The materials used in the C6 interior have received significant upgrades, most notably on the instrument panel and doors. The covering on these components is "cast-skin foam-in-place," which is soft to the touch, low gloss, and has the appearance of genuine leather. Chevrolet claims that this new and advanced material has double the life of conventional panel materials, and it better resists fade and sun damage. There is also aluminum trim to accentuate the features and details.
The C6 seats will be both more supportive and comfortable while becoming slightly lighter-weight-thanks to an aluminum base-than the C5 seat. The Sport Seat will have adjustable lumbar support plus head and torso side-impact airbags that are built into the side bolsters. One feature that will be warmly welcomed by anyone who lives in regions with "real" winters is heated seats, which will be available for the first time in a Corvette.
The steering wheel has been redesigned as has the instrument panel. The dual-cockpit theme has been retained, but the grab handle on the passenger side is history. A full-function OnStar onboard navigation system is finally an option for Corvette. Instrument lighting is provided by hybrid (and highly trick) organic light emitting diodes (OLED). DIC, Driver Information Center, readouts will also utilize OLED technology for better readability. The optional Heads-Up Display (HUD) now has street and track modes; in "track" there is a large tach and a real-time lateral accelerometer that will display maximum Gs achieved in turns.
Other changes and improvements include a decent-quality cupholder that actually holds two cups and more stowage space in the center console. The console lid also receives a much-needed upgrade in latch and hinge quality. Storage pockets will be found in the door panels, and the hinges on the glovebox door are damped so the door doesn't flop open like the C5's (or a Cavalier). The side storage pockets in the rear cargo area are now hinged and better integrated into the floor; the capacious centerwell is gone-sacrificed to make room for the new exhaust system with mufflers that run front-back rather than across as in the C5.
There is a plethora of subtle but significant upgrades to the powertrain and chassis. Most notable, in my humble opinion, is the changes/additions to the Z51 Performance Package- which will no longer be "just" an upgraded suspension. Z51-equipped C6s will also benefit from new Super Car ( la the current Z06) tires, in an extended-mobility configuration. The brakes are significantly larger than standard to better handle thermal events (a polite way of saying they'll be much less prone to warping under severe usage than the C5's brakes). Six-speed Z51s will receive the same more aggressively geared T56 as the current Z06, and all six-speeds get improved synchros that are claimed to reduce throws by 10 percent. All automatics will be an improved and beefed-up 4L65-E with "Performance Algorithm Shifting," which is purported to make an automatic-equipped C6 a "willing accomplice for performance driving and hard cornering." As the owner of an automatic C5 (six-speeds suck in Los Angeles area commuter traffic), I say, "It's about time!"
This is by necessity an overview of the new Corvette. As Chevrolet releases more information and finalized details, we will publish them. And as soon as we are offered an opportunity to drive the new C6, we will give you a comprehensive report. From what I have seen and heard to-date, I am very optimistic about and quite impressed by the next-generation Corvette. It's not "all new," and it's not revolutionary. It strikes me as a highly evolved C5, and, in some respects, seems like a C5 3/4. But whatever one chooses to call it, the C6 promises to set a new and higher standard of all-around excellence as the first 21st-century Corvette.