and overall performance. When full throttle is applied upon exiting a corner, it automatically manages acceleration dynamics.

A full-width racing-style spoiler for improved aerodynamics is also included in both the ’12 Z07 and PDE packages. The Z06 model will now offer Magnetic Selective Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology – an innovation Corvette pioneered several years ago. And as before, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes will be a part of the Z07 chassis package (they are standard on ZR1). Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires remain standard on the ZR1.

A carbon fiber hood will be an available option on 2012 Z06 models, while the standard manual transmission for ZR1 will include taller gearing in fifth and sixth gears, for a 2-mpg improvement in highway fuel economy.

 

Interior and feature changes
All 2012 Corvette models will include a new seat design and a new steering wheel. The seats feature larger bolsters on the seat back and cushion areas, which provide better driver support, especially in high-performance driving while remaining comfortable for daily street driving. Microfiber suede seat inserts are optional and improve tactile feel, as well as add additional support.

The new seats are complemented by the revised steering wheel, featuring model-specific badges, streamlined switch trim and wrapped spokes. Padded center console and armrests for all models are now included for 2012. An additional visual touch inside the car is contrasting color stitching – in red, blue and yellow – which is available with the custom leather-wrapped interior.

Also coming in 2012 is a new Bose uplevel audio system, which includes nine speakers (compared to seven in 2011) for improved audio quality that is more precisely tuned to the cabin’s acoustics. New tweeters located in the instrument panel and improved Bose Nd next-generation bass performance is the main benefit that Corvette drivers will hear.

A new Technology Package (2LT trim level) brings together many of the Corvette’s popular infotainment features and makes them available for more models. The package’s equipment includes the navigation radio, head-up display, Bose premium audio system, Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity and a USB port.

Wrapping up the new features for 2012 is the availability for customers to select brake caliper colors, for more personalization of their Corvette. The calipers are offered in the red, yellow, silver or gray. Two downloadable info packets are available from Chevrolet and the Registry. Corvette 2012 Updates, and 2012 Chevrolet Performance Guide. Click them or view or print.

During the C5/C6 Birthday bash. A special presentation was given at the NCM during the C6/C6 Registry seminar you can view the special presentation by clicking these links:

Registry Birthday Bash Part 1 and Registry Registry Birthday Bash Part 2 2012 Corvette.

April 6
2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette Celebrates Racing Heritage
Z06 Centennial Edition to be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach sale!

Chevrolet, founded by a racing pioneer 100 years ago, celebrates its performance heritage with the 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette, which features a sleek black color scheme, unique design elements and Corvette’s trademark sports car technology.

 
GM Video

The 2012 Centennial Edition package will be available on all Corvette models – including Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 – starting this summer.  

The special package was inspired by Chevrolet’s racing-bred foundation, which continues with Corvette’s international racing excellence and production sports car prominence.

“Racing and performance are the roots of Chevrolet, a tradition carried forward today by Corvette,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “The Centennial Edition not only celebrates our 100 years, it once again pushes Corvette forward for a new generation of sports car fans.”

Chevrolet will auction a Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction, in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 9, with the proceeds to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. It will be the 100th 2012 Corvette off the assembly line, with a vehicle identification number ending in “00100.”

The Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette expresses racing heritage, but does so with a sleek, modern, even sinister-looking appearance. The Centennial Edition package comes exclusively in Carbon Flash Metallic, with satin-black graphics and unique Centennial Satin Black wheels and red brake calipers. The wheels are constructed of lightweight cast-spun aluminum and include a thin red outline around the perimeter of its surface on the Z06. The wheels are specific to the respective Corvette models, including 18-inch/19-inch for Coupe, Convertible and Grand Sport; and 19-inch/20-inch for Z06 and ZR1.  

Magnetic Selective Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension and a technology advance initiated by Corvette, is included on all Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette models.

