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11th
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It's sleek, powerful, fast and allows you to go topless: the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 is the car many enthusiasts have been begging for.
On the Corvette's 60th Anniversary, Chevrolet has finally offered the convertible Vette with the motor from the Z06.
When Chevrolet launched the Z06 version of the Corvette C6 (sixth-generation) back in 2006, it quickly garnered the world's attention. The motoring press and the public raved about it, and Chevrolet dealers sold every one the company could make.
The main reason the Z06 became so popular was its engine. Dubbed the LS7, it was a normally aspirated, 7.0L V8 that produced 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. While pretty much every engine General Motors makes gets used in their other vehicles in one tune or another, the LS7 was unique to the Z06, and it could only be had in coupe guise.
However, Corvette fans have been asking for years to have the option to order this phenomenal motor in the convertible body. Their wish has finally been granted in the form of the limited edition Corvette that Chevrolet calls the 427.
While the actual size of this car's motor is 428 cubic-inches, 427 was selected as the name to tie it to the classic Corvette's from the late-1960s.
So, is this final version of the C6 actually a special piece of kit?
Stylistically, you'll be hard-pressed to tell the 427 apart from the Corvette Grand Sport convertible, as it has the same wide-stance body. However, look harder and you will spot some differences. The heat extractor vents on the front fenders are bigger on the 427, the hood it slightly different and is made from carbon-fibre, not glass-fibre. There is also a discreet lip-spoiler on the tail that helps keep its rear end planted at high speeds, which is a good thing because this is a very fast car.
Use the clutch and the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427's 6-speed manual gearbox properly and you'll accelerate from 0-96 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Its top speed is quoted to be in excess of 305 km/h.
Numbers are one thing, how the car feels in your hands is quite another. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with the 427, and what I can tell you right away is it plays the speed card very well. This is a proper supercar that loves to be driven fast. Not only is the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 quick in a straight line, it also handles really well, plus the brakes are fantastic at bringing you back down to legal speeds. However, as good as this 427 is; it isn't without flaws.
The first issue I had was with its noise. While most supercars can hum along at normal highway speeds, the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 was never quiet. At 100 km/h in sixth gear, it revs around 1,500 rpm, and this creates a droning effect in the exhaust. It is quite a loud and unpleasant drone which, after 30 minutes, will give just about anyone a headache. The solution is to go faster, let the engine breathe, but unfortunately the relaxed speed for this motor is well above our country's legal speed limit. So you have to choose to either deal with your headache or with a speeding ticket.
The bad news doesn't end there. Many have criticized the interior of the C6 before, and for good reasons. Space is not the issue here, but quality certainly is: The plastics used to cover some portions inside the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 would look cheap in a subcompact, so they are out of place in a car of this caliber. Plus, the navigation system, with its touchscreen interface, not only looked dated, but was a pain to use.
What isn't a pain is its ride quality. Thanks to its magnetic ride control system, this car can, at the twist of a knob, be either comfortable or stiff for track use.
Here's the thing, if you look at this Corvette 427 as a daily usable road car, it doesn't make much sense and there are better options to consider. However, if you see it as a weekend toy -- something to drive to a race track every now and then -- it makes much more sense.
You can also look at it as a future investment. The 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 is a one year special, a last hurrah before the brand new Corvette C7 hits the showrooms as a 2014 model.
So, if you're looking for a car that has the potential to be a future classic, this might be it. Pricing starts at $108,945.
On the Corvette's 60th Anniversary, Chevrolet has finally offered the convertible Vette with the motor from the Z06.
 |
When Chevrolet launched the Z06 version of the Corvette C6 (sixth-generation) back in 2006, it quickly garnered the world's attention. The motoring press and the public raved about it, and Chevrolet dealers sold every one the company could make.
The main reason the Z06 became so popular was its engine. Dubbed the LS7, it was a normally aspirated, 7.0L V8 that produced 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. While pretty much every engine General Motors makes gets used in their other vehicles in one tune or another, the LS7 was unique to the Z06, and it could only be had in coupe guise.
However, Corvette fans have been asking for years to have the option to order this phenomenal motor in the convertible body. Their wish has finally been granted in the form of the limited edition Corvette that Chevrolet calls the 427.
While the actual size of this car's motor is 428 cubic-inches, 427 was selected as the name to tie it to the classic Corvette's from the late-1960s.
So, is this final version of the C6 actually a special piece of kit?
Stylistically, you'll be hard-pressed to tell the 427 apart from the Corvette Grand Sport convertible, as it has the same wide-stance body. However, look harder and you will spot some differences. The heat extractor vents on the front fenders are bigger on the 427, the hood it slightly different and is made from carbon-fibre, not glass-fibre. There is also a discreet lip-spoiler on the tail that helps keep its rear end planted at high speeds, which is a good thing because this is a very fast car.
Use the clutch and the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427's 6-speed manual gearbox properly and you'll accelerate from 0-96 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Its top speed is quoted to be in excess of 305 km/h.
 |
| The plastics used to cover some portions inside the Corvette 427 would look cheap in a subcompact, so they are out of place in a car of this caliber. (Photo: Chevrolet) |
Numbers are one thing, how the car feels in your hands is quite another. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days with the 427, and what I can tell you right away is it plays the speed card very well. This is a proper supercar that loves to be driven fast. Not only is the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 quick in a straight line, it also handles really well, plus the brakes are fantastic at bringing you back down to legal speeds. However, as good as this 427 is; it isn't without flaws.
The first issue I had was with its noise. While most supercars can hum along at normal highway speeds, the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 was never quiet. At 100 km/h in sixth gear, it revs around 1,500 rpm, and this creates a droning effect in the exhaust. It is quite a loud and unpleasant drone which, after 30 minutes, will give just about anyone a headache. The solution is to go faster, let the engine breathe, but unfortunately the relaxed speed for this motor is well above our country's legal speed limit. So you have to choose to either deal with your headache or with a speeding ticket.
The bad news doesn't end there. Many have criticized the interior of the C6 before, and for good reasons. Space is not the issue here, but quality certainly is: The plastics used to cover some portions inside the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 would look cheap in a subcompact, so they are out of place in a car of this caliber. Plus, the navigation system, with its touchscreen interface, not only looked dated, but was a pain to use.
What isn't a pain is its ride quality. Thanks to its magnetic ride control system, this car can, at the twist of a knob, be either comfortable or stiff for track use.
 |
| Corvette fans have been asking for years to have the option to order this phenomenal motor in the convertible body. (Photo: Nauman Farooq) |
Here's the thing, if you look at this Corvette 427 as a daily usable road car, it doesn't make much sense and there are better options to consider. However, if you see it as a weekend toy -- something to drive to a race track every now and then -- it makes much more sense.
You can also look at it as a future investment. The 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 is a one year special, a last hurrah before the brand new Corvette C7 hits the showrooms as a 2014 model.
So, if you're looking for a car that has the potential to be a future classic, this might be it. Pricing starts at $108,945.