2005 Corvette Z06 Preview

While the function of the Z06's design is to move air efficiently over the body and reduce lift, the net effect is supposed to be a car ''that looks like a weight lifter whose muscles are straining the seams of his shirt.''

Hill says the car has been sculpted very carefully, ''It also has a purposeful, menacing resemblance to the C6-R.''

For all Z06's race-inspired functionality, Hill made sure the car was designed to be a daily drivable high-performance vehicle. ''To that end, comfort and convenience are held to a very high standard. HID lighting, fog lamps, leather seating, dual-zone air conditioning, cabin air filtration and Head-Up Display (HUD) with track mode and g-meter are standard.''

The Z06 also has a revised gauge cluster that displays the Z06 logo on the 7000-redline tachometer and has a new readout on the oil pressure gauge to reflect the higher standard pressure of the dry-sump oiling system. And, like other 2006 Corvettes, the Z06 has a new, smaller-diameter three-spoke steering wheel that provides a more agile, performance-oriented feel. The seats feature two-tone leathering surfaces, with Z06-logo embroidery and contrasting stitching.

Z06 options include a Bose audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer, polished wheels, a telescoping steering wheel, heated seats, side air bags, a navigation system with GPS, Homelink and XM Satellite Radio.

But for all its comfort, engineers did sacrifice a few components in the quest for lower weight and higher performance:

• side bolsters are fixed and more aggressive to better hold the driver when cornering and they weigh less than standard-model seats
• the passenger seat features manual controls, saving the weight of a power-adjust motor, and
• the acoustic package was revised to reduce weight and allow more aural feedback of the powertrain

So there you go -- the straight scoop on the new Corvette Z06.
photo:General Motors