First Z06 mule spotted on trailer!

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Looks like wheel flairs on all 4 corners and perhaps a unique high-rounded rear fascia, though it's hard to tell from the camo...

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17626

The flairs look pretty sweet though!

Fender flares! That is one fad that needs to get back in at GM. Man can you imagine a Z06 and a CTS Super V that both have them? It will (that's not an if statement) be the hardest decision I'll ever have to make!

Originally posted by Chuck!
Fender flares! That is one fad that needs to get back in at GM.


I couldn't agree more with this statement. The GTO needs them more than gonorrhea needs penicillin.

fender flares are a nice touch
gives me a little more faith that the camaro will turn out nicely too
o jeez, i just turned this into another camaro discussion:rolleyes: ;)

Originally posted by unvc92camarors
o jeez, i just turned this into another camaro discussion:rolleyes: ;)

...and on a Camaro message board :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :death: ;)

YES! Im not the only one that thinks that fender flares are needed on more GM cars!! The GTO deffinatly needs them.

Its not a really great pic, buy you can deffinatly see the fender flares.
Hope the Camaro gets fender flares.

new z06 is gonna own so much!!! I love seeing all these spy pics of the car, then the road test ones, then the actual car. Without the net I would probably be cluless as to what the new vette would look like till i see one on the street. I cannot wait till the first spy shots of the new camaro start rolling out now!!!!!!!!

Fender flares. :cool:

Seeing 5th Gen test cars. :cool: (also with fender flares!)

BTW, if you guys remember months ago, we saw pictures of a test C6 with fender flares bolted on. This ain't the first time. ;)

Originally posted by Big Als Z
YES! Im not the only one that thinks that fender flares are needed on more GM cars!! The GTO deffinatly needs them.

Its not a really great pic, buy you can deffinatly see the fender flares.
Hope the Camaro gets fender flares.

pretty much summed it up exactly. hopefully someone else will see it again and take more pics of it

When I went to LimeRock Park I snapped this picture of the GTO they were running. The flares are pretty exaggerated and would never end up on a production car but it gives an idea of what it might look like.

http://www.pcpagedesign.com/images/LimeRock04%20004.jpg




Colin

Those flares look AWFUL.
That's one of the things I like so much about the 4th gen Camaro body style, the body is form fitted over the chassis. The fenders are sculpted and CLEAN, without those hideous repeated wheel arch lines like the Mustang. YECH. These tacked on flares are just gross, like the ones on the Corvette GS ten years ago.

You know what it kind of looks like to me? The rear end covers usually will have a mesh semi-transparent cover over the tail lights for obvious reasons.

However, the tail lights look very similar to the Callaway C4's.

ex:

http://www.cruisenights.com/callaway/images/90rear.jpg

http://cccf3.free.fr/images/2002-suisse-03s.jpg

http://ultra.cto.us.edu.pl/pub/Multimedia/Pictures/Cars/Chevrolet/Corvette/1993.CallawayCR1.01.jpg

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Maybe not. (jmho) I thought those tails were real ugly put together like that. imo

Originally posted by graham
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Maybe not. (jmho) I thought those tails were real ugly put together like that. imo

I didn't like the Callaway look too much either. The front end bumper cover made the car look like a catfish to me.

Those dender flares are ok in my book! Esp. if it allows for a meatier wheel and tire combo. The recent 4th Gen Penske Camaro looked awesome, largely 'cuz of the use of flares and bulges.

The presence of those plastic flares on the early mules does not necessarily mean that they will be on the production version. Some of you seem to be envisioning the '96 Grand Sport style flares (necessary to cover the wider rubber; I believe there is a rule - federal, or perhaps present in some states like MI - that tires cannot stick out wider than the bodywork). The ZR1 got specific, wider rear quarter panels to cover the wider tires out back; the Grand Sport used regular C4 quarters and used flares to achieve the width. So there is precedent for both options. Keep in mind that the new Z06 is going to be a bigger departure from the base car than the current Z06 is from the base C5. :) That's all I'm saying.

