2009 Corvette ZR1

[egk2]

All that research and it still has the same boring ass horribly made interior... good god GM, the C6 interior is awful

You don't buy a car like this for the interior but I do agree American car makers as a whole cannot design good interiors for shit.

That being said, this thing is going to be a beast. You'd be kidding yourself if you said you wouldn't rock it.

[Jonathan M3]

Lose the chrome on the wheels and the gimicky windowed hood and I think it would look 10x better. I've always loved the Z06s, still the best performance/dollar car there is.

[egk2]

The ZR1's basic stats:

* All-new LS9 supercharged 6.2L V-8 targeted at producing at least 100 horsepower per liter, or 620 horsepower (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb.-ft. of torque (823 Nm)
* Six-speed, close-ratio, race-hardened manual transmission
* New, high-capacity dual-disc clutch
* Higher-capacity and specific-diameter axle half-shafts; enhanced torque tube
* Specific suspension tuning provides more than 1g cornering grip
* Twenty-spoke 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
* Michelin Pilot Sport 2 - P285/30ZR19 in front and P335/25ZR20 in the rear - developed specifically for the ZR1
* Standard carbon-ceramic, drilled disc 15.5-inch-diameter (394-mm) in the front and 15-inch-diameter (380-mm) in the rear
* Larger brake with substantially increased pad area
* Standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control with track-level suspension
* Wider, front fenders with ZR1-specific dual vents
* Carbon-fiber hood with a raised, polycarbonate window - offering a view of the intercooler below it
* Carbon-fiber roof panel, roof bow, front fascia splitter and rocker moldings with clear-coated, exposed carbon-fiber weave
* ZR1-specific full-width rear spoiler with raised outboard sections
* Specific gauge cluster with boost gauge (also displayed on the head-up display) and 220-mph (370 km/h) readout
* Only two options: chrome wheels and a "luxury" package
* Curb weight of approximately 3,350 pounds (1,519 kg)

The specialized components of the new ZR1 work harmoniously to deliver the most powerful and fastest automobile ever produced by General Motors. Performance estimates will be announced closer to vehicle's summer 2008 launch.

"Preliminary testing shows the ZR1 builds on the highly respected in every performance category, from acceleration and braking, to cornering grip and top speed," said Peper. "It all boils down to the power-to-weight ratio and the ZR1's is exceptional - better than the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and even the Lamborghini LP640. In fact, the ZR1 is expected to be the first production Corvette to achieve a top speed of at least 200 mph."

Supercharged LS9 engine

The new LS9 6.2L small-block engine is the power plant the supports the ZR1's performance capability. The enabler of the LS9's performance and refinement is a large, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger with a new, four-lobe rotor design. It is augmented with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance.

A sixth-generation supercharger developed by Eaton helps the LS9 make big power and torque at lower rpm and carries it in a wide arc to 6,600 rpm, as it pushes enough air to help the engine maintain power through the upper levels of the rpm band - the area where supercharged performance tends to diminish. Heavy-duty and lightweight reciprocating components enable the engine's confident high-rpm performance.

The LS9 is hand-assembled at GM's Performance Build Center, in Wixom, Mich., and incorporates specialty processes typically seen in racing engines to produce a highly refined and precise product. For example, cast iron cylinder liners are inserted in the aluminum block and are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed. The deck plate simulates the pressure and minute dimensional variances applied to the block when the are installed, ensuring a higher degree of accuracy that promotes maximum cylinder head sealing, piston ring fit and overall engine performance.

Transmission and axle

The LS9 engine is backed by a new, stronger six-speed manual transmission and a twin-disc clutch that provide exceptional clamping power, while maintaining an easy clutch effort. ZR1-specific gearing in the transmission provides a steep first-gear ratio that helps launch the and top speed is achieved in sixth gear - a change from the fifth-gear top-speed run-outs in the manual-transmission Corvette and Corvette Z06.

As the term implies, the twin-disc clutch system employs a pair of discs, which spreads out the engine's torque load over a wider area. This enables tremendous clamping power when the clutch is engaged, while also helping to dissipate heat better and extend the life of the clutch.

The twin-disc clutch system also contributes to the ZR1's exceptional driving quality, with smooth and easy shifting. The twin-disc system's design enables a 25-percent reduction in inertia, thanks to smaller, 260-mm plates, corresponding to a pedal effort that is similar to the Corvette Z06's 290-mm single-disc system.

The rear axle also is stronger in the ZR1 and features asymmetrical axle-shaft diameters that were developed after careful testing to provide optimal torque management. The axles are also mounted on a more horizontal plane that correlates with the wider width of the rear wheels and tires.

Ride and handling

The ZR1 is built on the same aluminum-intensive chassis as the Corvette Z06 and features similar independent SLA front and rear suspensions, with aluminum upper and lower . Where the ZR1 differs is the suspension tuning, which was optimized for the car's steamroller-wide front and rear tires.

Magnetic Selective Ride Control is standard and tuned specifically for the ZR1. The system's ability to deliver a compliant ride with nearly instantaneous damping adjustments enabled engineers to develop a surprisingly supple ride quality in a supercar that still delivers cornering grip of more than 1g.

From a high-performance perspective, Magnetic Selective Ride Control helps the rear axle remain planted during launch for smooth, hop-free acceleration. It also helps suppress axle movement when cornering on broken or uneven pavement.

Brakes, wheels and tires

Commensurate with the ZR1's engine output is the braking system, which is headlined by carbon-ceramic brake . Found on only a few exotics and more expensive supercars, carbon-ceramic brake rotors are made of a carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic silicon carbide material . Their advantage comes in low mass and resistance to wear and heat. In fact, the rotors should never show any corrosion or require replacement for the life of the vehicle, when used in normal driving.

