Marking 60 years of the classic Corvette Convertible the Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition is the best performing convertible car in the brand’s history. Not only that but it is also this the final climax of the C6 generation of the Corvette which is to be replaced with an all new model in 2013.
The 427 of course, refers to the classic engine capacity of 427 cubic-inches or 7 litres in metric terms; the same LS7 engine seen in the high-performance Z06 coupe. Rated at 505 horsepower (377 kW) and 470 lb-ft of torque (637 Nm), it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Corvette convertible and only available matched to a six-speed manual transmission.
The Corvette 427 Convertible also shares the driveline and rear axle system with the Corvette Z06, a rear-mounted battery and standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control. Lightweight machine-face Cup wheels come as standard while Black Cup wheels or chrome ZR1-style wheels are also available.
Weight is cut down by use of carbon fibre panels for hood/bonet, fender and floor panels bringing the official curb weight down to a skinny 3,355 pounds or 1,522 kg. The result is a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 (one horsepower for every 6.64 lb of vehicle mass) which Chevrolet claim betters the Ferrari California Convertible, Aston Martin DBS Volante and the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet.
The sprint from 0-60 mph could be covered in an estimated 3.8 seconds, while the standing quarter-mile time is reported as 11.8 seconds. The Corvette 427 Convertible will have potential for a top speed of over 190 mph.
The C6 Corvette Convertible will go down in history as a car that revived the brand. It returned manageable handling to the straight line performance of previous models. This was done by cutting down the weight while developing a chassis that provided massive grip. It offers the driving excitement of an old-school convertible super-car and performance figures that match the best high performance cars from Europe and Japan.
Car industry growth from the top down
Despite financial problems continuing around the globe the car industry is making a strong recovery. In the last week several premium car makers have reported record sales.
It started with Bentley who reported that sales in global markets were up by 37% making a return to pre-recession levels. Of particular note is an impressive 88% increase in German sales and a doubling of sales in China making it their second biggest customer after the US. The growth is put down to a combination of recovering old, and emerging new markets as well as new editions to the model range. Sales were boosted significantly in December with the first deliveries of the new soft-top Bentley Continental GTC, a re-designed model which has received critical acclaim.
Rolls-Royce similarly claim a 31% increase in sales over 2011. Again China and the US were the most significant markets with Germany, Russia and the Middle East also seeing considerable increases. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead is their strong-selling convertible option.
Convertible cars have led strong sales at Mercedes-Benz with the new SLK Roadster and E-Class Cabriolet seeing great success.
At the other end of the market, more affordable cars also sold well in 2011 with brands like Mini seeing sales climb as well as those from Skoda and Vauxhall.
Much of the revival of the automotive sector can be put down to intelligent design and major improvements in fuel-efficiency. 2012 sees some major new convertible cars and with stability returning to unstable European markets the sales figures should continue to grow.