C6 Corvette to **** the doors off competition- By Bob Lutz

[Mopar]

I found this rather interesting, only time will tell if it's complete B.S.


http://www.edmunds.com/advice/specialreports/articles/100660/article.html?tid=edmunds.h..reviews..18.*

Special Reports

Bob Lutz Interview
We talk with the General's Car Czar
By Karl Brauer
Date Posted 10-21-2003


Q: Edmunds.com: You did the Viper during your stint at Chrysler, and now Neil Hannemann, who led the Viper team, is doing the GT at Ford. Does GM need a Viper/GT class vehicle, or is the Corvette strong enough to handle that role?

A:Let me tell you that the Corvette C6 will have versions where we confidently predict it will **** the doors off of both the cars that you just named. The current Z06, with 400 horsepower, on the Gingerman Raceway, laps faster with its 400 horsepower than the new Viper does with 500. So other than just brutal straightline acceleration, the Z06 is faster today. Clearly the C6 Corvette, without giving anything away, is going to be a major step forward in vehicle mass, dimensions, handling, braking and, most important of all, power-to-weight ratio. So I think whatever gap exists now is going to be eliminated — in total performance. I think we'll match the competition in acceleration, and we will beat them in on-road handling. And if the Z06 version of the C6 is not enough to do it, we've got a few tricks up our sleeve, which we're already investigating. But it will always be Corvette-based.

 

[Bad_Byte]

And if the Z06 version of the C6 is not enough to do it, we've got a few tricks up our sleeve, which we're already investigating.

If they got the tricks why are they still investigating?

 

[C O D Y]

You would have to **** pretty hard to get the doors to come off.

A vette or a hoover..... which one ***** harder?

 

[Jeff Torrey]

The C5 was introduced in 1997. So the C6 should be intoduced around 2007. We should see the new Viper Coupe by then, with 3 more years of developement. The Competition Coupe being their prototype. You can learn a lot about a car on the track

 

[fluffy]

The C5 was introduced in 1997. So the C6 should be intoduced around 2007.

What? The C6 will be introduced in less than three months and go on sale in the fall of 2004.

 

[OutThere]

"The C6 will be introduced in less than three months and go on sale in the fall of 2004."

Yep. A few dealers are already taking deposits and GM is expected to begin taking orders in March. Not sure on delivery though.

 

[Dixter]

I can see the headlines now...

And from the Cheby guru... Bob Lutz " We do more than just **** on your Viper "
Buy a Cheby C6 today...

 

[Jeff Torrey]

The Corvette website says 441 days until launch, for your info. Looked for photo's, did not find much. Anybody have photo's?
No way i'm going from a Viper back to a Vette.

 

[fluffy]

The great thing about the Viper in the late '90's was the fact that it was the undisputed champion. Now it's in danger of becoming just part of the 500+ crowd with nothing to make it stand out at all. The Z06, the Ford GT, the new supercars from across the Atlantic... the Viper is still currently the biggest and baddest from America, but for how long?

DC needs to get off their Benz-turbocharging asses and start beefing up the Chrysler side of things.

 

[OutThere]

GM is stepping up.... DC did with the SRT but we'll either need some more out of it from the factory or a street legal CC by 2006.

Looks like the C6 Z06 will be 500 HP, 300 lbs and $25,000 less than the Viper.

Gonna be tuff to beat.

Get to work DC!!!

 

[fluffy]

The Corvette website says 441 days until launch, for your info.

What corvette website? GM has officially stated that the C6 will be unveiled in January 2004 at the North American International Auto Show and debut as a 2005 model later in the year (April -> September time frame).

 

[Mopar]

Call me crazy but I'd rather a 500hp <3,000lbs C6 than a SRT convertible. Now if DC makes the Comp Coupe, things change.

 

[Jeff Torrey]

www.c6vette.com

 

[MannyC]

If the body style change from the C5 to the C6 is as drastic (and good) as it was from a C4 to a C5, then the C6 vette is going to be awesome looking. I haven't seen any photos yet.

I'm actually thinking of selling my track viper and getting a track ready Z06 for road racing. Cheaper to work on and replace stuff, the car is cheaper to start with and every bit as much fun on the track as my viper (I own both right now.) I will keep my new viper for cruising around though.

 

[Achilles99]

I'm actually thinking of selling my track viper and getting a track ready Z06 for road racing. Cheaper to work on and replace stuff, the car is cheaper to start with and every bit as much fun on the track as my viper (I own both right now.) I will keep my new viper for cruising around though.

You need to switch to a Gen II Viper before saying it is every bit as much fun as your Z06

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Not sweating Generic Motors. They're the kings of hype. The question is - have they brainwashed/corrupted/paid off Lutz into thinking GM can deliver? Sounds like it to me.

 

[joe117]

I like Vipers.
But think guys, if the new Vette makes any real improvements we are in deep doo doo.

There is something to be said about having a rare exotic Viper.
But, if the C6 comes out to be lighter better handling and more powerful than the SRT, the only thing we will have going for us is rare and exotic.

If you are betting that GM is going to come out with a dog, you are making a foolish bet.

It's going to be better than the C5.
Is the SRT better than a gen2?

 

[GR8_ASP]

How about his statement that the Z06 is already faster than an SRT? He indicated it can lap faster around Gingerman than the SRT. Any contesting opinions?

 

[MannyC]

I'm actually thinking of selling my track viper and getting a track ready Z06 for road racing. Cheaper to work on and replace stuff, the car is cheaper to start with and every bit as much fun on the track as my viper (I own both right now.) I will keep my new viper for cruising around though.