The Centennial Edition also features special badges that signify Chevrolet’s racing history. A graphic logo featuring an iconic image of Louis Chevrolet appears on the B-pillars, the center caps of the wheels, and the center of the steering wheel. The seat headrests also carry an embossed centennial logo. -

Aficionados will note one other small detail: The historic crossed flags badge contains a small adaptation, with “100” in place of the traditional fleur-de-lis symbol, only for the Centennial Edition.

The exterior color scheme is reinforced inside the car, with the Ebony leather-wrapped instrument panel and doors complimented by red stitching also on the steering wheel, seats, console and shifter. The seats feature microfiber suede accents on seats, steering wheel, shifter and armrests, which were first used on the 2011 Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.

The Chevrolet Centennial Edition will be available on all Corvette models via order code ZLC. Pricing will be released this summer prior to the start of availability.

“Louis Chevrolet was a fearless racing pioneer who also designed our first car,” Scheidt said.  “Corvette is a natural fit to honor that legacy, while creating a compelling new package for sports car drivers.”

The 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette will be available as an option package (RPO:  ZLC) in the following models and trim levels:

March 20

Corvette Racing Finishes Third and Fourth in Season-Opening Sebring Race
Corvettes Overcome Incidents and Accidents in 12-Hour Endurance Test March 19, 2011 – Corvette Racing raced around the clock to finish third and fourth in the GT class in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, the season-opening round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series. The No. 03 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Tommy Milner, Olivier Beretta, and Antonio Garcia completed 312 laps and finished third, 49.294 seconds behind the class-winning BMW. The No. 04 Compuware Corvette C6.R of Oliver Gavin, Jan Magnussen, and Richard Westbrook was fourth across the finish line with 311 laps.

The Sebring 12-hour was a test of determination for the Chevrolet team. The No 3 Corvette C6.R started ninth on the grid and finished on the podium; the No. 4 Corvette C6.R overcame a three-lap deficit after an accident at the two-hour mark.

"Today's result was absolutely a team effort," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President for Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "In endurance racing you have to work as a team every minute, and Corvette Racing did that. We have more work to do, but this team never gives up."

The No. 04 Corvette C6.R made a fast start as Oliver Gavin started second on the GT grid and passed the pole-winning Ferrari 430GT on the first lap.

Gavin handed off to Jan Magnussen at 1:48 under a full-course caution, but the Dane encountered misfortune as soon as racing resumed. Running third at the restart, contact in Turn 17 with Patrick Long's Porsche caused both cars to spin. The following Ferrari F458 of Johannes van Overbeek then spun, colliding with the Corvette and damaging its right rear suspension. The Ferrari subsequently retired, while Magnussen manhandled the Corvette to the pits for repairs. Six minutes later, the Corvette crew had him back on track, albeit two laps down to the GT leader.

Image Corvette Racing © Richard Prince

"I got a better run going onto the straight, and Long moved to the right to block me," Magnussen said. "No big deal, I went around him on the outside. I think he was bouncing over the bumps, and bounced into the side of my car. I can't be upset with him, but I was upset at the situation."

Long was subsequently penalized for avoidable contact, and the Corvette was penalized for crewmembers working on the car while the pits were closed, losing yet another lap.

Richard Westbrook also showed his mettle in his first start with Corvette Racing in the No. 04 Corvette C6.R. "Everyone at Corvette Racing wants to do so well – it's Chevrolet's 100th anniversary, and we really want to put in a great performance," Westbrook said. "Unfortunately Jan had contact in the second stint, but we kept pushing – there was nothing else we could do."

Shortly after seven hours, Milner pitted the 03 Corvette for a new windshield after the tearoffs had blown off, leaving a layer of sticky adhesive. After falling back to sixth, he charged back through the GT field to third at the end of his stint.

"That was probably the hardest I've had to work in a race car to see out of the windshield," Milner reported. "The crew changed the entire window in nothing flat, and that was great because the car was really, really good. When the sun went down, it definitely picked up grip."

