Chevrolet Corvette C5

[1]Corvette C5 coupe[2]Corvette C5 convertible

The C5 was the most completely redesigned Corvette since the Corvette's inception in 1953.(Corvette Racing, David Kimble, 2012). Production of the C5 Corvette actually began in 1996 but quality/manufacturing snafus saw its release to the public in mass delayed until 1997, and continuing through the 2004 model year. The C5 was a completely new design that featured many new concepts and manufacturing breakthroughs that would be carried forward to the C6 & C7. It had a top speed of 176 mph (283 km/h) and was judged by the automotive press as a breakthrough with vastly improved dynamics in nearly every area over the previous C4 design. The list of all new innovations include:

* Industry leading 0.29 Drag Coefficient
* Near 50/50 weight distribution (actually 51%F/49%R) due to the all new powertrain layout
* The FIRST Corvette to actually use an Upper Rear Suspension Arm, instead of the Drive Shafts performing double duty as the Upper locator arm
* An All New Chassis design that was more akin to a Stressed Monocoque than the former Ladder designs which featured an all new Stressed Center Tunnel design for increased torsional rigidity
* All New Hyrdo-Formed side Rails increased torsional rigidity more than 4 times that of the C4 and previous Corvette generations
* All New Suspension Geometries, in which the actual chassis widths and lengths were changed to affect the track and wheelbase dimensions. This was in contrast to simply changing the location of a mounting point that may not truly affect chassis geometry (this actually happened with the rear suspension on the C6)
* All New Production of a Rear Mounted Transmission, including a "torque"(drive)shaft from the front of the engine to the rear transmission
* Reduction of over 1000 parts from the previous C4
* All NEW, never before seen Active Handling (it was the first ever Stability Control for a Corvette, and NOT just Traction Control for the '98/'99 - 2004)
* Lower Weight (3,219 lbs) compared to C4 (Note: this weight for the '97-'99 model years for the base coupe was still lighter than the C6 that replaced it)
* Greatly Improved Quality
* Improved Fuel Economy
* "Magna-Steer" electronic power steering assist
* First Ever Staggered Tire size (for production Vette's), with smaller sizes in the front than the rear. This was done to improve CD.
* First Ever "Twin Fuel Tanks", one behind each seat, aided the packaging of the C5; it, along with virtually all of the C5's innovations have been incorporated into the C6 & C7 models as well.
* First ever Dual Durometer Suspension Bushings to improve ride quality without sacrificing cornering grip and vehicle handling dynamics
* Large trunk was purposefully designed to accommodate two full golf bags; and it remains a feature of the C7 (and previous C6)
* First Ever Bonding to Frame for Body Panels manufacturing in Corvette production history
* Super Stiff Chassis (24-25Hz) made primarily of Steel is still actually stronger than the now primarily Aluminum one in the C7. Starting with the C5 Z06, and then carried through the C6 and C7 models the chassis tunnel cover thickness was increased to aid rigidity from the relatively thin Base C5. The C6 tunnel plate actually mounts perfectly to the C5 model for an easy upgrade. Note: The C7 has adjusted some of its welding patterns and thickness points to compensate for aluminum's decreased rigidity compared to steel. In essence to equal the strength of steel, you must use twice the thickness in aluminum, which negates its initial lighter weight advantage (strength/weight ratio). An interesting point about steel is that it has infinite cycle life as long as it hasn't been stressed beyond its rated limit, aluminum fatigues every twist cycle.
* ALL New LS1 Aluminum Engine (a first for a production Corvette); it featured individual coil packs instead of a distributor cap and rotor, aluminum block and pistons, a very deep skirt design for increased durability, and many other technical and manufacturing innovations. The LS1/LS6 are the progenitor for the entire C6 & C7 engine lineup, with the LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9, being primarily increased displacement and supercharged versions of the LS1/LS6. Even the LT engines are still primarily increased displacement LS1's/LS6's but with modern, improved technologies of Direct Injection and Cylinder Deactivation for improved fuel economy for their larger displacement "thirstiness". This third-generation small block V8's complete redesign also featured a new cylinder firing order to improve idle and rev smoothness. It was initially rated at 345 bhp (257 kW) and 350 lb·ft (470 N·m), but was increased to 350 bhp (260 kW) in the 2001 edition. The new engine, combined with the new body and its low 0.29 drag coefficient, was able to achieve up to 28 mpg on the highway.

[3]Corvette Z06

For its first year, the C5 was available only as a coupe, although the new platform was designed from the ground up to be a convertible, which returned in 1998, followed by the fixed-roof coupe (FRC) in 1999. One concept for the FRC was for it to be a stripped-down model with a possible V6 engine (nicknamed in-house as the "Billy Bob"). By 2000, FRC plans laid the groundwork for the return in 2001 of the Z06, an RPO option not seen since Zora's 1963 race-ready Corvette.

The Z06 model replaced the FRC model as the highest performance C5 Corvette. Instead of a heavier double-overhead cam engine like the ZR-1 of the C4 generation, the Z06 used an LS6, a 385 bhp (287 kW) derivative of the standard LS1 engine. Using the much more rigid fixed roof design allowed the Z06 unprecedented handling thanks to upgraded brakes and less body flex. Those characteristics, along with the use of materials such as a titanium exhaust system and a carbon fiber hood in the 2004 model year, led to further weight savings and performance gains for the C5 Z06. The LS6 was later upgraded to 405 bhp (302 kW)for 2002–2004. Although the Z06's rated power output equal to that of the C4 ZR-1, the improved rigidity, suspension, brakes, and reduced weight of the C5 produced a car quicker than C4 ZR-1.