EDIT: Just looked at the pic, and it is hard to tell ( ;) ) in the pic if it is a specific rear fender or a plastic flare. :) When you guys were typing "fender flares", I took that to mean a plastic extension (like on the ZR2 S10 or Corvette Grand Sport, for example). Apparently, at least some of you meant flares in the actual bodywork, like the V8 Audi A6 vs. the regular A6. Which, of course, would be analogous to the ZR1's specific rear bodywork option, not the Grand Sport's plastic extension option. :)

Originally posted by 96_Camaro_B4C
The presence of those plastic flares on the early mules does not necessarily mean that they will be on the production version. Some of you seem to be envisioning the '96 Grand Sport style flares (necessary to cover the wider rubber; I believe there is a rule - federal, or perhaps present in some states like MI - that tires cannot stick out wider than the bodywork). The ZR1 got specific, wider rear quarter panels to cover the wider tires out back; the Grand Sport used regular C4 quarters and used flares to achieve the width. So there is precedent for both options. Keep in mind that the new Z06 is going to be a bigger departure from the base car than the current Z06 is from the base C5. :) That's all I'm saying.


All very true.

But, if we are to assume that the "Z06" will have meatier tires in at least the rear, that would require some sort of 'flare' or wider body work.

Something has to give.

With so much talk of the "Z06" being visually distinguishable from the base car, I wouldn't be surprised if it were actual different panels instead of flares. (ie. The "flares" could be molded into the different panels if they liked the look rather than tacking them onto the standard body panels.)

Originally posted by Darth Xed
All very true.

But, if we are to assume that the "Z06" will have meatier tires in at least the rear, that would require some sort of 'flare' or wider body work.

Something has to give. ... Yeah, read my edit. You were typing your response as I was typing my edit. :) I certainly agree (and was never implying otherwise) that it will have something to cover the wider tires. I just meant it didn't have to be plastic "flares", which is what I was picturing at first without seeing the pic (I didn't click the link, because you said I might need to register, and because I already know what the Z06's answer is ;) ).

That would be sweet if the new Z06 had flares. I love the looks of fender flares. Gives the car a more aggressive look. And whats up with the rear? Seems they made some changes to the shape of the rear end as well. It seems to bulge a little.

Originally posted by Z28Marcus
The recent 4th Gen Penske Camaro looked awesome, largely 'cuz of the use of flares and bulges.

I agree totally. I loved the look of that car! Wish there was a way you could get a set of those body panels.

Ideally, purpose-built race cars DON'T HAVE FLARES.
http://speed.supercars.net/boardpics/2004-5-11/2349153-CSLc.jpg

The Z06 should have a body that aerodynamically covers whatever front and rear tires they stuff underneath. Added on flares (whether tacked on or blended in) spoil the aero and look CHEAP and UGLY. Do I detect rice tendencies on the board?!

Originally posted by Dan Baldwin
Ideally, purpose-built race cars DON'T HAVE FLARES.
http://speed.supercars.net/boardpics/2004-5-11/2349153-CSLc.jpg

The Z06 should have a body that aerodynamically covers whatever front and rear tires they stuff underneath. Added on flares (whether tacked on or blended in) spoil the aero and look CHEAP and UGLY. Do I detect rice tendencies on the board?!


How would they be "ricey"?

They'd have a function... keeping the tires covered up.

Originally posted by Dan Baldwin
IDo I detect rice tendencies on the board?!

Riiiight.... :rolleyes:

If the flares are functional in that they allow the use of more aggressive meats then it's hardly 'rice'. I agree about crappy aftermarket tacked on flares but if these are quality OEM molded one piece panels that differ from the rgeular prodn. article, then I see no problem.

I dont think he's looked at the CTSv race car ever ;)

I have seen the CTSv race car, I guess it's no uglier than the roadgoing CTSv (which is pretty foul-looking, all tall and slab-sided and angular, BLEH!).

It is preferable from a pure performance standpoint to cover the tires with basic shape of the bodywork, NOT with flares. The Z06 should reflect this, IMO, a la C5-R. Race car builders use flares only if they aren't allowed to change the shape of the body to bring the fenders out to cover the tires.

Flares (the kind we're talking about) hurt aero and look CHEEZEE. Again, one of the things I LOVE about the 4th gen's styling is that it's CLEAN. Smooth and sculpted rather than blocky with busy styling gimmickery.

Originally posted by Dan Baldwin
I have seen the CTSv race car, I guess it's no uglier than the roadgoing CTSv (which is pretty foul-looking, all tall and slab-sided and angular, BLEH!).

