ZFORME

Two Z06's available in 2006; a 500 hp version standard and a 550 hp version w/ a paddleshifter! Gosh which one do I order?
Saw this on another (digital) forum from a dealer!

Ryan Bell

The paddle shifter thing is a rumor only. I'm 99% sure that won't happen.

Tom Steele

That's a crazy rumor. I do find it interesting that Conti was willing to post it with his name on it. Anyone familiar with his track record?

Does he tend to post predictions?

Are they usually right?

If it were a troll I'd just dismiss it outright. I'm still very skeptical though.

I'd like it if the 500hp Z06 was under $60k and you guys who are bound and determined to pay $75k for a Corvette could have the 550hp paddle shifter, aluminum frame version.

ivan111

I agree it won't happen.........

Outsider

That big of a hp difference will cause it to be two different models. I doubt it will have a paddle shifter as well. I am still thiniking that they will stick to there nich and be around 60k and only a 6 speed.

Schism427

i don't buy the paddle shifter. i don't think its a step GM would take for the corvette, an XLR-V maybe, im even skeptical of the 6 speed manumatic, triptonic, sport-shifter, semiautomatic or whatever you want to call it. i don't the corvette target market would go for it. and besides finding the perfect shift and playing with the clutch is the fun of a manual trany. i don't think i would sacrifice that for a few tenths. Not unless the car was going to be a hard core racer that would be trailed and not road driven...and for the record I don't think I will ever own a corvette like that.

68roadster

That does sound strange. Why would you offer a 500 and a 550 version? You have to wonder where these rumors start. Why would someone blow that kind of smoke, if it is smoke, up Rick? Why screw with a vette dealer who posts multiple times a day on the internet?

I have no problem believing someone feeding a line to a guy who "comes across a test mule" since it probably would be fun for the guy who was feeding the line. If I were a GM rep feeding rumors, I would say it is a 6 liter with 445 hp, then you would be happy if you got more.

ZFORME

With the Corvette brand going off on its own from Chevrolet it makes sense to have more styles to choose from.

Outsider

do you have a source of this info? i never heard that the vette would be seperated from Chevy.

ZFORME

Yup I will go get it. It was announced at the Paris Auto Show and I saw it discussed on other forums. Be back in a jiffy with it.


"Chevrolet has announced major marketing changes. Chevrolet has stated that it will begin marketing two flavors of their product line. GM will begin marketing its Korean-built GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. models as Chevrolet's in Europe, and its U.S.-assembled Chevrolet models will be badged "Chevrolet USA". Now here's where it gets interesting, according to GM, the exception will be the 2005 Corvette, which will be known as "The Corvette" no longer the Chevrolet Corvette. This is not a rumor it was in the NY Newspapers."
(From Z06 forum's general section.)

Shahul X

wtf??? If there was a 550hp version w/paddle shifting F1 tranny I would wait... sorry.... 550 im not really buying but paddle shifters would be amazing.....

I'm just thinking there is a 95% chance this is bogus

-shu

ZFORME

I think 550 hp is a tough one to consider because the test drivers said that at over 530 hp it would be too much power for the streets.

Shahul X

500hp is all I ask for...... I'll ask the Lingenfelter group or Callaway for the extra's

-shu

John Wiz

Don't hold your breath waiting for a paddle shift.... when Doug Fehan was asked about a paddle shift, he basically said it you can have it on a car with a base price of $142,000, not a car that has a base price of $42,000. They do not even run a paddle shift on the C5R, a sequential with a shifter mounted in the normal position provides quicker performance...

Outsider

could you post a link to that site? I would like to read as much as possible on this rumor. because that can change a lot of things.

ivan111

Two versions of the Z06 would be amazing.....

6.4 liter for the 500 hp version and 7.0 liter for the one with 550hp?

Hirohawa

I hope they keep the paddle shifters away from teh Z06.

I think it generally a $3-12K option on brands ranging from BMW to Ferarri.

ghostRder

They are ?

Live2Redline

The M3 has paddle shift..but thats 54K also....

HellBent

Corvette as a model branching out into it's own make sounds a little fishy, but it's been talked about for years. Interestingly Nissan is undergoing similar changes. The Nissan Skyline GTR is a world famous Japanese sports car that enjoys enormous reknown in Japan, Australia, and other countries around the world. However, Nissan is looking to market it as a world car in 2007. In order to accomplish this, Nissan has divested the GTR of the Nissan Skyline name and is planning to market it as the GTR. Probalby a Nissan in Japan, and an Infiniti in the US.

Corvette may be better served being catered too by a specialty dealer. Maybe something similar to Ford SVT or even Cadilac. My experiences with Chevrolette service is that they are not on line with the value of the product. Similarly, I'm not sure that if I paid $150,000 - $250,000 for a Ford GT if I would be thrilled to take it to a Ford dealer for service. Probablly the same situation with a new firebreathing Z06. Horsepower and performance technology is escallating quickly and I suspect many dealers are ill equiped to keep up with the level and type of service a new ZO6 would require.

Just my 2 cents...

-AL