[h=3]1997 Chevrolet Corvette[/h]After years of uninspired design and performance, the
Corvette came into its own in its fifth generation. The C5 Corvette was a higher-quality car than the one it replaced, and performance was much better both in a straight line and through turns. A new all-aluminum LS1 5.7-liter V8 engine boosted output from 330 to 345 horsepower and dropped the zero-to-60 mph time from 5.1 to 4.8 seconds. The new rear transaxle improved weight balance, and the new perimeter frame chassis was stronger than in previous 'Vettes. Only a hatchback coupe was offered for 1997; the convertible returned for '98.
[h=3]1999 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R[/h]The C5-R was the first officially sanctioned race car in
Corvette's history. Built to compete in the American Le Mans Series' GTS class, the race car shared much in common with the street car, including the frame and engine block, but its carbon-fiber bodywork was 4 inches wider, and at 600 horsepower it cranked out 255 more ponies. In its debut, the C5-R placed third in the GT2 class at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Subsequent C5-R and C6-R race cars have won at Le Mans and claimed multiple manufacturers' championships.
[h=3]2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06[/h]Named after a racing-oriented option package from the 1960s, the Z06 debuted in 2001 as the pinnacle of
Corvette performance. For 2002, the LS6 5.7-liter V8 engine added 20 horsepower, bringing the total to 405 and launching the car from zero to 60 mph in a blazing 3.9 seconds. The Z06 was offered only as a lightweight notchback coupe. Its performance was further improved by a stiffer suspension and sticky Goodyear tires designed specifically for the car. The Z06 returned as a C6 model, and it now features a 7.0-liter V8 that makes as a whopping 505 horsepower.
[h=3]2005 Chevrolet Corvette[/h]Unveiled at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, the C6
Corvette wasn't all-new but it was quite different than the C5. Despite a slightly longer wheelbase, it was 5.1 inches shorter and an inch wider. Styling, while not retro, was influenced by the 1963-'67 Corvette and the F-22A Raptor fighter jet. The structure still used the C5's uniframe design, but it was strengthened, and the central torque tube was made from aluminum. Under the hood, the new small-block V8 engine grew from 5.7 to 6.0 liters, and horsepower rose from 350 to 400 and later to as much as 436.
[h=3]2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1[/h]In 2009,
Chevrolet introduced the fastest production
Corvette of all time, the ZR1, a car that continues to this day. A true supercar, the ZR1 uses carbon-fiber body panels and aluminum suspension components to cut weight, and General Motors' Magnetic Ride Control adjustable suspension to improve handling. Powered by the supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V8 engine that cranks out 638 horsepower, the ZR1 sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and tops out at a stratospheric 205 mph.