2012 Corvette – Vette-net

Type: Two Door Coupe, Two Door Convertible, Grand Sport Coupe, Grand Sport Convertible, Z06 Coupe, ZR1 Coupe

Pricing: $50,500.00 (Coupe), $55,500.00 (Convertible), $56,900.00 (Grand Sport Coupe), $60,500.00 (Grand Sport Convertible), $76,500.00 (Z06 Coupe), $112,500.00 (ZR1 Coupe)

Engine options: 376 C.I. (6.2L) LS3 Engine (Coupe, Convertible and Grand Sport), 427 C.I. (7.0L) LS7 Engine (Z06), 376 C.I. (6.2L) LS9 Engine (ZR1)

Transmission: 6 Speed Manual Transmission, 6 Speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission

Top speed: 198mph (Z06), 205mph (ZR1)

Units Produced: 11,647

Available Colors: Arctic White, Blade Silver, Inferno Orange, Velocity Yellow, Cyber Gray, Carbon Flash, Torch Red, Crystal Red, Supersonic Blue, Carlisle Blue

Highlights of the year:

Chevrolet unveiled several new racing variants of the beloved Corvette, including both a newer GT contender as well as a Daytona Prototype class Corvette. These cars, developed in conjunction with their production model counterparts, would further demonstrate the fusion between the engineers designing these cars and the people operating them – both on the road and the racetrack.

For the 2012 model year, Chevrolet decided to listen to the public before making changes to the car, even with the certainty that the C6 model was going to be replaced by a seventh-generation Corvette within the next couple of years. Many of the changes made to the 2012 Corvette were in response to the criticisms that GM had received from owners of earlier model-year C6 Corvettes, and almost all of the changes were made to the car’s interior.

Inside the lightly revised two-person cabin, the steering wheel has been enhanced with model-specific badges, the center console and armrests further padded and there is now contrasting stitching (red, blue or yellow) offered with the custom leather-wrapped interior. Chevrolet has also directed some much-needed attention to the seats, which have been upgraded with larger bolsters on the back and side cushion areas. This technology package also included a refined heads-up display, navigation system with voice recognition, the Bose premium audio package (included standard with the 2LT package), a one-year subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, USB iPod connection and input jacks and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Last year, the Corvette ZR1 was delivered with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. With a “maximum performance summer” classification (treadwear rating of 220), the well-respected rubber delivered impressive handling. For 2012, Chevrolet has cranked things up several notches by offering the optional High-Performance package (PDE ZR1) featuring new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires. The “track and competition” classified compound (with a treadwear rating of just 80!) was optimized for warm, dry conditions to increase cornering and handling capability. They are “… essentially street-legal versions of a racing tire,” says the automaker. The insanely wide tires (285/30R19 and 335/25R20) came wrapped around all-new staggered-size alloy wheels that were each about five pounds lighter than last year’s 20-spoke wheel.

The changes made to the 2012MY were minimal once you take into consideration that everything under the hood remained completely untouched. The Z06 version still gets a 7.0 Liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 505 hp at 6300 rpm and 470 lb.-ft. of torque at 4800 rpm. The ZR1 version will use the same 6.2 Liter LS9 aluminum-block V8 engine with a total of 638 hp at 6500 rpm and 604 lb.- ft. of torque at 3800 rpm. The Z06 version will hit 198 mph, while the ZR1 will go up to 205 mph.

Rounding out the changes for the 2012 Corvette was a newly available racing-style full-width rear spoiler for the Z06 and ZR1 as part of the Z07 and PDE packages, respectively. The Z06 also was available with a new carbon-fiber hood.

Even with the refinements that had been introduced for the model year, critics of the car continued to identify the 2012 Corvette’s interior as being a “low-rent” option (when compared to similarly priced sports car in its class), but this shortcoming was more than compensated for by the car’s overall drivability, an incredible grip in tight corners, and its strong braking system. Additionally, the car was noted as having a comfortable ride, though some critics of the car wish the steering provided more feedback.

Photos of the 2o12 Corvette: