2001 Corvette Z06 6 Speed
Introduced in 2001 as a lightweight, ultra-performance coupe with a 6-spee manual transmission and a new 385-hp LS6 version of the 5.7-liter LS1 Corvett engine, the Z06 was the closest factory Vette in modern times to a track-ready racer. Calling it "simply the quickest, best handling production Corvette ever," Chevy said it was "aimed directly at diehard performance enthusiasts." For 2002, it got a 20-hp bump and a slew of additional refinement. The LS6's aluminum block provides better management of crankcase pressures and improved oiling during high-speed operation. Its cam profile is more aggressive and its 10.5:1 high-compression cylinder heads have improved porting, stronger valve springs and larger fuel injectors. A low-restriction titanium exhaust system-the first-ever in a mass-produced automobile-is 50-percent lighter than the stainless steel system it replaces. It delivers power through an exclusive 6-speed manual transmission with more aggressive gearing that increases torque multiplication in almost every gear for quicker acceleration. Driving our bright yellow test Z06 from Lansing, MI to Toronto, Canada to interview Corvette racer Ron Fellows, we couldn't get enough of its rocket-ship performance and truly incredible handling. Lead driver for GM's highly successful C5-R racing team, Fellows has scored back-to-back class wins (2001 and 2002) in the grueling 24-Hours of Le Mans, overall victory in the 2001 Daytona 24-Hour and 12 wins in 18 starts in the 2001 and '02 American Le Mans Series (ALMS). "Corvettes are terrific cars, especially for the money," he said, "and the Z06 is fantastic" Like all C-5 (fifth generation) Corvettes, the Z06 is also surprisingly solid, quiet and comfortable on the road. Unlike many high-performance sports cars, for all its awesome performance, it doesn't beat you up or wear you out on long trips. And it delivered an amazing 26 mpg in a mix of rural and freeway driving, consistent with its 19 mpg city, 28 highway EPA ratings.
The Corvette was born in 1953, so there's a dark red 50th Anniversary Edition package for 2003, with shale interior, champagne-color wheels, 50th Anniversary badging and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control (MSRC). The standard '03 coupe and convertible get more usual stuff, including fog lamps, sport seats, power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic HVAC, a parcel net and luggage shade and Child Restraint Attachment System (CRAS) hooks that allow easier child seat connection. All 2003 Corvettes sport special front and rear commemorative 50th Anniversary emblems. The '03 Corvette coupe starts at 43,895, the convertible at 50,370 and the Z06 hardtop at 51,435. With standard equipment including "active handling" (not MSRC), traction control, power heated outside mirrors, AM/FM/CD sound system with Bose.
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