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2012 Chevrolet Corvette Philadelphia

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For 2012, the Chevrolet Corvette gets a welcome new seat design with larger side bolsters, along with a new steering wheel and extra padding in the armrests. A new nine-speaker Bose sound system is added to the available features list, along with several customization options. The Z06 can now be had with the ZR1's Performance Traction Management system, while both models are offered with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires for improved handling. Finally, there is a new Chevrolet Centennial Special Edition.  The Corvette is blazingly fast yet it quickly infuses the driver with confidence. Its brakes are fantastic. The 6-speed automatic transmission works great and lives up to the advanced technology in the rest of the car; it can be shifted manually with levers on the steering column.  Both the base Vette and Grand Sport feature a 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 430 hp and 424 pound-feet of torque. All Corvettes come standard with a six-speed manual transmission and launch control. A six-speed automatic is available on all but the high-performance models.  The Z06 is powered by a 7.0-liter V8 that produces 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque.  The ZR1 gets a supercharged version of the 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 638 hp and 604 lb-ft.

Driving Impressions

The LS3 V8 engine sounds great, and its low, throaty roar is accompanied by thrilling acceleration. Stand on the gas and even the automatic will chirp the rear tires when it shifts into second.  Launch Control optimizes performance for full-throttle starts for all manual-transmission Corvettes by monitoring engine torque 100 times per second and maximizing available traction. As such, the system is capable of approaching a skilled driver's very best efforts, and does it with consistency.  If ever a sporting car were suited for an automatic transmission, it's the Corvette, with its big, torquey V8. The automatic does not sap all the fun out of driving the way automatics do in small sports cars with small engines. It's responsive to the driver's intent, shifting hard and fast when you're accelerating quickly, but shifting smooth and soft when cruising.  In the handling department, the Corvette is agile and easy to toss around, benefits of its light weight, trim proportions and refined suspension.  The brakes are smooth, progressive and easy to modulate. The Corvette is very stable under hard braking and it doesn't get unsettled when braking and turning at the same time. 

Interior Features of the '12 Corvette

The Corvette cabin features premium soft surfaces, nice grain in the materials and elegant tailoring. The dashboard is finished in a soft material that feels rich to the touch. Real metal accents are used, but they don't generate glare. The electronics displays serve the driver without getting in the way.   The seats are comfortable and fairly easy to adjust, though moving the manually operated backrest forward is a problem because your weight is invariably resting on it when you want to adjust it. Sitting in the Corvette evokes that feeling of sitting deep down in a massive machine. There's plenty of headroom and the windshield doesn't seem too close to the driver's face.  The instruments are big analog gauges, easy to read at a glance. The Z06 gets a unique cluster with more gauges, and the ZR1 has a supercharger boost gauge. The Corvette is, thankfully, devoid of a lot of digital readouts. One exception is the head-up display, which projects speed, rpm and even g-forces onto the windshield, a handy and entertaining feature. The upgrade Bose stereo system includes redundant controls on the steering wheel hub for most functions.  There's no need to take the key out of your pocket to unlock the Corvette or start its engine. Simply walk up and pull the door handle. With the keyless start feature, sensors detect your key and unlock the door. Climb in, buckle up, and press the starter button.  The Convertible's five-layer fabric top is available in three colors, and it offers power operation.  An easy-to-operate manual top is standard. The Convertible looks good with the top up, and it looks terrific with the top down, with body-color trim that gives it a racy appearance.

Exterior Features of the '12 Corvette

Vents behind the front tires let hot air out of the engine compartment. The sculpted fenders, with sharp creases that sweep dramatically up to the planed rear deck, call to mind race cars as well as jet fighters. At the back, four round taillights recall Corvette's past and make the car look like an F-18 taking off in full afterburner mode. On the functional side, the optics of the reverse lights magnify the light they throw out to help when backing up in this beast. To move weight from the front to the rear, the transmission is mounted behind the seats and connected to the differential, rather than being attached directly behind the engine.  The Z06 is distinguished from other Corvettes by lots of subtle appearance tweaks, starting with the roof. It's fixed rather than removable, adding an extra element of structural stiffness for track driving. You'll never see a transparent roof panel on a Z06: it would add weight and increase the height of the center of gravity.  In front, the Z06 has a wider, lower grille and a separate, unique air scoop above the bumper to shove more intake air under the hood. Its fenders are wider front and rear to cover massively wide tires and rims.  The frame is made entirely of hydro-formed aluminum (the standard Vettes have steel rails), with a magnesium engine cradle, and its fenders are formed from ultra-light carbon fiber. 

