2004 Corvette Overview - New Features and Highlights
Note: All information on this page are courtesy of GM Media Archives.
For Release: July 1, 2003
New for 2004
- Commemorative editions of Coupe, Convertible
and Z06 mark racing success
- Exterior colors: Arctic White, Machine Silver,
Magnetic Red and Le Mans Blue (commemoratives only)
- Revised shock valving on Z06
- Carbon fiber hood on Z06
The following engineering changes were not part of this press release but have been implemented into the 2004 model year:
- A timing chain guide is now available on all valvetrain systems. The nylon guide is retained by 2 bolts to the front of the engine.
- Revision to the PCV system on the LS1. This now employs the LS6 design valley cover and PCV system.
- The piston, pin and connecting rod are now all serviced as ONE assembly. There is NO replacement of just a piston.
- There have been a number of mechanical specifications and tightening specifications introduced as well as revised diagnostics for mechanical issues.
Model Lineup
| Engines | Transmissions | |||
5.7L V-8 LS1 |
5.7L V-8 LS6 |
4-spd auto (Hydra-Matic 4L60-E) |
6-spd man (MM6/M12) |
|
| Coupe | s |
- |
s |
o |
| Convertible | s |
- |
s |
o |
| Z06 | - |
s |
- |
s |
Key:
Standard s
Optional o
Not available -
COMMEMORATIVE EDITIONS MARK CORVETTE'S RACING SUCCESS
The Chevrolet Corvette maintains its well-earned status as the automotive and cultural icon that has been admired and sought after for a generation. For the 2004 model year, commemorative editions for each Corvette model are available so enthusiasts can celebrate the racing success of the Chevy flagship.
Also, the top-of-the-line Corvette Z06 - already hailed by enthusiast magazines as the best combination of performance, comfort and value in the automotive world - gets even better for 2004 with revised shock valving based on testing at the legendary Nürburgring race track in Germany.
Corvette also has earned two consecutive quality awards from J.D. Power and Associates and continues to win accolades for its surprising interior room, cargo space, comfort and fuel economy in a high-performance sports car.
Only a handful of cars in the history of the industry have shown the Corvette's ability to capture the fancy of so many consumers and hold it for so long. As the golden anniversary celebration continues, it is a testament to the ability of Corvette's engineers to keep the car as fresh and cutting edge as it was in 1953.
Corvette has remained relevant because it continued to embrace new designs and technologies such as those featured on the current line: Magnetic Selective Ride Control, Goodyear EMT "run-flat" tires (coupe and convertible), active handling and a rear transaxle.
Commemorative editions
The commemorative editions recognize the success of the C5-R racing program.
In 2002, the Corvette C5 continued to dominate the field with nine wins in 10
American Le Mans Series races, also nabbing the 2002 GTS Manufacturer Champion
and GTS Team Champion awards. Combined with a second consecutive victory at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette continued to make history.
The Commemorative Edition Coupe and Convertible include new Le Mans Blue paint with Shale interior, special badges and polished wheels. The convertible's top also is Shale to match the interior.
The Commemorative Edition Z06 also is Le Mans Blue and also includes a C5-R Le Mans stripe scheme, special badges, polished Z06 wheels and a lightweight carbon fiber hood.
Z06 ride tempered at Nürburgring
Over the period of a month in 2002, engineers put the Z06 through its paces
at Germany's fabled Nürburgring racetrack to give the definitive street-legal
sports car an even better ride. Since it was completed in 1927, the 12.8-mile
(20.6 km) Nürburgring circuit has been the ultimate challenge for vehicle
dynamics. The course has 177 corners, and in between them is every conceivable
combination of radius, camber and gradient - not to mention altitude that varies
by nearly 1,000 feet (305 m). No other track in the world places such extreme
demands on a vehicle's suspension, brakes and powertrain, which is why Nürburgring
is where the world's finest sports cars are regularly tested.
After a month in Germany, it was back to General Motors Milford Proving Grounds, where new shock absorber valving was "dialed in" and balanced for optimum performance on American roads.
The result is a suspension that feels "more tied down, more glued to the road," said Harlan Charles, product manager for the Corvette.
Magnetic Selective Ride Control
The suspensions of the 2004 Corvette coupe and convertible continue to feature
Magnetic Selective Ride Control, which debuted in 2003. It uses a revolutionary
damper design that controls wheel and body motion with magneto-rheological fluid
in the shocks. By controlling the current to an electromagnetic coil inside
the piston of the damper, the MR fluid's consistency can be changed, resulting
in continuously variable real-time damping. As a result, drivers feel a greater
sense of security, a quieter, flatter ride and more precise, responsive handling,
particularly during sudden, high-speed maneuvers.
The system isolates and smoothes the action of each tire, resulting in less bouncing, vibration and noise. On bumpy or slick surfaces, the system integrates with traction control to assure maximum stability. It also works with ABS to keep the vehicle balanced and poised. It is the only system without electro-mechanical values and no small moving parts. It consists of MR fluid-based, monotube shock absorbers, a sensor set and on-board controller.
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Contact:
Chevrolet Communications
Bob Tripolsky
GM of Canada Communications
Phil Kling
GM de Mexico Communications
Juan Bernardo Urrutia
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication. We will update this page with any updates that should be necessary.