2009 Corvette ZR1 pricing released: 638 HP For $103,000

[Sleepwalkr]

Originally Posted by SikMindz

I wonder how fast a stock GA could do it in...

2 days, 4 hours, 13 minutes, 26 seconds............... flat.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by Slim

True enough...

If I do cancel it, I'm not sure which one to pick-up though. Road and Track sucks donkey dik and Motor Trend is too... meh... I dunno, it's just not that great.

I like autoweek for just general automotive news and new car reviews. Unfortunately they don't do a lot of performance testing like the big monthlies, but their long term driving tests are pretty cool. The race coverage is nice too.

For just plain awesome unbiased info about car performance and modding though, can't beat sport compact car! Another one I've started reading that I might subscribe too is called Dsport. It's more an import mag, but it's got more good technical info and less lifestyle BS (meaning: I wanna be a F&F riser type stuff) than others.

[Cliff8928]

Originally Posted by Cormaster

$100,000 is too much for the corvette. For that kind of money I'll take a Nissan GTR

That's not that bad. In 1995 the ZR-1 was just a touch under $70,000, almost twice what a base C4 cost at the time.

[SikMindz]

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

That's not that bad. In 1995 the ZR-1 was just a touch under $70,000, almost twice what a base C4 cost at the time.

Agreed. Corn, that's like saying a Ferrari/Lambo/Porsche/Maserati/etc. is too much money.

Look at what you get. If you have that much in expendable cash...

[bigbenSC]

Originally Posted by Cormaster

$100,000 is too much for the corvette. For that kind of money I'll take a Nissan GTR

Its actually a dead spot in the market. Still at least 20-80 grand cheaper than competitors like the 911 Turbo/ GT2, Aston Martin Vantage/DB9, F430, SL65, and Gallardo. But only 10 grand more than the Viper.

[SpyhunteR]

Originally Posted by Cormaster

$100,000 is too much for the corvette. For that kind of money I'll take a Nissan GTR

Ill have one of each please, and toss in a Viper ACR along w/ the upcoming NSX, and toss in a Mini for the girl.

[lironet]

ZR1 Nurburgring Video

http://jalopnik.com/398297/video-pro...urburgring-lap

[Sleepwalkr]

Originally Posted by lironet

ZR1 Nurburgring Video

http://jalopnik.com/398297/video-pro...urburgring-lap

Did you see how fast he was going from around 65mph up to 100? Holy shiznit!

God I love the sound of that motor. I really think I wet myself....... twice.

[Cliff8928]

Wow, it's like the power curve of the STS-V on steiroids!

[SpyhunteR]

that's... sick.

[AaronGTR]

That's so awesome.... I want it!



I'd love to drive that track some day, even in a rental.

[SpyhunteR]

Originally Posted by AaronGTR

I'd love to drive that track some day, even in a rental.

just bring the grand am and get lapped by a mini.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by SpyhunteR

just bring the grand am and get lapped by a mini.

Hehe, not. My grand am's faster than a mini on a course like that. Mini's are awesome on tight twisty stuff... but are power limited and have terrible aerodynamics. They aren't as fast on a high speed course like the ring.

[SpyhunteR]

Originally Posted by AaronGTR

Hehe, not. My grand am's faster than a mini on a course like that. Mini's are awesome on tight twisty stuff... but are power limited and have terrible aerodynamics. They aren't as fast on a high speed course like the ring.

no vid = fail.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by SpyhunteR

no vid = fail.

Why do I need a vid? My brother owns and operates a mini tuning company. I know what they will do.

[Rich]

http://jalopnik.com/5037293/2009-cor...r1-first-drive

jalopnik got a test drive with it. full of new pictures too.

and more:

http://jalopnik.com/5039581/2009-cor...1-mega-gallery

[Mike Jung]

the Canadian price of the ZR1 is $125,195

Canadians get screwed again...

from:

2009 Chev Corvette ZR1 more than a track monster
Faster than any other production car, the latest Corvette turns in impressive lap times


JIM KENZIE FOR THE TORONTO STAR
As outstanding a sportscar as the ZR1 is on the track, it’s also designed to be a sophisticated road car, capable of long-distance trips as well as weekends at Mosport.


