C6 Corvette Chronicles: Racing Through History at 200 MPH – The Birth of a Sensational Icon

Since 2005, one unique and special Corvette model has consistently caught our eye here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse! This was the year that the legendary C6 was released with the new Gen III 6.0-liter LS2 engine, raising the high-octane output level to 400 horsepower, along with 400 lb-ft of torque. The C6 was also the first Corvette model to feature the convenient push button ignition. The C5 Z06 was a complete scorcher on the track, with the arrival of the C6 boosting this capability even further. 

The C6 featured altered and ferocious components in the form of a hydroformed aluminum structure, magnesium suspension cradles, and featherweight carbon body panels. The Z06’s powertrain was GM’s explosive and hand-built 7.0-liter LS7 engine, which was loaded up with race-friendly technology that had never been present in a ‘Vette before. Agile titanium rods and a dry sump oiling system designed for hard track use were new additions to this Z06 that could be acquired with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

These cars were so proficient on the track that early production “Captured Test Fleet” Z06s had been shipped to Europe to strut their stuff at the Callaway Competition in Germany. This fantastic array of Z06-R GT3 race cars was able to dominate multiple championships, even replacing the winning C5-R expertly constructed by Pratt & Miller. During its very first “12 Hours of Sebring” race, this model had an amazing second and third-place finish, coming up hot and unwavering on the heels of the Aston Martin DBR9 Supercar. 

The American LE Mans GT1 Championships was the scene of another victory in 2006, where the C6-R claimed first-place victory in both events. The following year, the ‘Vette stormed the gates and swooped up top honors in the fiercely competitive GT1 class at Sebring. An esteemed panel of 50 race engine engineers also named the LS7-R powertrain the Global Motorsports Engine of the Year in 2007, in prompt preparation for its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the ZR1-inspired C6-R in 2011. Just one year later, the winner’s board at the GTE-Am category was claimed by the ‘Vette as well.

2007 was also when GM offered the fantastic limited-edition Indy pace car tributes, with a boisterous batch of 500 painted in Atomic Orange headed for diehard fans’ driveways. These sweet models were all drop tops and were identical to the actual pilot cars driven by Patrick Dempsey. In 2009, GM determined that the best way to generate the thundering power needed for a very intensified effect was by adding an Eaton supercharger! This resulted in the first Corvette to proudly hit 200 mph, as the ZR1 was constructed around a beefy 6.2-liter LS3-derived block. 

GM knew that a brand-new generation of ‘Vette prowess was in the works for 2014, so they came up with more special editions to employ every item from the diverse parts bin left over from the ZR1. This C6 offered numerous special and authentic runs such as the Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, along with more trim options than any previous generation. The 2011 Z07 Performance Package boasted unique extras such as ZR1-spec ceramic brakes, spectacular magnetic ride control, and Zero-Pressure Michelin PS2 tires planted on ZR1-themed wheels. 

Corvette’s 50th anniversary at LeMans was also properly hailed with the commemorative ULZ package, which brought a unique interior, bulged carbon hood, and special badging along as honorable guests for the ride. Much like our beloved nation itself during the bicentennial year, Corvette’s 100th anniversary would not be the same without the Centennial Edition Z06. This added highlights such as Carbon Flash black metallic paint, and an Ebony leather interior with suede accents. 

The C6’s final production year was 2013, with five different models to finish things out on a celebratory high note. Over nine action-packed years, 215,223 C6 Corvettes were produced, with an astounding 40,561 of them rolling off the line in 2007. Every model has a unique story, timeline, and trusty build: the spirit of winning was engrained with a sense of longstanding vigor and robust champion reign!

8 Reasons why the Chevy Corvette Remains as America’s Favorite + Limit-Pushing Muscle Car

Here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, we know that our cars are more than just a means of transportation; they are a way of life! With all of the thrilling muscle cars on the road, it can be difficult to outpace the competition and win the hearts of Americans across the country, but there is one model that consistently rises to the top. After disrupting the industry just a few short years ago with its mid-engined setup, the Chevy Corvette continues to flaunt these eight amazing traits that make it the best of the best.

1. The Corvette Z06 Faces off Furiously with Supercars

The C8 was the first muscle car boasting a mid-mounted motor next to the Ford GT, which drastically increased its performance potential. The Z06 model took the entire platform to an exhilarating next level, cranking out 670 horsepower from its revolutionary 5.5-liter LT6 V8. 

