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GM Media Press Release

Note: Pictures and information are from GM Communications.

FOR RELEASE:  April 10, 2002
CONTACT:  Chevrolet Communications
PHONE:  1-800-CHEVY-MI

Chevrolet Releases 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette, Adds Magnetic Selective Ride Control to Lineup

  Corvette 50th Anniversary

2003 Chevrolet Corvette

New for 2003

  • 50th Anniversary Special Edition
  • Magnetic Selective Ride Control
  • Standard foglamps, sport seats, power passenger seat, dual zone auto HVAC (coupe and convertible), parcel net and luggage shade (coupe)
  • Medium Spiral Gray Metallic replaces Pewter
  • Special 50th Anniversary exterior badges on production models
  • CRAS child seat hooks

Model Lineup

  Engines Transmissions
  5.7-liter V8 (LS1) 5.7-liter V8 (LS6) 4L60-E
4-speed auto
6-speed manual
Coupe s s o
Convertible s s o
Z06 s s

Key:
Standard         s
Optional          o
Not available  -


DETROIT, MI— For 50 years, the Chevrolet Corvette has been carefully crafted from a precise blend of power, performance, style and comfort. As it celebrates five colorful decades in the automotive business in 2003, Chevrolet’s flagship continues its reign as one of GM’s technology and style bellwethers.

For 2003, Corvette unveils a 50th Anniversary Special Edition, more standard equipment on the coupe and convertible models, and Magnetic Selective Ride Control, the industry’s fastest and most powerful real time damping suspension.

"Few vehicles have had the staying power of Corvette," said Rick Baldick, Corvette brand manager. "We believe much of that success comes from a willingness to embrace advancing technology while remaining true to Corvette’s glorious history. As we celebrate our golden anniversary in 2003, we honor our past and cast a bright eye toward the future."

A golden tribute

The 50th Anniversary Special Edition, available only during the 2003 model year on coupe and convertible models, is a tribute to a half-century of automotive leadership. It includes special Anniversary Red exterior paint, specific badging, Shale interior and champagne-painted anniversary wheels with special emblems. It also features embroidered badges on the seats and floormats, padded door armrests and grips and the convertible features a Shale top. The package includes Magnetic Selective Ride Control.

Magnetic Ride Control

New on the Corvette for 2003, Magnetic Selective Ride Control 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.

Magnetic Selective Ride Control is available on Corvette coupe and convertible models for 2003.

More standard equipment

Corvette adds new standard equipment on coupe and convertible models for 2003, including foglamps, sport seats, power passenger seat, dual zone auto HVAC (on coupe and convertible), and a parcel net and luggage shade on coupe.

CRAS child seat hooks, other new features

For those who bring their little ones along for the ride, the 2003 Corvette includes CRAS child seat hooks on the passenger seat to allow easier child seat connection. The Corvette’s airbag-off switch must be used to disable the passenger-side airbag when using child seats in the vehicle.

During 2003 only, all Corvettes feature a special 50th anniversary emblem on the front and rear. The emblem is silver and features the number "50" with the signature cross-flag design.

New Medium Spiral Gray Metallic paint

In addition, Medium Spiral Gray Metallic exterior paint replaces Pewter for 2003.

# # #

2003 Chevrolet Corvette Specifications

Overview

Model: Chevrolet Corvette Coupe, Convertible, Z06
Body style / driveline: two-door hatchback coupe, convertible and hardtop;
rear-drive, front-engine
Body material: Composite
EPA vehicle class: two-seater
Manufacturing location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Key competitors: Audi TT, BMW Z3, Dodge Viper, Porsche Boxster and
Boxster S, Porsche 911

