I came across a bunch of information and put it all together here – much of this was new information to me as of today, and I thought you’d all enjoy all these details. Read carefully – I packed the information in with as few words as possible so there are a lot of details here.

Enjoy!


Interior
The instrument panel and doors are covered with "cast-skin foam-in-place" trim that is not only soft, it's also low gloss to minimize glare. It looks like leather but is warm to the touch. It resists sun fading and damage and minimizes the foggy interior windshield that we get with C5 from all the plasticizers in the materials. It’s also fingerprint resistant.

C6 has keyless access with push-button start (yep, if the key is in your pocket, you can hit “start” and drive away!). There are no door handles – instead, tucked nicely away behind the smooth cover, are membrane-covered switches. If the key is in your pocket or purse, simply click one of the switches and the door or hatch opens. As long as the key fob is somewhere inside the cabin and the clutch is depressed, pushing the dash-mounted rocker “Start” switch will start the car.

Sound and navigation systems
The in-dash CD player will play MP3s. You can get better radio reception with newer technology even though the antenna is once again integrated into the glass. There is an in-dash 6-disc changer available and you can get XM radio and full OnStar capabilities as well.

A widescreen 6.5" DVD touch-screen nav. system is available as an option. It has built-in voice recognition in multiple languages.

Gauges
The gauges are larger and easier to read and trimmed with aluminum bezels. Major warning lamps were moved from inside the speedo and tach to the area between them for less visual clutter. The LED gauges are backlit both day and night for better viewing, even in direct sun.

The DIC readout is now made of organic LED (OLED) technology which is a brand new technology for making full color flat panel displays of almost any size and with brightness and sharpness that was hardly possible before. Unlike other LED screens, they are self-backlit which means a separate and typically environmentally harmful backlight is not necessary, saving cost and weight. The DIC expands to two lines instead of just one.

HUD
Street and track modes are now available, and each is somewhat configurable by the driver. The HUD uses LCD pixels to construct the characters and graphics meaning that it can change size and shape.

Seats
Standard seat has 6-way power adjusments with manual recline (like C5) and no side airbags are available with them. The sport seats offer the same six-way power adjustment plus power lumbar and side bolsters (like C5) and also include head and torso side airbags that deploy through the seat bolsters rather than from the door panel. Belt pretensioners as well as heated seats are finally available.

Cup holders
The two large high performance cup holders can hold two travel cups or 20 oz. bottles in place during aggressive driving. The tambour (like a rolltop desk) cover helps keep them looking nice while not in use and allows for them to be used as extra storage if desired.

Interior Storage
Center console is much revised: more room for sunglasses, a cell phone and several CD jewel cases, easier to open lid, and the lock was placed for easier access while seated.

Both doors now have storage pockets.

The glove box has slightly more room and its hinges are damped to allow the door to open slowly, giving it a more upscale feel.

Rear cargo area doors are integrated into the floor and are hinged.

Engine
Besides the larger displacement (6.0L) and more horsepower and torque (400HP/400lb-ft), there are other interesting features of the new Gen IV small block:

• Compression ratio was bumped up to 10.9:1 (more power and better fuel economy)
• Improved oil flow and lower oil capacity (uses 1qt less than LS1/LS6)
• Larger 90mm throttle body
• Reduced mass water pump less prone to failure
• Redline increased to 6500 RPM
• Electronic Throttle Control (ETC or “drive by wire”) controls moved into the car’s ECM instead of separated – faster communication and better control than before
• Engine weighs 7kg less than old engine
• Iridium tipped spark plugs for long life but without performance compromise
• Longer life timing chain
• Bore x Stroke: 4.0” x 3.62”

Exhaust System
The exhaust system has been made lighter and more efficient as follows:

• Exhaust manifold wall thickness reduced by 25% (4mm down to 3mm) for increased flow and lower weight
• Single more efficient cat. Converters placed close to the manifolds eliminate the need for “pup cats” from before and make warm up quicker and also reduce emissions
• Exhaust angles have been lessened for smoother flow
• Elimination of the AIR injection system
• Larger muffler volume with “tri-flow” technology eliminates exhaust drone normally present around 1500-2500 RPM
• Mufflers are straight-through, inline designs instead of sideways offset like the C5
• Lower overall backpressure

Gearing
Revised T56 (already covered in another thread on this site) with different ratios for the Z51 package for higher top speed and better acceleration. Added a transmission cooler for better cooling and reliability.

Gear ratios for the Automatic are: 1st – 3.06, 2nd – 1.63, 3rd – 1.00, and 4th – 0.70
Gear ratios for the base transmission are: 1st – 2.66, 2nd – 1.78, 3rd- 1.30, 4th – 1.00, 5th – 0.74, and 6th – 0.50
Gear ratios for the Z51 transmission are: 1st – 2.97, 2nd – 2.07, 3rd – 1.43, 4th – 1.00, 5th – 0.71, and 6th – 0.57

Final drive ratio on the automatic is 2.73 (standard) or 3.15 (performance) and on the 6-speed is 3.42.

Shifter (6-speed cars)
The shifter is 1” shorter than before, and angled toward the driver. Shifts are smoother and more precise and travel for the synchros was reduced by about 10%. CAGS remains.

Brakes and Wheels
The brakes for Z51 cars are larger (13.4” front and 13.0” rear versus the standard 12.8” and 12.0” on the base car) and cross drilled rotors.

Rotors on both Z51 and base cars are redesigned for better heat dissipation. Front rotors weigh 2lbs more than C5, giving them more heat absorbing qualities than before.

No word on brake cooling as of this writing.