You need to switch to a Gen II Viper before saying it is every bit as much fun as your Z06

I've been in both Gen I and Gen II on the track. I've been in normal C5's and Z06's as well. I just happen to race the Gen I, and it has substantial upgrades in every part of it (engine, suspension, brakes, etc.)

They (Z06 and Viper are both a blast to race on the a road course. One is just cheaper in almost all aspects.

 

[OutThere]

"Is the SRT better than a gen2? "

Yes.

It's faster, breaks better, has more power, handles better, has better interior, etc...

Styling aside, which is clearly not for everyone, the SRT is a "better" car.

100% agree with your GM comments. I can't wait for the new Vette to be unveiled. Everything is being stepped up and it's great!

 

[Frank 03SRT]

Bob Lutz. Can you say "*****"? I'm sorry, that wasn't very nice.

 

[HOGDEALER]

SUPERBAR
I am looking for a Track Only car let me know what you have and how much. Thanks.

 

[SylvanSRT]

remember all of the hype w/ the SRT said initial output of 500 hp, new cam, improved this and that and 550 hp is only a factory mod away im sure. another 50 hp should really give a nice boost. speaking of boost MB has all those twin turbo and supercharged cars in their AMG and 600 series of car i am sure that they could apply some of this technology to underling of Dodge(we can hope)!!! A TT or S/C set up on even low boost whould easily yeild huge hp and tq numbers!!!

 

[viperrt96]

I like what he said about Chrysler.

Qoute: I used to say at Chrysler, jokingly, back in the bad old days at GM, I'd get the Chrysler guys together when I was arguing for speed rather than studying stuff all the time. I would say, "Look guys, the bad news is the average guy at GM has 20 points of IQ on us. And the good news is that the average guy at GM has 20 points of IQ on us, because they're intellectual to a point where they will constantly study ramifications of things rather than acting. Whereas we're dumb enough to seize the obvious and we just go ahead and do it.

I think is very true. That's the reason I loved the Viper when it came out. They just went ahead and did it. I've always felt GM has been conservative with the Corvette. The Corvette (for GM) is their cash cow. A car produced for the masses. Eventually they realized that adding performance (Z06) is what sells. A Z06 is cheaper than a Viper but is it as fast? No (brute straightline) but most say not by much. They say on a track it is. Dont you think a guy that pays 30k less than the viper will relish in the moment when he kicks a Vipers butt. I haven't had it happen but you never know with the right driver and a few mods. I'm sure one can catch a Viper off guard. Then think about it. Simply put most people are not in the position to spend 80k for a sports car. There are some that can afford 50K for one. Then when the C6 OR Z06 is as fast. Man watch out. They will sell them by the masses. Me I'm not one for the masses. I like not seeing a Viper at every light.

 

[Magicboy2]

The Corvette (for GM) is their cash cow

Really? conventional wisdom states that SUVs are cash cows for the american car companies. Vettes are still relatively low volume compared to Caviliers, and of course they're profitable, I wouldn't think the margins are that high??

 

[FE 065]

As I've said before, DC has put more time and effort into the SRT-4 than the Viper. So much so the little Neon is just a tick or two behind it with simple mods as a recent post lamented.. At least there's been a policy in GM over many years not to kick its' flagship sportscar in the n*ts by building something cheaper and uglier that will beat its' performance with just a tweak. GM's improving their sportscar, DC is not. Not as much as they could with the same technology as in the SRT or probably even a number of lesser cars. And not where it counts, with like-it-or-not the always important dragstrip performance. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzZZZZ you snooze-you lose

 

[DEVILDOG]

From the C6 pics I've seen the ugly front end looks like it could **** the doors off of anything. Looks like a big mouth bass!

 

[Marv S]

WOW! The z/o6 is FASTER than the Viper (other than just brutal accceleration)??? Bob must have missed the test that showed the SRT-10 being WAY FASTER than the z-06 vette . And what's the reference for z-06 being faster than SRT-10 at Gingerman?

The z-06 reached top speed, was drag limited to 174 mph while the Viper was track limited to 182 and would have been easily 10+ mph faster than the z-06. ("Viper was charging it's way to higher speeds when Justin (vette guy now?) had to brake for the corner!)That's a CONVERTIBLE being that much faster than a much lower cd coupe ! Maybe Justin just didn't want the SRT-10 to show up the z-06 by any more and let off the gas.... Too bad Edmunds didn't hand BL the June 2003 Motortrend and ask him to explain his statements. http://www.motortrend.com/features/scenes/112_0306_spdtest/index2.html

He's right about the brutal Viper acceleration as it covered the z-06 by 7 mph, not incidental. http://www.motortrend.com/features/scenes/112_0306_spdtest/

. The current Z06, with 400 horsepower, on the Gingerman Raceway, laps faster with its 400 horsepower than the new Viper does with 500. So other than just brutal straightline acceleration, the Z06 is faster today.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

Regardless the man is still a genius, if it weren't for him there would be no Viper.

You can't honestly expect him to make the move to GM and not change his mentality on which cars are better. Would you expect a sports star who got traded to let his former team win when they played against one another? The competition is good for both cars and maybe, just maybe it will force Dodge to get back into racing Vipers instead of intrepids.

 

[Marv S]

I would expect him to raise the bar and even make future promises - but not expect him to make inflated claims he can't come close to backing up on current models.

Regardless the man is still a genius, if it weren't for him there would be no Viper.

You can't honestly expect him to make the move to GM and not change his mentality on which cars are better. Would you expect a sports star who got traded to let his former team win when they played against one another? The competition is good for both cars and maybe, just maybe it will force Dodge to get back into racing Vipers instead of intrepids.