Engines

  5.7L (LS1) V8 5.7L (LS6) V8
Application: standard on Coupe, Convertible standard on Z06
Type: 5.7-liter OHV 5.7-liter OHV
Block material: cast aluminum cast aluminum
Displacement (cu in / cc): 350 / 5665 350 / 5665
Bore x stroke (in / mm): 3.90 x 3.62 / 99.0 x 92.0 3.90 x 3.62 / 99.0 x 92.0
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum cast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves overhead valve, two valves
  per cylinder per cylinder
Fuel delivery: SFI (sequential port fuel injection) SFI (sequential port fuel injection)
Compression ratio: 10.1:1 10.5:1
Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 350 / 261 @ 5600 405 / 302 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): manual: 375 / 508 @ 4400 400 / 542 @ 4800
  automatic: 360 / 489 @ 4000  
Recommended fuel: 93 octane 93 octane
Maximum engine speed (rpm): 6000 6500
Emission control system: catalytic converter AIR catalytic converter AIR
  4-speed automatic 6-speed manual
Estimated fuel economy    
(mpg city / hwy / combined): 19 / 28 / 23 (manual trans Coupe and Convertible) 19 / 28 / 23 (manual trans Z06)
  18 / 25 / 21 (auto trans Coupe and Convertible)  

Transmissions

  4L60-E 6-speed
manual
6-speed
manual
Application standard on Coupe and Convertible optional on Coupe and Convertible standard on Z06
Gear ratios (:1):      
First: 3.06 2.66 2.97
Second: 1.63 1.78 2.07
Third: 1.00 1.30 1.43
Fourth: 0.70 1.00 1.00
Fifth: 0.74 0.84
Sixth: 0.50 0.56
Reverse: 2.29 2.90 3.28
Final drive ratio (:1): std: 2.73; opt: 3.15 3.42 3.42

Chassis/Suspension

Front: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Rear: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Stabilizer bar diameter (in / mm):  
Standard: .75 / 19.1
F55: .75 / 19.1
Z51: .85 / 21.7
FE4: .85 / 21.7
Traction control: electronic traction control, active handling
Steering: speed sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Ratio: 16.1:1
Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: 2.66
Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m): 40.2 / 12.1

Brakes

Type: power-assisted disc with ABS, front and rear
Rotor diameter x thickness

(in / mm):

front: 12.6 x 1.26 / 325 x 32; rear: 11.8 x 1.0 / 305 x 26
Swept area (sq in / sq cm): front: 263 / 1696; rear: 158 / 1018

Wheels/Tires Coupe and Convertible Z06
Wheels: standard: cast aluminum cast spun aluminum
  optional: forged aluminum high polish  
Size, diameter x width: front: 17 x 8.5;

rear: 18 x 9.5

front: 17 x 9.5;

rear: 18 x 10.5

Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 GS Goodyear Eagle F1 SC
  Extended Mobility Asymmetric Tread
  front: P245/45ZR-17 front: P265/40ZR-17
  rear: P275/40ZR-18 rear: P295/35ZR-18

Dimensions

Exterior Coupe Convertible Z06
Wheelbase (in / mm): 104.5 / 2655.5 104.5 / 2655.5 104.5 / 2655.5
Overall length (in / mm): 179.7 / 4565.6 179.7 / 4565.5 179.7 / 4565.5
Overall width (in / mm): 73.6 / 1869.4 73.6 / 1869.4 73.6 / 1869.4
Overall height (in / mm): 47.7/ 1211.5 47.8 / 1214.7 47.7 / 1211.5
Track (in / mm):      
Front: 61.9 / 1572.3 61.9 / 1572.3 62.4 / 1584.5
Rear: 62.0 / 1574.5 62.0 / 1574.5 62.6 / 1589.5
Base curb weight (lbs / kg): 3246 / 1458 3248 / 1456 3118 / 1414
Weight distribution (% f / r): 51 / 49 51 / 49 53 / 47
Interior Coupe Convertible Z06
Seating capacity (front / rear): 2 / 0 2 / 0 2 / 0
Head room (in / mm): 37.9 / 963 37.9 / 963 37.8 / 960
Leg room (in / mm): 42.7 / 1085 42.7 / 1085 42.7 / 1085
Shoulder room (in / mm): 55.3 / 1405 55.3 / 1405 55.3 / 1405
Hip room (in / mm): 54.2 / 1377 54.2 / 1377 54.2 / 1377

Capacities

Cargo volume (cu ft / liters): Coupe: 24.8 / 702; Convertible: 13.9 / 394;
Z06: 13.3 / 377
Fuel tank capacity

(gals / liters):

18.0 / 68.1
Engine oil w/ filter

(qts / liters):

6.5 / 6.15
Engine coolant (qts / liters): automatic: 11.5 / 10.9; manual: 11.8 / 11.2

Note:
Information shown is current at time of publication.


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