2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Preview

Is the new design a runaway show-stealer? Well, to the Corvette faithful, and there are lots of them, it should be pleasing enough to cause some excitement. To the rest of the enthusiast world, which includes me, it seems a bit on the mild side. The Vette has long been

The new shape reduces the coefficient of drag to 0.28, making it the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

about bold expressionism, unabashed aggression and in your face one-upmanship. The C6 might even be more subtly executed than the C5. The immature bad-boy no the block has grown up and gotten all sophisticated, which is OK in some aspects, such as interior quality, but maybe a little too tame from a styling standpoint.

On the positive it's five inches shorter than the C5, improving low and high-speed maneuverability without impeding interior space according to GM. The new skin reduces the drag coefficient to 0.28, making it the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever. What's more Chevy has integrated anti-lift characteristics into the design, reportedly enabling improved high-speed stability.

The biggest news is the new 6.0-liter V8, that puts out 400 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 400 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

An even bigger story behind the 2005 Corvette coupe and convertible is the engine, a new 6.0-liter V8 that puts out 400 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 400 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Configured with its 6-speed manual transmission the new base model attains 100 km/h in a tidy 4.2 seconds, reduced further to 4.1 seconds in Z51 Performance Package trim. The quarter mile arrives in a mere 12.6 seconds and 183 km/h (114 mph), just before maxxing out at a supercar-like 300 km/h (186 mph). Incidentally, that's faster than any production Corvette ever built, including the famed ZR1 or Z06!