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2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Preview

Decadent Drop-Top

Chevrolet isnt about to wait to release its next-generation Corvette roadster, launching the new drop-top in Geneva only two months after the coupe debuted in Detroit.

Why Geneva? Good question. Corvette has long been an American ambassador to Europe, albeit in very small numbers, but with the success of this years Le Mans conquering No. 63 Corvette C5-R, the second year of domination in the GTS sports car category, Chevy is starting to gain in notoriety in the olde world.

And it isnt like the North American public will snub the new convertible because the bowtie brand has chosen to launch it overseas. Actually, quite the

Not wasting any time, Chevy has already revealed the new Corvette roadster, only two months after the coupe was unveiled. (Photo: General Motors)

opposite is true. After years of not quite measuring up when it comes to interior ergonomics, fit and finish and quality of materials, big issues in Europe and increasingly important here at home, the C6 Corvette looks to be mostly on the mark. If an American car can stand up to the scrutiny of the Europeans, or so the belief goes,

After years of not quite measuring up when it comes to interior ergonomics, Chevy has worked hard to shed that image with the new roadster. (Photo: General Motors)

then it is no doubt good enough for us.

Europeans should appreciate the new cars conservative good looks. Chevy didnt exactly push the envelope when it comes to exterior styling, instead relying on its strong, loyal customer base to buy into an evolutionary design.

One thing thats for sure, the car looks like a Corvette.

There is no doubt the new car is a Corvette through and through, with Chevy sticking with recognizable styling. (Photo: General Motors)

Its Kamm-style rear fascia incorporating circular quad taillights, raked beltline melding into swooping front fenders, are all dead giveaways. The only "radical" change to the coupe and convertible, as compared to the 1997 through 2004 C5, is a move to fixed headlamps, a design element the model hasnt featured since the 1962 model year. And it makes a lot of sense, being that most jurisdictions have passed daytime running light laws that would

Chevrolet, at least with the Corvette, is attempting to come up with fresh, new designs that dont completely depart from traditional values. (Photo: General Motors)

keep them exposed more often than tucked away out of sight. Aerodynamic efficiency being as important to new vehicle design as it is, they had to go.

Theres something else the new convertible has in common with the 1962 car, it was the last model year that saw Chevy build only a Corvette roadster. OK, thats not totally in common is it? But theres some kind of tie-in. Americas sports car started life way back in 53 as a convertible with the availability

The new shape reduces the coefficient of drag to 0.28, making it the most aerodynamically efficient Corvette ever. (Photo: General Motors)

of a removable hardtop coming later in its second generation car. The first coupe came in 1963, the much loved Sting Ray.

Of course, I wouldnt be the only one to wish Corvette would return to such styling glory days. But unlike Ford, which is focused on looking in the mirror for tomorrows next design ideas, resulting in the 2005 cum 1967 Mustang and completely retrospective GT (40), Chevrolet is attempting to come up with fresh, new designs that dont completely depart from traditional values, in the case of Corvette anyway.

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