Wheels are 18x8.5” front and 19x10” rear with 245/40/18 and 285/35/19 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS (base) or F1 SC (Z51) extended mobility tires on all cars.

Suspension
While the C6 retains the same architecture (shocks, leaf springs) as C5, no parts are the same. Cradles, control arms, knuckles, springs, dampers, bushings, anti-sway bars, and steering gear are all new.

Greater lateral acceleration is now possible with more body control, less road noise, and better traction and corner stability. More suspension travel, increased caster angle, and other changes help achieve these goals.

Magnetic Selective Ride Control is available as is a base suspension and a Z51 suspension.

Exterior
Numerous changes are evident. Worth mentioning are the cleaner rear look with functional diffuser (from the C5-R program information), the almost round tail lamps, and exposed headlamps with bi-xenon HID technology for much better night time lighting.

Thanks to over 400 hours of wind tunnel testing (think about it – that’s 10 working weeks, or almost 2 ½ months of testing time just in the wind tunnel!) the coefficient of drag has been lowered to 0.28 (from the C5’s 0.29) and lift has been reduced significantly. Downforce was not added by much, to keep the C6’s fuel economy at a spectacular 19 city, 28 highway.

The hood is 15% smaller and 35% lighter and 40% stiffer than the C5. The rear hatch has a single-cinching power operated latch for excellent fit and easy operation. Doors are stiffer and easier to close and sound more refined than before. Proximity sensors remove the need to get the key out of your pocket to unlock the doors and start the car. It needs 50% less closing energy than C5 and eliminates the need to slam it or to run to the other side of the car to ensure that both latches are closed.

The removable targa top is 15% larger but just one pound heavier than in C5. As before a body colored or tinted roof (or both) is available. A much easier to use latching system is employed, and storage of the top is done horizontally to allow storage of items underneath the targa top when stowed.

C6 has less wind noise thanks to new side glass and redesigned seals.

Colors available will be:

• Precision Red (new to Corvette)
• Daytona Sunset Orange (new to Corvette)
• LeMans Blue
• Millennium Yellow
• Magnetic Red
• Machine Silver
• Arctic White
• Black

For some weird reason what struck me was all the extra storage space....CD's, Glasses, 2 - count 'em two - cupholders, and side pockets in the doors. I wonder if it'll feel cramped?

According to the press releases, the interior will have the same amount of passenger room as before. I don't think they took any room away from us.

I'm just glad we got high performance cupholders!

All kidding aside..this new C6 truly does answer many if not all complaints or concerns that many C5 owners have expressed..

Great writeup Brian!

Thanks!

JB

Thanks for the great compilation Brian. I'm pretty sure I know the exact car I am going to order!

Karen told me last night she really likes the C6 very much and told me to send my deposit in! I like having Karen on board with these kind of decisions. Makes it for a very happy Hickey house!

I'm here playing with my C6 Hot Wheels in Precision Red! That's the color I'm leaning towards!

Thanks Brian, I love everything I see and hear about our new arrival. Dont think i could ever trade the c-5 for it. Maybe one of each though!
Keep the great info coming, you always have great advise and answers for all of us, and it IS appreciated.
Tripp
98'Red Rag

Well thanks, Tripp I'm just doing my best to help you all out whenever possible

Fido, check your PMs dammit

Well Brian after I said thanks for all you have done for us... I wrote a topic in General about a little problem I'm having... check it out when you have time. I need all your help on this one.
Thanks again,
Tripp

the new window seals do not have the glass press against the outside of the seal but have the windows go up inside a channel like a regular car. when you open the door the window drops just enought to clear the channel. this way they do not need to have the window clips and the inside pressure will not push the windows outward at speed and make all that wind noise. also i was told by a corvette QC manager that the "red" on the detroit car is not the true new red. he said look at the ferrari red for a true color.

One thing I noticed was the different inside door pulls on the C6. The drivers is about where the C5 is with a thumb activated button for the door release.

The passenger side is different incorporating the door pull and grab handle into one. The push button for the door is up high at the top of the handle as well.

I was going to mention the "window indexing" feature but saw it had been pointed out. I'm surprised it wasn't included in your original list under the "C6 has less wind noise thanks to new side glass and redesigned seals."

Excuse me if I overlooked this...
But I did not see anything about "Steering Wheel Controls"..... like for the radio volume, temp. settings, etc.
Every GM car I have owned over the past 10 years have had these, including most imports, so WHY have they never been on a Corvette?

...OR are they now???????

GM stated they felt it was in direct contrast to the PERFORMANCE MISSION of the Corvette..

Probably the real reason is to save money..but thats the line of crap they have given as to why no steering wheel controls.

I hear ya JB....
But how about a "SAFETY MISSION"??

It's a hell of a lot safer using the steering wheel controls than fumbling around on the dash.

Isn't that what HUD was all about?? :rolleyes:

Maybe the $70,000 Z06 C6 will have stereo controls on the steering wheel! That's what JB is buying!

Me! My money is on it's way to Carl Johanson! I'm going for the basic commuter C6 with no stereo controls on the wheel!

Hopefully the rest of the car will make up for the lack of that feature!!! lol

Let's see... Can I get a C6 with crank windows, no cruise contol and no keyless entry??

Fido...
I'm not saying the C6 ain't SWEEET..... as a matter of fact, I was one of the first on the Forum to RAVE about it. And of course, I still drive a Corvette WITHOUT steering wheel audio controls, but come on... they put every other 'luxury' in the car so why not that? :rolleyes:

As you say.... I'm sure it will.
.... and I can't wait to get one myself.