1. Evolution, not revolution
An evolutionary car would continue improvements made by the C6 over the C5 and take advantage of emerging technologies for more gains in performance, handling, ride, cost, and, of course, fuel economy.
The 2008 C6's aluminum pushrod 6.2-liter LS3 has been updated and upgraded and makes an easy 436 horses with a performance exhaust. But what about gas mileage? Using the stricter, lower 2008 EPA numbers, the LS3 manual gets 19.3 mpg combined, the automatic achieves 18.3 mpg. Technologies such as cylinder deactivation (now called active fuel management) and variable valve timing could bump the efficiency of the LS3 into the low- to mid-20s.
Weight also affects gas mileage, even for a car as slimmed down as the Corvette. The Z06 has carbon-fiber front fenders that save 2.2 pounds, and a hydroformed aluminum frame that saves 136.7 pounds over the base steel frame of a regular C6. But the cost of switching the frame from steel to aluminum for all Corvettes would be prohibitive, as the tooling and manufacturing process is currently set up only for low-volume production.
Body panels provide a better opportunity for weight savings. Much of the C6's body is made of sheet molding compound, which contains heavy silicon. Switching to carbon-fiber panels for the base models would be too costly, but there are several emerging composites, including Kevlar/carbon-fiber and Kevlar/aluminum that could lower weight without seriously raising cost.
It makes sense because: It takes the Corvette's unique formula and refines it.
The downside: Is that enough to win over new buyers?
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