2005 Corvette: Serious Performance With Surprising Efficiency

The sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette represents a comprehensive upgrade to America’s performance icon, delivering excellence in every aspect. But at its core Corvette is about performance and the 2005 Corvette achieves near “supercar” levels in a package attainable by many.

What follows are the preliminary performance numbers for the new Corvette, based on internal testing of a Coupe model with the Corvette Standard Suspension (unless otherwise noted) and the standard six-speed manual transmission.

Top Speed:

• The 2005 Corvette is capable of a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), faster than any production Corvette in history.

Acceleration:

• The 2005 Corvette reaches zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds. With the optional Z51 Performance Package, 0-100 km/h acceleration time improves to 4.1 seconds.

• The 2005 Corvette covers the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds at a speed of 183 km/h (114 mph).

Efficiency:
It is not surprising, given its pedigree, that the sixth-generation pushes Corvette performance to a higher level. What may surprise some is that Corvette achieves this performance with remarkable efficiency. With its low vehicle mass, world-class chassis dynamics and the 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 engine, Corvette delivers incredible real-world efficiency on a total vehicle basis. While the car’s final fuel economy is yet to be officially certified, the 2005 Corvette is projected to mirror the 2004 model in fuel economy, with a combined city/highway mpg rating estimated at approximately 22 or 23 – in other words, fuel mileage is virtually unchanged despite a nearly 6-percent increase in engine displacement and a 14.5-percent increase in horsepower.

The 2005 Corvette has the best combination of horsepower and fuel economy among the world’s top performance cars. When the LS2’s 400 horsepower is multiplied by its combined city/highway mileage estimates, it yields an index of 9,040. Here’s how the 2005 Corvette compares with some of its key competitors:

The bottom line? Corvette delivers power in the range of exotic cars that cost tens of thousands more, combined with fuel efficiency better than some family sedans.

CORVETTE SPECIFICATIONS>