Yet still the most expensive, what upgrades are planned as it goes into its 5th model year. I'd like to see the XLR go onto the aluminum chassis.

 

AFAIK, the XLR already uses the aluminum chassis.

 

Nope, only the Z06 does. Remember the XLR came out even before the C6. C6 was rumored to have the aluminum chassis but they saved it for the Z06

 

A bunch of googling indicates that it has the hydroformed steel frame rails, but that the cross members and all of the suspension components are aluminum or magnesium.

 

I thought XLR was on C5 chassis?

 

Nope, C6. I suppose that since the XLR came out before the C6, you could say that the C6 is on the XLR chassis.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I was always baffled that XLR wasn't redone with C6.

 

It definetly needs attention. That market is extremely finicky.

 

Can't use the aluminum chassis due to the drop top...same reason Z06's aren't targas...they need the rigidity not provided by the lighter weight aluminum frames.

 

Doug, the Z06s going down the line look almost identical to the coupes except they have aluminum extensions that come out(forward) from the hoop that forms the b-pillars. I think that GM could do the aluminum targa but I don't know how much rigidity the rear 'hoop' adds. It may be possible especially give that the XLR doesn't have to be able to handle the power that the Z06 does.

 

I was under the impression that corvette and XLR are the sixth generation Y-body...

I am pretty sure Doug Harden is right though... an aluminum XLR would have serious problems with doors not closing properly and panel gaps going crazy after a few years... take the top off of a car and it likes to cave in on itself... aluminum won't help that at all...

anyways, if they have the cash sitting around, the XLR could use a refresh pretty soon...

 

they could make it handle better and give it some more power.

 

The Z06's have a bolted in magnesium targa structure that forms the top side of the chassis. Believe me, the engineers would have a heart attack if you removed it.

Jim the Nomad's right, doors wouldn't open and eventually the frame would fail.

 

Ive never been too crazy about the XLR styling. The C6 Vette on the other hand

 

wow its that old already?