As the sun set at Sebring, the race pace quickened. Antonio Garcia turned in a strong performance to pull the No. 03 Corvette as high as third on the cooling track.

"The car was getting better and better throughout the race," said the Spaniard. "I was racing with a Porsche in the first half of my stint and worked the tires hard getting by him, but at the end I ran decent lap times with worn tires. We were in the fight, running as close as we could to the front, and we had to be able to fight for a good position at the finish."

After 10 hours of racing, Beretta had the No. 03 Corvette in second, and Gavin was back on the lead lap in the No. 04 Corvette when the class leader pitted.

"Today was a real uphill battle after the accident took us out of contention for the victory," Gavin said. "After we changed tire compounds I thought we'd have a shot at the podium, but it was perhaps a bit too early. This was one of the wildest 12 hours I've ever raced. I'm proud to be part of the Chevy team, and proud to bring the car back to within a lap of the leader. Jan and Richard drove brilliantly today, with a bit more luck we might have won."

"We didn't have the ultimate speed to match the BMWs and Ferraris today, but we did have execution and we did have strategy," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "When you combine those in an endurance race, it's going to show, and that's what this team did. This is a solid foundation for the season, and a result we can be proud of."

Corvette Racing’s next event is the American Le Mans at Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif., on Saturday, April 16.

Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring GT Results (Top 10):
Pos./Drivers/Car/Laps
1. Priaulx/Mueller/Hand, BMW M3 GT, 312
2. Farfus/Auberlen/Werner, BMW M3 GT, 312
3. Beretta/Garcia/Milner, Corvette C6.R, 312
4. Gavin/Magnussen/Westbrook, Corvette C6.R, 311
5. Fisichella/Bruni/Kaffer, Ferrari F458 Italia, 311
6. Bergmeister/Long/Leib, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 310
7. Law/Neiman/Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 306
8. Robertson/Robertson/Said, Doran Ford GT, 294
9. Ortelli/Makowiecki/Deletraz, Farrari F458 Italia, 292
10. Brown/Cosmo/Bell, Ferrari F458 Italia, 268

March 7
RPO’S WILL ENHANCE YOUR CORVETTE PURCHASING EXPERIENCE!
Members – Have you heard about the recently released RPO PIN? I know you’re asking yourself, What could this possibly stand for? Well, you have to think like a GM Engineer type to realize that option RPO PIN stands for Personal Identification Number which means for a $5,000 option fee you can submit a request for a specific VIN on an upcoming C6 that would be built for YOU with your SPECIAL VIN selection. Of course your selection would be subject to approval by GM, and certain VINs such as VIN 001 and early production test fleet model VINs would not be available.

While on the subject of RPO codes, the BUILD YOUR OWN ENGINE RPO PBC which stands for Performance Build Center is still building strong! With the guidance of a world class craftsman who assembles these engines every day at the Wixom Engine Assembly Plant, you will enjoy the experience of a life time by participating in building YOUR Corvette engine, the VERY ONE that will be placed in your ordered Z06 (LS7 engine) or ZR1 (LS9 engine). This event culminates with a plaque being placed on your engine that includes your name and the craftsman who guided your hand in building it. Currently there is discussion under way for someone who may choose to build a Grand Sport 6-speed manual Coupe to be eligible as well. Contact your Dealer for more details.

We have been receiving positive feedback about the NCM offer to produce for you a photo album of your C6 being built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. This leather bound album includes 20 pages of high quality photos and information about your C6 as it travels down the assembly line. All this documented history can be yours for $500.
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/services/photoalbum.asp

The NCM also offers a buyers tour for $400
https://store.corvettemuseum.com/services/buyertour.asp  as well as the ever popular
RPO R8C NCM Delivery Program for $490.
 http://www.corvettemuseum.com/ncm_delivery/index.shtml

March 3
YEAR TO DATE PRODUCTION OF C6’S INCH TOWARD 10,000 BUILT
Members – 2011 Corvette production of all models is inching toward 10,000 Corvettes built with 500 being Z06s, 700 being ZR1s and 25% of the remaining production being Convertibles. The Bowling Green Assembly Plant is currently working a four-day work week producing 320 C6s a week with one ZR1 being produced each day.

