Flush mounted audio and climate controls also lend to this exacting execution. Additionally, the instrument cluster gauges have been improved to deliver better legibility and an optional DVD-based navigation system keeps you informed via a 6.5-in. touch screen. Another option, dual-mode head up display, projects vehicle speed and other information onto the windshield. Two modes – Street and Track – can be selected to accommodate various driving circumstances. On the road, Street mode projects data such as speed, turn signal operation, audio information, and high beam use. Track mode, the one that gives the thumbs-up to enthusiasts, shows a tachometer, speedometer, engine condition gauges, and even a lateral accelerometer.
All of this instrumentation and projection attending to the powertrain indicate that the engine is something special. For 2005, an all-new 6-liter aluminum small-block V8 is wedged into the engine compartment. The LS2 mill delivers 400 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, making it the most powerful standard small-block V8 engine ever fitted in a Vette. Features include flat top pistons, revised cylinder heads, 10.9:1 compression, a 90-mm throttle body, and a 6,500-rpm redline.
This year, a 6-speed manual Tremec transmission arrives as standard equipment. Gearing of this tranny is altered when Z51 performance option is checked, providing better acceleration in the lower gears and higher fuel economy in 5th gear. It also gets a transmission cooler to help the unit sustain high-intensity driving over long periods. Either Tremec has been revised to include shorter throws through a smaller shift lever. Computer Aided Gear Selection is meant to improve fuel efficiency.
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