New Corvette a sight to behold

by Matt Nauman

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WITH APOLOGIES TO THE LATE Jim Schefter, who wrote "All Corvettes Are Red" back in 1996, mine was yellow. And stunning in its execution. I have just spent a week driving a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, and I will tell you what I think of the car in just a moment. First, however, any reviewer worth reading must give his or her opinion of what many consider the single most important feature of this sixth-generation two-seater.

The engine? The exterior design? The cup holders?

No, it is the headlights. And I love them. They are beautiful and are the perfect accent to let folks know the Corvette is ready to run back to its throne as America's sports car.

These high-intensity discharge Xenon lights are so important because ever since 1963 -- or 41 of the 51 years the Corvette has existed -- the car has had pop-up or so-called hidden headlights.

They were innovative and distinctive in 1963 and used by many other cars of that era. (They first appeared in a 1937 Cord, for the record.)

But, like rich Corinthian leather, they faded in popularity over time. Some disappeared when a model of car vanished. Other models continued but went to more traditional headlights as a cost-saving move. Yet, even on the 2004 model Corvette, the lights flipped over when turned on and flipped under when turned off.

Yet, like all the rest of us, I have seen all manner of Fieros and Camaros with both -- or worse, just one -- of the hidden headlights stuck open. To me, to make a bad pun, they kept a car like the Corvette stuck in the past.

I love the new headlights. And, no, I do not think they make it look too much like other high-performance models, one of the real worries of Corvette lovers.

(The teenager next door nodded in appreciation of the new Corvette, admitting he thought it was a Ferrari at first. I do not think that type of confusion insults Corvette.)

Changing the headlights, seemingly a simple gesture, but done after lots of soul searching, according to top General Motors folks, is a bold stroke. It confirms this is indeed an all-new Corvette.

That is especially important as the design of the body does not represent a radical shift. Oh, park the 2005 next to a C5 as I did and you will see changes, but the car's low profile, its sleek silhouette, its four rear lights are not much different.

Still, much has changed: The car is five inches shorter and a bit narrower, making it easier to maneuver and a bit more pleasing to the eye. The car itself is lighter, and it has the best wind resistance -- the drag coefficient is .28 -- in its history.

Prices start in the mid-$40,000s, although two big option packages and a handful of additional amenities took the window sticker of our test model to nearly $53,000.

The standard engine, a 6.0-liter small-block V-8, now makes 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, up substantially from the 350 horsepower made by 2004's base 5.7-liter V-8. GM mentions a top speed of 186 mph and a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds. Fuel economy -- 18 mpg in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway -- improves slightly.

For now, there is no super performance Z06 version of the new 'Vette. That said, the available Z51 package ($1,495) offers bigger, crossed-drill brake rotors, more aggressive tires and changes to the car's stabilizer bars, springs, shocks and gear ratios that ought to appease enthusiasts for now.

New options abound, from a DVD navigation system, to GM's OnStar emergency/concierge service to head's up display.

Tech lovers will appreciate the car's new remote-control key. With the key fob in your pocket or purse, the doors open at the touch of your fingers. Once inside, you simply need to push a button to start the car. The trunk opens in a similar fashion.

It is neat, and a great way to i