Model Lineup

The 2011 Chevrolet Corvette is available in two body styles, Coupe or Convertible, with either a manual or automatic transmission. The Z06 and ZR1 models are available only as fixed-roof Coupes.

The Corvette Coupe and Convertible are powered by a 6.2-liter V8 with 430 horsepower. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard; a 6-speed Paddle Shift automatic is optional. An optional dual-mode exhaust system raises horsepower to 436 hp. There are four trim levels; 1LT, 2LT, 3LT and 4LT, with increasing levels of features.

The Coupe features a one-piece removable roof panel in body color or transparent plastic; the dual-roof option includes both. The Convertible comes standard with a manually operated soft top; a power soft top, with a heated glass rear window, is standard on 2LT trim levels and above.

Standard features for the Corvette include leather seating surfaces, dual-zone automatic climate control with a pollen filter, power everything including seats, cruise control, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with redundant audio controls, remote keyless entry and starting, AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input jack, XM Satellite Radio, auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, automatic headlights, alarm, fog lights, xenon headlights, OnStar telematics, and P245/40ZR18 front and P285/35ZR19 rear run-flat tires on alloy wheels. The 2LT and above models add sport seats with adjustable lumbar support and side bolsters, plus Bluetooth connectivity.

For a suspension option, the Magnetic Selective Ride Control automatically switches from extra-firm to more comfortable touring settings with electronically controlled variable damping. The package now includes cross-drilled brake rotors that are also available as a stand-alone option. These rotors are larger than standard (13.4 vs. 12.8 inches up front, and 13.0 vs. 12.0 inches in the rear), but not quite as large as the 14.0/13.4 front/rear rotors on the Z06.

Options include DVD navigation, which now comes with a USB port as well as the Bose audio and voice recognition. There are a variety of wheel options in a wide range of styles and finishes. The 3LT package for the coupe and convertible includes a head-up display, heated seats with position memory, a premium Bose stereo, a power telescoping steering column, and a universal garage door opener. The 4LT package includes the 3LT and adds custom leather upholstery on the top of the instrument panel, upper door panels, and console cover, as well as extra armrest padding, crossed flags seat embroidery and a special console trim plate.

The Grand Sport Coupe and Convertible are equipped the same as the base models but with wider-body styling to cover their wider track, racing-tuned suspension, and Z06-sized tires and brakes.

Corvette Z06 comes with a 7.0-liter V8 producing 505 horsepower, with dry-sump lubrication and coolers for the power steering pump, gearbox and rear differential. Beyond the engine, the Z06 package includes a host of high-performance components. The Z06 hardtop is fixed in place. Its brakes are upgraded, its tires are huge (Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar P275/35ZR18 fronts and P325/30ZR19 rears), and it's offered only with the 6-speed manual transmission. Options include the Z07 Ultimate Performance package with ceramic brakes with dark gray calipers, Competition Gray aluminum spider wheels, Michelin PS2 tires (P285/30ZR19 front, P335/25ZR20 rear), Magnetic Selective Ride Control and enhanced cooling. The CFZ Carbon Fiber package features a black-painted carbon fiber roof, rocker panels, and splitter, plus a body-color ZR1-style spoiler. The 2LZ package includes a power telescoping steering column, heated seats, memory for the seats, mirrors and steering wheel, Bose audio, universal garage door opener, cargo net, and cargo cover. The 3LZ package has the 2LZ equipment plus power sport seats and a premium leather package similar to the 4LT. There is a variety of wheel choices, including painted aluminum and chrome finishes.

Corvette ZR1 has a supercharged 6.2-liter version of the Z06 V8, utilizing an Eaton four-lobe supercharger. To deal with the additional stresses and loads, every appropriate piece of the engine has been upgraded. The ZR1 is available only as a coupe, and only with a heavy-duty 6-speed manual transmission. The ZR1 gets huge Brembo brakes, 15.5 inches in front and 15.0 inches in the rear, and made of special heat-resistant carbon-ceramic material. The tires are Michelin Pilot Sport 2 ZP run-flats, sized 285/30ZR19 in front and 335/25ZR20 in the rear; the rims are 10 inches wide in front and 12 inches in the rear. The ZR1 also has the lighter-weight aluminum chassis components of the Z06, and carbon fiber for the roof, hood and front fenders. In addition, the ZR1 hood has a transparent panel.

Conclusions

The Chevrolet Corvette is the great American sports car. It's thrilling to drive and delivers breathtaking acceleration performance and exceptionally tenacious grip for braking and cornering. Yet it's fairly easy to live with and relatively easy to drive. The ultra-high-performance Z06 and Grand Sport models push the envelope for off-the-shelf production cars to incredible limits.  If you want to learn more about the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette, click here.

Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive.com