2. An Unparalleled 70-Year History: 

During the GM Motoramo concept show in New York in 1953, the amazing concept of this dream car caught the eye of many. It was less than a year later when the C1 rolled off the production line and became an overnight success. After 8 memorable and track-slaying generations, the Corvette is more appealing and sought-after than ever!

3. Even Pixar’s On-Screen Gem Drew Heavy Influence

One reason why so many people are diehard gearheads today is Pixar’s Cars movie that hit the screen in 2006. The Lightning McQueen character was supposed to be a Corvette, but instead hit the scene as a fictional model boasting the same visual cues. It’s easy to see the C6 lines on the side and top views, and audiences loved this film’s playful appeal.

4. The Legacy of Motorsports Domination

From the 24 Hours of Le Mans to the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Daytona, the Corvette has always been a race-dominating show stealer. It has been blasting through corners and keeping the asphalt ruling stance alive since the 1960s. Also serving as Pace Car for the Indy 500 last year, it has had a busy appearance schedule from day one.

5. Hands-Down Champion of a Visually Appealing Segment 

The angles of a Corvette are sharp and piercing; quite the visual treat for its admirers. Many inexperienced viewers are so bowled over by the new generation that they mistake it for a Ferrari, which is taken as quite a compliment! Always alluring and king within its own rite, the Corvette never falls short of spectacular. 

6. The Many Ways to Take Your Pick:

This is one car that does not offer any shortage of choices, boasting a large variety of colors and interior schemes. No matter what style you’re after, there will be a fitting option for you. You can choose the base model Stingray, or opt for the Supercar-chasing Z06. If the more eco-conscious side of things is your source of inspiration, Chevy also offers the hybrid E-Ray with a potent V8.

7. An Interior That Could Fly the Friendly Skies:

The C8’s interior drew heavy inspiration from stealth fighter jets and offers up a cockpit experience that is one of a kind. With the infotainment systems and buttons pointing directly at the driver and the unique flat-bottomed steering wheel, there are many elements that keep things driver-focused. Supersonic sensations are likely to overcome you, and there’s every inclination that you are wholeheartedly “flying with the best.”

8. Roaring to a Neighborhood Near You w/ Relative Affordability:

We’re not going to claim outright that the Corvette is as affordable as a base-level economy daily driver, but when you stack it up against the heaviest hitters in the industry, it is a stellar bargain. Many long hours were logged during the development of this motorized masterpiece, and the result is a thing to behold that comes in at a very reasonable price point.

Motor1.com Captures 2020 Corvette Hitting 60 MPH in 2.7 Seconds

By all manufacturer estimates, the 2020 Chevy Corvette C8 can hit 60 miles per hour in just 3 seconds. That is an incredible feat for a vehicle with its base price, and Mike Davenport AKA The Chevy Dude makes his living selling cars in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the proud owner of a 2020 Corvette C8 and has consistent access to a private stretch of very straight, flat road that is a match made in heaven for the Corvette's brilliantly-designed launch control system. 

With the drive selection mode set to the very track-inspired and trusty “Race” setting, the Chevy Dude shown here  simply has to stand on the brake pedal, really lay in and mash the accelerator, wait for the engine speed to settle to 3,500 rpm, and then lift off the brake when ready to experience launch. With the tires chirping noticeably, the 'Vette makes its way to 60 mph in a pretty amazing 2.7 seconds, measured accurately by means of the Performance Data Recorder. Getting the Corvette to be able to perform like this does require a bit of optional equipment: the Z51 Package aids in acceleration thanks to an electronic limited-slip differential, grippy tires, and a shorter rear axle ratio.

On top of that, the Z51 Performance Suspension with Magnetic Selective Ride Control also includes the Performance Traction Management system. Even though it can be noted that a very grippy road surface, cool temperatures, very low humidity, and a nearly untraceable downhill slope could all contribute to acceleration that is a bit faster than usual. With the release of many performance-focused videos such as this, it understandably stokes excitement among many who just saw the delivery of their model, and are anxious to get out and about to check out just how it handles.

Last weekend, early-spring snow was present in London, Ontario, and one new C8 owner took the opportunity to test his mid-engined car in the slushy and somewhat messy environment. Here in the video you can see that temperatures were just above freezing, and the car even handled the hilly suburban roads in the neighborhood just fine, which the owner attributed to the rear-biased weight distribution: 40-60 from front to rear.

Other advanced construction put to use aluminum suspension components and carbon fiber body panels, materials that degrade at a much slower rate than steel when punished with slush and wintertime road salt. Owner Morgan Crosbie uses the supercar that we love so much here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse of Linn as a daily driver, and loves the comfort paired with raw power he derives from his purchase! 

