Re: I don't think they will.
Patrick-----
It's amazing how many design elements have become predictable in the Corvette world over the years. For instance, beginning with the C2, one of the major design elements that GM used to differentiate model years was the change in the side "gills". The same design element change was used for C3 model year differentiation. For the C4, the "gill" design became, once again, the design element change which, in large part, differentiated blocks of year models during the 13 year production run. Mercifully, "gill" changes are going to be difficult to execute with the C5.
Now, this "50th Anniversary" model seems to have borrowed similar and predictable design elements used for earlier "anniversary" models. It sure doesn't seem like a lot of "innovation" went into the design of the "50th Anniversary" Corvette. Certainly, it would be difficult for Corvette designers to make a business case for a lot of expensive design element changes for a very limited production car like the Corvette "50th Anniversay" model. However, it would seem like a lot more could have been done with "low buck" design element changes.
As a matter of fact, it appears that there are nothing but "lackluster" changes for the entire 2003 model year. I found one thing stiking in the GM press release:
"During 2003 only, all Corvettes feature a special 50th Anniversary emblem on the front and rear. The emblem is SILVER [emphasis added] and features the number "50" with the signature cross flag design"
Couldn't they, at least, have made the emblem GOLD colored instead of silver colored? I realize that silver was used for the 25th Anniversary emblem and appropriately so, but do they have to be so trapped by past practice that they make a "50th ANNIVERSARY EMBLEM silver-colored instead of gold-colored? How many car marques EVER get to celebrate a GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY?
Patrick-----
It's amazing how many design elements have become predictable in the Corvette world over the years. For instance, beginning with the C2, one of the major design elements that GM used to differentiate model years was the change in the side "gills". The same design element change was used for C3 model year differentiation. For the C4, the "gill" design became, once again, the design element change which, in large part, differentiated blocks of year models during the 13 year production run. Mercifully, "gill" changes are going to be difficult to execute with the C5.
Now, this "50th Anniversary" model seems to have borrowed similar and predictable design elements used for earlier "anniversary" models. It sure doesn't seem like a lot of "innovation" went into the design of the "50th Anniversary" Corvette. Certainly, it would be difficult for Corvette designers to make a business case for a lot of expensive design element changes for a very limited production car like the Corvette "50th Anniversay" model. However, it would seem like a lot more could have been done with "low buck" design element changes.
As a matter of fact, it appears that there are nothing but "lackluster" changes for the entire 2003 model year. I found one thing stiking in the GM press release:
"During 2003 only, all Corvettes feature a special 50th Anniversary emblem on the front and rear. The emblem is SILVER [emphasis added] and features the number "50" with the signature cross flag design"
Couldn't they, at least, have made the emblem GOLD colored instead of silver colored? I realize that silver was used for the 25th Anniversary emblem and appropriately so, but do they have to be so trapped by past practice that they make a "50th ANNIVERSARY EMBLEM silver-colored instead of gold-colored? How many car marques EVER get to celebrate a GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY?
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