Callaway C16 Cabrio: First Look

Motoring Channel Staff - 20/Mar/2007

New York, USA — Fans of big horsepower, big money American muscle cars will welcome the announcement that Callaway Cars will unveil the C16 Cabrio, the company’s convertible variant of the limited production C16 supercar, at the New York International Auto Show.

Callaway has a history of modifying the engines of Corvettes - upon which the C16 Cabrio is based - and was started by one Reeves Callaway, whose motor racing career was cut short due to the high cost of competing. 

Callaway has even had a hand in creating big kilowatts for Australian vehicles when it was tuning the 8-cylinder 5.7-litre LS1 engines early in the decade, for the 300kWHSV GTS.

Soon Callaway will give driving enthusiasts the opportunity to experience ultra-high performance levels in a convertible body style with the advent of the C16 Cabrio. Offered with 6-speed manual or paddle-shift automatic transmissions, its new vehicle can be ordered with either standard 418kW (560hp) or optional 460kW (616hp) engines.

The C16 Cabrio, like the C16 Coupe, was drawn and modeled by designer Paul Deutschman who has a twenty-year portfolio of Callaway designs. Architect of the “Callaway Look” – from its 409km/h (254mph) Sledgehammer and Le Mans race cars to the current C16 models – Paul has created a stunning new design while retaining unmistakable Callaway lineage.

"With this car, we’ve maintained the C16’s class-leading performance, while creating a gorgeous Cabrio version, based on one of the best sports car platforms available anywhere," said company founder Reeves Callaway. 

"In true Callaway tradition, it incorporates our race-proven technologies, painstaking testing and validation efforts, and expert craftsmanship in an arresting and appealing style," added Callaway.

The C16's engine is a supercharged V8, with a 6.0-litre capacity. According to the American tuner, the small-block V8 engine provides world-class power, producing 418kW (560hp) @ 6200rpm and 716Nm (529 lb.ft) of torque @ 4750rpm. 

And then there's the optional Performance Package raises the bar to 460kW (616hp) and 788Nm (582 lb.ft) of torque, propelling the paddle-shifted Cabrio from zero to 96km/h in just 3.5 seconds. The quarter-mile acceleration tests consistently record low 11 second elapsed times, while the maximum speed of the C16 Cabrio is estimated at just over 320km/h (200mph). 

The forced induction V8 engine essentially gives the Callaway C16 Cabrio the muscle to outpace cars like the Lamborghini Murcielago and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

Inside the C16 cockpit, door sill panels, dash pad, and steering wheel are upgraded and carry signature Callaway badging. The optional 'Deutschleder' package completely retools the interior in fine German leather and Alcantara, featuring seats manufactured for Callaway by Recaro.
Potential buyers can choose exterior and interior colors to suit individual taste, as each C16 Cabrio is built to order, serialized and identified by its build plaque.

The handling precision of the C16 comes from newly developed Callaway/Eibach Multi-Pro coil-over suspension. This joint development effort produced an advanced spring/damper system, featuring 10-position compression and rebound adjustability, allowing the driver to customise settings for specific conditions, whether the hard-boiled nature of the race track, or the more sedate surroundings of the open road.

To bring the Callaway C16 Cabrio from 200+ mph to standstill, and to help negotiate the tightest tracks, the C16 utilises a StopTech brake system engineered to Callaway specifications, which included 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers gripping 355mm x 32mm rotors.

Callaway/Dymag wheels weigh approximately half that of their aluminium counterparts, providing significantly reduced unsprung weight for improved acceleration, cornering and braking. These TUV- and DOT-certified wheels feature forged magnesium spiders surrounded by durable carbon fiber rims and measure 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear. Another of Callaway’s technology partners, Yokohama Tyres, developed their 'AdvanSport' specifically for the C16 in 285/30 ZR19 front and 325/25 ZR20 rear sizes.

Pricing for the C16 Cabrio will start at US$128,765. Callaway C16 components are also available individually for 2005 - 2007 Corvettes through Callaway authorised retailers and installers.

Related articles:
- Callaway C16 (2006)