Production 2020 Corvette C8s Finally Sprinting out the Gate to Excited Owners

Anthony Karr of Motor1.com News had an incredibly important announcement to make this week when he claimed in regards to the new Corvette C8: “Your new mid-engined supercar is on its way to be delivered!”. We still had ample snow on the ground and the pre-Valentine's day vibes kickin' round here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse around February 3^rd, which was when Chevy officially kicked off the production duties for the 2020 Corvette C8. This new video has surfaced that depicts the very first completely assembled examples of the supercar now headed to showrooms all over the nation.

It may be a bit blurry but just as any exciting top-secret piece of information, it was shot in the dark of night just 4 days ago. You can still clearly make out four large auto transporters carrying the 2020 Corvettes fresh off the assembly line at General Motors' thriving Bowling Green, Kentucky plant. The video actually came from an exterior camera that was installed next door in a place that should not be too surprising: The National Corvette Museum. This was surely a great day for the Corvette namesake, and for those who will be enjoying the ultimate excitement of personal delivery during the month of March!

The update plan courtesy of top Chevy officials was to begin shipment of the completely assembled Corvettes during late February or early March, and there have been 40,000 orders already logged for purchase. An Instagram video posted last week showed over two-dozen Corvettes already waiting to be shipped, and they could have in fact been a small production run built after the initial run of test fleet vehicles and before the full-on ordered allotment. This was a car that respectfully and needfully had to wait decades in the making, and after release in a large California airline hangar during July, it has been a whirlwind and groundbreaking experience.

After its proper reveal, the 2020 Corvette's weight was officially accounted for ringing in at 3,366 pounds dry, and the convertible bears around 102 pounds more than the coupe. One of the reasons why many have been so excited about this car is that in its base form it offers a startling level of performance for the money. Good things absolutely come to those who wait patiently, and the staff on duty at Wards Auto claimed after a test drive of their own that “this is much simpler to drive than the C7, you can simply point it in the intended direction and lay on the throttle.”

The first thing you will notice when you climb inside this cabin is just how much quieter it is on the highway than the C7, just at a time when there has never been a model in existence that puts the roaring V8 so close to the driver. Even though the purists among the high- performance crew may complain about lack of a manual transmission, you’ll still be nailing down gearshifts in less than 100 milliseconds, a “universe where no human power can venture!”.

Auditory Exploration With the 2020 Chevy Corvette: Bellowing Pipes at Thunderhill West

Road and Track has been involved deep into the duty of gathering data for its annual Performance Car of the Year feature, and included a pre-production 2020 Chevy Corvette during testing at Thunderhill West. Esteemed guest Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire ran the brand new C8 around the two-mile track and also took video of the laps. There was a serious embargo on driving impressions in effect for just 4 more days and so he was not at liberty to discuss the Z51-equipped coupe's performance in detail, but the video does a pretty good job of depicting the C8's roar.

The sound in the cabin comes from the 6.2-liter LT2 V8 with 495 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. At first listen, the bellow was described as “mild”, and why are we not offended? Because the C8 was not meant to be quite the roaring stallion that you see from the likes of Maserati or Ferrari in regards to pure piping sound enjoyment. But hold on! One only needs to remember that all of this comes at just a fraction of the price that you would fork out for the others

There is a very distinct difference between fake engine noise and exhaust note frequency augmentation, and this is where some have had debate this fall. The active noise cancellation sound system on board does employ a tiny bit of frequency augmentation of the exhaust's note, because the pipes are now experiencing a muffling of sorts by the engine itself. The pipes are also now placed way behind the driver's ears, and its a proven fact that sound pressure drops with the square of distance. But Chevy did not create this just for the coming of our mid-engine marvel: the C7 actually incorporated the same system.

The new car actually relies on the engine itself for all of the of the audio, but with pass-by requirements and the multiple cavities that exist between the driver and exhaust tips some frequencies are lost and have the need to be supplemented. With all of these elements at play, it can understandably be a tough battle for an auto manufacturer to win! New global regulations, the bottom line and concerns revolving around production can have an effect on the final exhaust note as it triumphantly roars after ignition. It's not just the roar of the exhaust that you'll love from the new Corvette: the fun is just beginning from the mid-engine standpoint and this car will be the star of headlines for many months to come here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse and nationwide!

