The Corvette is a legendary vehicle, such a unique look no other car comes near it. The first model came into production in 1953. There are a lot of models, though generally the Corvettes now a days have in the range of 400 horsepower and a 0-60 of around 4 seconds.
Named after a small maneuverable warship, the Chevrolet Corvette was designed by Harley Earl and introduced in 1953 as an American sports car which became the first and only American sports car to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2003. The Corvette is a two door, two passenger sports car which has been produced in six generations in coupe, convertible, t-top coupe and targa coupe body styles. Originally built in Flint, Michigan and St. Lois, the Corvette is currently being built in General Motors assembly plant in Bowling Green in Kentucky.
The Corvette has an impressive daily driver usability. The cockpit holds user friendly ergonomics with comfortable seats. The hatchback body provides massive cargo capacity, standing at 22 cubic feet. It hosts two suspensions – standard and optional magnetic ride with sport and touring modes – providing a setup for all and both providing a smooth and comfortable ride.
The second Corvette generation was designed by Larry Shinoda and introduced in 1963. Going by the name 'Sting Ray', the 1963 model was the first year for a Corvette coupe. It featured hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents and a stand alone rear suspension. The maximum power was raised to 375bhp in 1964 from the 360bhp. The second generation modifications ended in 1967 with the first L88 engine options with the power of 430bhp.
The generation three model introduced in 1968 lasted through to 1982, holding the 'Sting Ray' name through to 1976. The engine specs were carried from the 1968 though the body and interior were new. In 1969, we had the first sight of Corvette with a factory installed side exhaust. The model's horsepower ratings reduced in 1971 due to the lowering of the engine compression ratios for the use of unleaded and low lead fuels. The vehicle saw the introduction of aerodynamic redesign that significantly reduced its drag.
Generation four was introduced in March of 1983 but did not hit the showrooms due to engineering problems and technological issues. It was later introduced in the middle of that year with a complete redesign and hence designated for 1984. The vehicle came with an electronic dashboard with digital liquid crystal displays for speedometer and tachometer.
Generation five began in 1997 and ended in 2004 model year. The Corvette had a top speed of 275km/h and was judged by automotive press as improved in all aspects over the previous Corvettes. The improved suspension, rigidity, brakes and low weight led it to be a quicker model than all previous generation's ZR-1.
The generation six, introduced in 2005, received a large passenger compartment, new bodywork with exposed headlamps for the first time since '62. The Corvette is fitted with computer aided gear selection to improve on the fuel economy. Three new suspension setups are available with none carried over from the C5. The generation six is generally termed as the more power and style for less money model. In the May of 2007, Bob Lutz stated that he is not opposed to the idea of a Corvette Sedan; following in the foot steps of Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and Lamborghini Estoque.