Jim Kenzie
Toronto Star

Aug 23, 2008


MILFORD, Mich.–There are many measurements of how fast a fast car is.

Increasingly, a popular measure is the lap time on the fabled Nordschleife circuit at Germany's Nurburgring. After all, the 'Ring measures not merely acceleration and top-end speed, but cornering, braking, aerodynamic efficiency, balance – all the factors that go into making a fast over-the-road car.

And by that standard, there is a new king.

The Corvette ZR1 now holds the production car record at seven minutes, 26 seconds, taking three seconds off the former best time, set by the Nissan GT-R.

That means the new Corvette is also faster than the Porsche Carrera GT, faster than the Ferrari Enzo, faster than – well, any car that can legitimately call itself "production."

Sure, this time will be beaten. But for a domestically produced car, rear-wheel drive, and with a pushrod V8 – isn't it about time Corvette started getting some credit for its amazing achievements?

Primary among the ZR1's go-faster qualities is its remarkable engine. A new Eaton supercharger with four-lobe rotors nestles snugly between the banks of the cylinders of the 6.2-L V8, with the intercooler perched on top.

They even put a transparent window in the hood so you can see it.

True, supercharging may not be the most elegant way to get extra power because you lose considerable quantities of the extra urge just driving the air pump.

And Corvette's pushrod engine looks pretty simple, and surprisingly small when out of the car, compared to the multi-cam, multi-valve variable valve-timing engines of all the competition.

Still, you cannot argue with 638 horsepower and 604 lb.-ft. of torque.

Or with that lap time.

One of the challenges of the new engine is keeping all that explosive power inside the cylinders, and not venting itself along with bits of piston and titanium connecting rod into the atmosphere – very environmentally unfriendly, that.

New four-layer cylinder head gaskets are designed to handle a 25 per cent greater clamping load than the Z06's, to help deliver a 10-year daily driver schedule. This is not an exotic race-track-only powerplant.

The power is fed through a new dual-disc clutch into a strengthened six-speed manual transmission, mounted in the rear axle.

All driveline components have been appropriately beefed up.

The ZR1 isn't just about brute force, though.

While the added engine bits, not to mention bigger wheels and tires, add considerable mass to the car, it is partially compensated for by the lighter-weight, mostly aluminum structure and chassis, shared with the Z06, previously the top-of-the-performance-line Corvette.

The hood, front fenders, front splitter and roof bow are carbon fibre, for greater strength with less weight.

The aluminum suspension, again Z06-based, also helps here.

So-called "wet weight," including all fluids and ready to roll, comes in at a stunningly low 1,430 kg, just 67 kg more than the Z06. This also gives the ZR1 a higher power-to-weight ratio than the Porsche 911 GT2, Ferrari 599 or Lamborghini LP640.

Hence, that lap time again.

While visually the car is still clearly a Corvette, most exterior body panels have been redesigned or modified for improved aerodynamic performance.

Braking is taken care of by massive ceramic composite brake rotors, with six-piston front and four-piston rear callipers, specifically designed and manufactured by Italian race-brake manufacturer Brembo, and painted a unique "calico'' blue, which is mimicked in the badging.

The tires are also unique to the ZR1, at least for now: P285/30ZR19 front and P335/25ZR20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP run-flats.

GM's MagnaRide suspension, wherein magnetic particles in the shock absorber fluid can be aligned instantly based on road inputs to stiffen or soften their damping force, is standard, and calibrated uniquely for the ZR1.

A variable-ratio (in addition to variable effort) power steering system, with changes to the tooth gap on the rack is also new.

Inside, exclusive ZR1 badging and a new instrument cluster incorporating a supercharger boost gauge are the highlights.

Two levels of trim are available. The base set-up is like the Z06, with purist, lightweight seats and a minimum of mod cons.

