Chevrolet have announced that a 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition will make it's debut on January the 21st and will go on sale this summer. This is big news for we are talking about the first Chevy ever, that can be both a collector and a commemorative edition at the same time Yes, Chevrolet are celebrating their 60th birthday this year and what better way to mark the occasion than producing a convertible, more powerful than the gravity of Jupiter.

Under the hood one can find an LS7, 7.0 liter (427 cubic-inches) engine, rated at 505 horsepower (377 kW) which sends 470 lb.-ft. of torque (637 Nm) trough a compulsory 6-speed manual. The connecting rods in the LS7 are all titanium and so are the intake valves while high-flow cylinder heads and a dry-sump oil pump add to the performance. The 427 is rear-wheel driven just like the Z06, the battery is at the back for better weight distribution and it comes with a Magnetic Selective Ride Control so the suspension is clever too. The front 19-inch and back 20-inch machine-face Cup wheels (ZR1 Black Cup or chromed also available) are fitted with ZR1 Michelin PS2 tires. To save weight, the hood, fenders and floor panels are all made from carbon fiber. That diet has resulted in the Corvette weighing only 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg) which by itself means a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64 – or one horsepower for every 6.64 pounds of vehicle mass. That's more power than any other convertible can offer including the Ferrari California Convertible, the Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder, the Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible and even the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Predictions suggest a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of just 3.8 second and top speeds exceeding 190 mph.

Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition (2013)

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For the commemorative spec on any Chevrolet, one does need to opt for the 60th Anniversary Package which includes a color theme of "Arctic White" on the outside with Blue Diamond leather seats inside and gray-painted brake calipers. Convertibles will also get a blue rooftop. Other enhancements include a ZR1 rear spoiler, a "CFZ" carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels and branding on various places to let you know you are driving a novelty. If one feels the need to spend even more money a graphics package includes racing stripes that slice trough the whole car while a Build Experience option allows customer participation in the construction process of the vehicle... which, doesn't make any sense if the customer is as inapt as me when it comes to technology.

Here is a full spec-list of the 427: Overview

Overview
Model: Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition
Body styles / driveline: two-door convertible; rear-wheel drive
Construction: composite body panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components
Manufacturing location: Bowling Green, Ky.

Engines

Engines 7.0L V-8 LS7 (Z06)
Displacement (cu in / cc): 427 / 7008
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 4.125 x 4 / 104.8 x 101.6
Block material: cast aluminum
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery: SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm): 505 / 377 @ 6300*
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 470 / 637 @ 4800*
Recommended fuel: premium required
Estimated fuel economy (city / hwy): 15 / 24 (no guzzler tax)

Transmission

Transmission six-speed manual
Application: std.
Gear ratios (:1):
First: 2.66
Second: 1.78
Third: 1.30
Fourth: 1.00
Fifth: 0.74
Sixth: 0.50
Reverse: 2.90
Final drive ratio: 3.42

Chassis/Suspension

Front: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber; Magnetic Selective Ride Control
Rear: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber; Magnetic Selective Ride Control
Traction control: electronic traction control; Active Handling

Brakes

Type: front and rear power-assisted disc with ABS with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors;
Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm): front: 14 x 1.3 / 355 x 32 rear: 13.4 x 1 / 340 x 26
Brake swept area (sq in / mm): front: 309 / 1994 rear: 269 / 1735

Wheels/Tires

Wheel size: front: 19-inch x 10-inch aluminum rear: 20-inch x 12-inch aluminum
Tires: front: 285/30ZR19 rear: 335/25ZR20

Dimensions Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm): 105.7 / 2685
Overall length (in / mm): 175.6 / 4460
Overall width (in / mm): 75.9 / 1928
Overall height (in / mm): 48.7 / 1236
Curb weight (lb / kg): 3355/ 1522
Weight distribution (% front / rear): 50 / 50

Interior

Seating capacity 2
Interior volume (cu ft / L): 52 / 1475
Headroom (in / mm): 38 / 962
Legroom (in / mm): 43 / 1092
Shoulder room (in / mm): 55 / 1397
Hip room (in / mm): 54 / 1371

Capacities

Cargo volume (cu ft / L): 11 / 295 (top up); 7.5 / 212 (top down)
Fuel tank (gal / L): 18 / 68.1
Engine oil (qt / L): 10.5 / 9.9

Source: Chevrolet