Soon-To-Be-Released C8 Chevy Corvette Bumper Leak Featured by Roadshow Blog

The summer of 2019 has proven to be scorchingly exciting within the auto realm, as the 8^th-generation Chevy mid-engine Corvette is one of the biggest and highly-anticipated automotive debuts during recent years!  We have to hand it to the brand we love to represent every day so much here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse: they have kept an incredibly air-tight lock on information regarding the release, and now at just days away there are a few more tiny leaks in the news. Last Monday an Instagram post surfaced that appears to show the C8 Corvette's high-placed rear end.

It's actually almost as high as the car's roof, and the taillights look to blend the styling of the Camaro and Corvette. We like the look of the two major air vents just below the taillights, and very squared-off tailpipes at the bottom. Much of the solid material that we have seen regarding the C8 was contained in a few teasers Chevy released to hungry car lovers in April, showing a model decked out in full camouflage rolling through the busy streets of New York. Some have claimed to have audio of an illustrious lap of the driveway right at the Corvette National Museum, making many believe that at least one trim level will boast a delightfully grunty V8.

The big excitement all goes down July 18 at 7:30 P.M. PT, when the live stream is provided on the GM website. The location for showing the new supercar in all its glory will be Tustin, California, in two of the biggest wooden hangars in the world. Once it is past debut status, Chevy is planning two national dealership tours by means of a traveling exhibit that will also include some of the accessories available for buyers to up the ante and personalize their brand new C8. This full list of tour locations will be available on July 19.

There are rumors of new tuning capabilities that may boost the output higher than the current 460 horsepower, and we wouldn't be surprised to see a hybrid that can make over 1,000 hp. It's no secret that industry professionals still showed the C7 much love: Lawrence Ulrich of Car and Driver gleefully proclaimed that the ZR1 “shreds anything in sight”, and fell in love right away with the act of squeezing and stomping the throttle in various gears just to see how fast the Corvette can go while still boasting squealing tires. What is most exciting about the coming C8 is what marketing manager Harlan Charles proclaimed a few weeks ago: “We are now trying to take the exotic car experience, and combine it with the Corvette experience, and the idea is to give people everything they dream about in supercars, but in an attainable Chevrolet”.

Commemorating a Timeless Masterpiece: 2018 Carbon 65 Corvette Edition

There's a lot of earthshaking news about the Corvette brand as a whole this year: being chosen to lead the racers into the front-line excitement of the Indy 500 is a huge honor for our favorite namesake. To properly mark the milestone of the 65th anniversary of this front-running and iconic brand, the Corvette Carbon 65 Edition is being rolled out this year as a bonus of sorts for serious lovers of the vehicle. Limited to only 650 numbered vehicles worldwide, this very distinctive edition has a visually-appealing blend of carbon-fiber exterior, and a brand new carbon-fiber rear spoiler. Lovers of the not-so-over-the-top type of appearance will appreciate the Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior color, and enjoy taking tight turns with the new carbon-fiber rimmed steering wheel.

The Carbon 65 Edition Package will allow the driver the choice of the ultra-cool looking Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior, and all convertible versions will have a great way to tie the vehicle together with a blue top available. Unique fender stripes and door graphics as well as black wheels with machined grooves are other features you can expect if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of these limited edition models. The Grand Sport and Z06 have the option Blade-style wheels that look purely menacing, and really add to the unique look and feel of the car. Blue brake calipers and visible carbon-fiber ground effects complement the outer-wheel area, and are another stamp of individuality that is a way of celebrating 65 strong years of this world-class car.

Center caps with the carbon logo, carbon flash badges and outside mirrors, and jet-black suede-wrapped interior with blue stitching are all present in this classic car issue. Produced through 7 generations, the Corvette was originally rolled off the line in Flint, Michigan, and St. Louis, Missouri. This awesome Carbon 65 Edition Package will cost $15,000, and will be available this summer, along with the rest of the various 2018 lineup. If the Stingray is your Corvette of choice, you can acquire the new standard 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels paired exclusively with tires that are especially made for the summer. Potentially the best season to enjoy a car like this, the long days with high temps can be rime from some open road driving with this massively mean and classy machine.

On all 2018 Corvette models, you get the standard HD digital radio, and an available performance data recorder. Included Cosworth Toolbox offers four additional data channels, individual wheel speeds, individual suspension displacements, yaw rate, and ambient air temperatures. An improved rear-view camera image features higher resolution than the last model, and a much wider angle to use. A spice red convertible top comes with all models, and carbon-fiber rimmed steering wheel along with gloss carbon-fiber trim is also the norm. Here at Mid-Missouri Powerhouse, we will be happy to show you how you can own one of these treasures, or any other 2018 Corvette: these are simply some of the most coveted and spectacular cars on the planet.