Z06’s produced with the Z07 Ultimate Performance Package costs an additional $9,495 MSRP. Currently 57% of all Z06 orders are being built with this ever popular Z07 wheel package.

 A “BOOM” in Corvette sales took place in February 2011 with a total of 955 Corvettes sold during this 28 day period. This was a 53% increase over February 2010. This led the Luxury Sport Car market share with a market share sales rate of 30.5% versus all other Luxury Sport Cars such as Porsche 911, Mercedes Benz SLK, BMW Z4 and 6 series, as well as the Nissan GT-R which only sold 38 cars for the whole month.

On the heels of a fantastic sales month, March 2011 starts a new C6 incentive period.

 2010 C6s get $4,000 Cash Allowance OR 0% financing up to 72 months for qualified buyers including Grand Sports, Z06s and ZR1s.

 2011 C6s get $3,000 Cash Allowance OR 1.9% financing up to 60 months and 2.9% for up to 72 months for qualified buyers

March 2
THE Z06 CARBON EDITIONS ARE ON THEIR WAY!
Members – The first Inferno Orange Metallic Carbon Edition Z06 referred to as a “Lead Unit” was produced during the week of February 21-25, 2011. It is reported that this Carbon Edition passed a very rigid inspection with flying colors! With this good news Carbon Editions will be rolling off the assembly line beginning March 7^th to fill the long delayed Dealer orders that have been piling up.

As you may recall, Carbon Editions are available in Inferno Orange Metallic and Supersonic Blue Metallic and include the very special Z07 Ultimate Performance Package that gives you the Brembo Brakes with the Carbon-Ceramic Brakes and the ZR1 styled Competition Gray Wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Tires. Carbon Edition Z06s have unique interiors with color matching exterior stitching, black headlights, carbon hood, black spoiler and the ever popular F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control with 2-position selector. The Carbon Special Edition Package retails for $15,705 on top of the Z06’s MSRP.

 If you have been waiting on one of these beauties, call your Dealer NOW!

February 11
LINGENFELTER PARTICIPATES IN CORVETTE DREAM GIVEAWAY
WITH BRAD PAISLEY HERO EDITION ZR1 CORVETTE
One-of-a-Kind Corvette Benefits Kids Wish Network Charity

DECATUR, Ind. - Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has donated their engine expertise to enhance a 2010 Corvette ZR1 with a supercharger pulley and front inlet cover upgrade, increasing the car to over 700 horsepower.  
 
Known as the Brad Paisley Hero Edition ZR1, the one-of-a-kind Corvette is part of the 2010 Corvette Dream Giveaway - a fundraising event to help support the Kids Wish Network HERO program taking place in over 150 pediatric hospitals nationwide.
 
"The Kids Wish Network HERO program is a great cause that we initially participated in back in 2008 as a tribute to our founder John Lingenfelter," said Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and the Lingenfelter Collection - a notable collection of Corvettes, muscle car and exotics.  "For the original sweepstakes, we designed a unique LS3 Corvette convertible that honored John's legendary racing career and performance ability.  Today, we are proud to continue supporting this charity, which has grown to help thousands of kids."
     
The Dream Giveaway sweepstakes encouraged entrants to make a tax-deductible donation for a chance to win two special Corvettes - the LPE-enhanced ZR1 that also features country music star Brad Paisley's signature under the hood as well as a restored 1967 427 Corvette Roadster.  Brian Landgren, a business owner from Washington, was the lucky winner of the 2010 Corvette Dream Giveaway.
 