A luxury package adds power-adjustable seats, a complete leather-trimmed interior done by the same outfit that does the Maybach limousines, satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and a boatload of other goodies.

Where else would you want to evaluate a car like this but at a track? Okay, sadly, not the Nurburgring (memo to GM: my passport is up-to-date) but the engineering development test track at GM's Milford Proving Grounds.

One lap at a time, no full-bore blasts down the front straight, in deference to the value of these early production cars.

So, gently out on the first lap, engage the amazingly light clutch, engage first, release clutch and apply throttle.

OH MY DEAR GOD.

First, the noise this thing makes as it hits about 3300 r.p.m. and the blower kicks in is stunning. I think I used the "bowels of hell'' metaphor for the McLaren SLR Roadster a few months ago, but this is truly gut-wrenching.

So is the acceleration.

The red line on the ZR1 is 6500 r.p.m., a few hundred revs below the Z06. But the torque is so prodigious you barely need half that to get blistering performance.

This is a tight, technical track, with only a couple of places where you can really open it up. You touch fourth gear only briefly; it is mostly second and third.

They had also coned off some sections to keep our speeds semi-reasonable. I'm not sure because I was rather holding on, but I was well over 140 m.p.h. (in American-spec cars, which is 225 km/h) in several spots.

When it came time to slow down, no worries. Those big Brembos are like running into a huge mattress.

And if these Michelin tires have a cornering limit, I wasn't brave enough to find it because I could barely summon up the courage to even make them squeal a little.

Besides, one overly adventurous journo in the second wave had been unceremoniously sent home when he put four wheels onto the grass. I didn't want to be the second.

All in all, an outstanding package.

But, and Corvette product manager Harlan Charles was quite adamant about this, the ZR1 is not just a track monster. It is intended to be a sophisticated road car, as at home on a long-distance tour as on a weekend at Mosport.

It's true. The ride quality is not an issue. The engine idles without lumpiness or complaint. Okay, you might not want to drive it in a blizzard, but this is a daily driver indeed.

A U.S. EPA highway fuel consumption rating of 20 m.p.g. (11.76 L/100 km) won't win you a Greenie award, but again, compared to anything remotely similar in performance, this thing is a Prius.

Charles also would like to see reviews of the ZR1 once and for all eliminate the "for the price'' qualifier that has adorned just about every Corvette review in history. He believes this car withstands full-frontal comparison with anything out there.

And again, that Nurburgring lap time backs him up.

That said, the Canadian price of the ZR1 is $125,195, about a half, a third or a quarter of the ticket for anything in its league.

Now, that is some 10K more than our U.S. friends pay, but hey, even bridge tolls cost more in U.S. funds now than in Canadian these days.

Corvette is still struggling to gain respect among certain circles of car enthusiasts. One thing is sure, especially with the ZR1, it ain't no Plastic Pig any more.

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
PRICE: $125,195 Cdn

ENGINE: 6.2-L V8, pushrod, supercharged, intercooled

POWER/TORQUE: 638 hp / 604 lb.-ft.

FUEL CONSUMPTION: N/A (U.S. EPA estimate: 11.76 L/100 km)

COMPETITION: Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Nissan GT-R, Porsche Carrera Turbo

WHAT'S BEST: Fantastic performance, remarkably low weight, stunning technology

WHAT'S WORST: It costs $10,000 more here than in the U.S.

WHAT'S INTERESTING: It's the fastest production car in the world – for a sports car, how much better could it get?

[AMRAAM4]

62 ordered units have been produced. All delivery customers were just informed late last week that ALL units are currently on hold, and will be delayed until further notice. This means something is wrong with the production and GM is trying to figure it out and fix it. One rumor is that the carbon fiber parts are delaminating another one I just heard was engine issues.

[iceman]

Damn, I hate when my ZR1 delivery is delayed

[AMRAAM4]

Originally Posted by iceman

Damn, I hate when my ZR1 delivery is delayed

in shocking news, the people who are ready to accept the first 62 built are impatient and not happy.