The vented and cross-drilled rotors on the ZR1 measure 15.5 inches (394 mm) in diameter in the front and 15 inches (380 mm) in diameter in the rear - making them among the largest carbon-ceramic rotors available on any production vehicle.

Clamping down on the high-tech rotors are six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers, each painted a ZR1-exclusive blue. The front pads are equivalent in size to the largest on any production car with a single-pad design - double that of the Corvette Z06's 70-sq.-cm. front pads.

The brakes are visible through the ZR1's exclusive wheels: 20-spoke alloy rims that measure 19 inches in diameter in the front and 20 inches in the rear. They come standard with a bright, Sterling Silver paint finish and chrome versions are optional. The wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires developed specifically for the ZR1, measuring P285/30ZR19 in front and P335/25ZR20 in the rear.

Exclusive exterior

The ZR1 is instantly recognizable, with perhaps the most identifiable feature a raised, all-carbon-fiber hood that incorporates a clear, polycarbonate window. The window provides a view of the top of the engine's intercooler, with the legend "LS9 SUPERCHARGED" embossed on the left and right sides, and an with the Corvette crossed flags logo debossed at the front.

The underside of the hood has an exposed carbon-fiber-weave. Exposed carbon-fiber is used on the roof, roof bow, rocker molding and front splitter. These exterior components are protected by a specially developed glossy, UV-resistant clear coat that resists yellowing and wear.

Widened, carbon-fiber front fenders with specific, dual lower vents, and a full-width, body-color rear spoiler incorporating the center high-mounted stop lamp, are also unique to the ZR1. All of the exterior features of the car were developed to enhance high-speed stability and control.

Interior details
The ZR1's interior builds on the brand's dual-cockpit heritage, with high-quality materials, craftsmanship and functionality that support the premium-quality experience promised by the car's performance. The ZR1's cabin differs from the Corvette and Corvette Z06 with the following:

* ZR1-logo sill plates
* ZR1-logo headrest embroidery
* Specific with "ZR1" logo on the tachometer and a 220-mph (370 km/h) readout on the speedometer
* Boost gauge added to the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display

[hugh jass]

[QUOTE=egk2;924123]You don't buy a car like this for the interior but I do agree American car makers as a whole cannot design good interiors for shit.
QUOTE]

the hell you don't. if you're paying that much for a performance car, it damn well better have a nice interior and not the parts bin bullshit interiors that gm puts in ALL of their cars.

[egk2]

[quote=hugh jass;924136]

You don't buy a car like this for the interior but I do agree American car makers as a whole cannot design good interiors for shit.
QUOTE]

the hell you don't. if you're paying that much for a performance car, it damn well better have a nice interior and not the parts bin bullshit interiors that gm puts in ALL of their cars.

I've seen worse interiors in cars that cost twice as much.

[nando]

[QUOTE=hugh jass;924136]

You don't buy a car like this for the interior but I do agree American car makers as a whole cannot design good interiors for shit.
QUOTE]

the hell you don't. if you're paying that much for a performance car, it damn well better have a nice interior and not the parts bin bullshit interiors that gm puts in ALL of their cars.

it's a bargain priced super car. it's not supposed to be a veyron or a bentley or something that you would never push to it's limits. How much you want to bet a lot of these end up with gutted interiors, race seats and cages? Why pay more for a snazzy interior when you're just going to track it and drive it on weekends?

[hugh jass]

[QUOTE=egk2;924137]

I've seen worse interiors in cars that cost twice as much.

such as? please show me.

[blunttech]

[QUOTE=hugh jass;924142]

such as? please show me.

Go wade thru some swampland and try to save a california condor you fucking treehugger . leave the automotive shit to those who know. if you drove one you wouldnt care what it looked like. i bet you love the interior in your e30 up on jackstands. enjoy it because it will never make it out of the garage under its own power
eat an unfinished dick

[FredK]

come on egk2, hugh jass is about to crack!

[Jean]

Once again, Performance Bargain. If it had audi /bmw / ferrari type of interior it would cost much more. I like the c6 interior, it's deff. an improvement over the c5...

when I drove the c5 for a couple of days, I didn't care too much about it's interior to tell you the truth.

imho

[egk2]

damn that was funny

[bjhcamaro]

Its projected to be the first factory corvette to reach 200 plus speeds as well as having a better horse power to weight ratio than the lambo LP640 and the Porsche GT2. Its essentially a budget exotic car. Think of the tunning capabilities smaller blower pulley, full exhaust, and a tune 800 plus horsepower.

[hugh jass]

[QUOTE=blunt;924145]

Go wade thru some swampland and try to save a california condor you fucking treehugger . leave the automotive shit to those who know. if you drove one you wouldnt care what it looked like. i bet you love the interior in your e30 up on jackstands. enjoy it because it will never make it out of the garage under its own power
eat an unfinished dick

omg lulz

[AndrewBird]

I agree on the interior, but as others stated, I wouldn't care. I would care if I daily drove it, but I wouldn't, so...

And it IS better then the C5 interior. My mom's s10 Blazer had the same radio and interior as a C5 Vette. lol

[eric (^__^)]

Um... It's a smaller engine, is supercharged and makes over 100 more HP. It's also mostly carbon fiber, has better suspension, better clutch, better brakes, etc... I think you get a lot for the money. Hell, it will pull 1g in the corners.

I do agree about the looks though. I like the ZO6's styling better.

Oh, and they are still using transverse mono-leaf suspension.

I can't wait to see it go around the Ring. ;) :D

I'd rather have your MG