"As the primary source of funding for the Kids Wish Network HERO program, the automotive enthusiasts support of the annual Corvette Dream Giveaway is critical to its success," said Anna Lanzatella, Executive Director of the charity.  "We want to thank Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and Summit Racing, another major supporter of the program, for their generous support."
 
The Kids Wish Network and Lingenfelter will present the keys to the two Corvettes to Landgren during a ceremony at Lingenfelter Motor Sports in Brighton, Mich., on Monday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m.  

About Lingenfelter
     For more than 32 years, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has created a matchless heritage of bringing astounding new capabilities to the world's most sought-after sports cars.  This legendary record of precision engineering continues today, as the highly skilled Lingenfelter production team continues to target design excellence in engine packages, superchargers and high-performance aftermarket components that refine power, speed and control.  For more information, visit www.lingenfelter.com, contact Lingenfelter Performance Engineering at 1557 Winchester Road, Decatur, IN 46733, or call 260.724.2552.

About Kids Wish Network
     Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization (Fed id # 31-1579097) dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories and improving the quality of life for children.  Children and their families are assisted through several key programs.  Kids Wish Network fulfills the wishes of children ages 3 to 18 suffering with life-threatening medical conditions or exceptional circumstances as determined by medical professionals.  Kids Wish Network creates once-in-a-lifetime experiences that turn moments into long-lasting precious memories.  For more information, visit www.kidswishnetwork.org.

January 21
Tommy Milner and Richard Westbrook Join Corvette Racing Roster

The new members of Corvette Racing's driver roster have extensive experience in world-class GT competition. Milner, 24, of Lake Mary, Fla., is a second-generation racer who has competed in formula and sports car series with distinction. Milner has driven for factory-affiliated teams representing Panoz, Porsche, and BMW, and has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He finished third in the ALMS GT standings in 2010.Westbrook, 35, of London, England, won the FIA GT2 championship in 2009, and scored podium finishes in 24-hour races at Le Mans (third in GT2) and Daytona (third overall) in 2010. A two-time Porsche Supercup champion, Westbrook notched an ALMS GT2 victory at Road America in 2008. He has competed in the Spa and Nurburgring endurance races, selected ALMS and Grand Am events in the U.S., and the FIA GT1 championship.

"When you look at sports car racing over the last 10 years, the biggest name in GT racing has to be Corvette," Milner said. "With all of the team's victories in Le Mans and the success they've had here in America, Corvette Racing has a history of winning. To have the opportunity to be a part of the Corvette program at this point in my career is very exciting. I'm looking forward to working with the engineers, the crew, and the other drivers to make Corvette the powerhouse in endurance racing."

"I've raced against the Corvette enough times to know it's better to be driving one than racing against one," Westbrook said. "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Corvette Racing program for 2011. The Corvette C6.R is an amazing piece of machinery, very well engineered, and it's just an honor to drive one. Everyone on the team is hungry for success and expectations are high, so we have to deliver."

 

January 14, 2011
GM: Buy Any New Corvette, Get a Pass to Driving School
For a limited time, General Motors is waiving driving school fees for buyers of any new Corvette model. If you’re interested, you’d better hurry as the offer is only good through February 28.

GM says the generous decision was made to add “to an unmatched set of experiences available to Corvette owners”, while also marking the beginning of Corvette Racing’s 2011 American Le Mans season. Before this announcement, only ZR-1 buyers received free tuition.

Owners have a year from their car’s delivery (or sale) date to sign up and use their two-day driving school pass at either of Corvette’s official outfits – Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving near Phoenix, Arizona or Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pick up a 638-horsepower ZR-1, though, and you’ll get the benefit of one extra day at school.

Student’s have to pay their own travel, accommodations, and food bills, but nonetheless, it’s a good value when you crunch the numbers. Bob Bondurant’s High Performance Driving two-day classes start at $2325, while Ron Fellows’ Level 1 students usually shell out $3695.

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/gm-buy-new-corvette-pass-driving-school-13483.html