It is preferable from a pure performance standpoint to cover the tires with basic shape of the bodywork, NOT with flares. The Z06 should reflect this, IMO, a la C5-R. Race car builders use flares only if they aren't allowed to change the shape of the body to bring the fenders out to cover the tires.

Flares (the kind we're talking about) hurt aero and look CHEEZEE. Again, one of the things I LOVE about the 4th gen's styling is that it's CLEAN. Smooth and sculpted rather than blocky with busy styling gimmickery.

Well, you seem to be in the minority on both counts. The CTS seems to be selling like hot cakes, and the 4th gens didnt. I understand its not your style, but IMO slight fender flares give the car a much more agressive and powerful look.

Originally posted by Big Als Z
Well, you seem to be in the minority on both counts. The CTS seems to be selling like hot cakes, and the 4th gens didnt. I understand its not your style, but IMO slight fender flares give the car a much more agressive and powerful look.

No doubt about it, I'm in the minority! Given the apparent tastes of the MAJORITY, I'm glad of it. Gimmicky styling usually gets by on its novelty for a few years (TT, New Beetle, etc.). I love the 4th gens precisely because the styling ISN'T gimmicky (OK, maybe the mirror farings on the Camaro are), just nice and shapely.
Flares are not my "style" because they aren't good for looks or ultimate performance. Baubles festooned onto cars purely for a "much more aggressive and powerful LOOK " don't appeal to me.

But I'm not a typical F-body owner:)

Flares = Aggressive musclecar look. To me they belong on the Camaro and could make the Corvette look better also. 4th's would have benefitted from them too. Want smooth and clean? Buy something else that isn't an intended muscle/sportscar. ;)

Musclecars and Pony cars by and large didn't have fender flares. Pure sports cars (360 Modena, Porsche GT, Lotus Elise, Acura NSX) typically don't have flares either, because the body shapes were correctly designed to cover the tires.

To me it's pathetic to have to resort to tacked on shapes to make a car look "aggressive". Just like a big snake decal on the Mustang II "King Cobra" and the tacked on spoilers on mid-late 70s Corvettes. A pure performance car shouldn't have flares just to please the kiddies;)

M3, G8 concept, Sunoco Camaro concept, and the Holden coupe 4 all look good to me with flared fenders.

That CTSv prototype looked sweet too.

UPDATE:

A high res pic:

http://www.corvettesbyrickdaniel.com/C6Z06INFO.html

Flares are NOT bolted on, but are molded into the body.

Also a decent look at the wheels, if they are the productions wheels... look like a C5 Z06 wheel theme applied to the C6 wheel...

And, the taillamps look like they may be split in the middle, with the top being red, and the bottom being amber...

Not sure I like that at all, though it could be the cammo playing tricks.

One thing that is odd is that the rear glass doesnt look like it is a FRC Corvette?

Originally posted by Big Als Z
One thing that is odd is that the rear glass doesnt look like it is a FRC Corvette?

Ya, the rumor is that the C6 "Z06" will have a similar (same?) roof line to the coupe, but will be much more distinctive visually from the base car than the C5 Z06 was as a whole....

Looks like the Z06 rear brake vents are back too. :cool:

For the record I hope the taillights arent split. That would be a very odd looking setup.

it looks like the tail lights are the same as on the other c6s, there must be something else being hidden there....doesnt the trunk line look a lot different? I know its been discussed that its possibly just the air lifting up the camo, but it would appear to have a lip spoiler of some kind.

It looks to me like the whole rear end will be different. Seems like it will be like the C4 curved back on the ZR1 as compared to the regular, more angular back of the coupe in 89'-91'. There is also a contour line on the rear facia that is showing through the camo that is not present on the base car. I think the side vents in back of the front tire will have more definition to them as well. It looks very promising to me. I wonder how much weight they would have saved if they stuck with the notchback body style.

Originally posted by SFireGT98
Looks like the Z06 rear brake vents are back too. :cool:

For the record I hope the taillights arent split. That would be a very odd looking setup.

I don't see the rear brake vents :confused:

Originally posted by )2overt SS
I don't see the rear brake vents :confused:

u cant really see the ones in the front either because theyre all taped off and shiz, thats how they do those things...havent u seen any of these spy pics b4?

Originally posted by )2overt SS
I don't see the rear brake vents :confused:

In front of the LR wheel, it looks like there is a black form following the curve of the body. May just be a trick of the picture.