http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...72#post1022772
Just when we were tired of paying for spy photos, GM serves up an early Christmas present. Here's your first look at the new 2009 Corvette ZR1, Chevrolet's supercharged, mega-horsepower, asphalt shredding, passenger-screaming, victim-seeking, street killer. Yes, it's finally here.
EVEN PICS!!!!!!
wow dude. forget the jalopnik site. but heres lots more info incase you never heard of the site before.
Quote:
Asked the question, "Why do a ZR1?" Corvette Vehicle Line executive Tom Wallace shoots back, "Because we can. We have the technology inside General Motors to do a car that can go up against any supercar from around the world," he continues, punctuating the thought with this threat: "I can't wait to take on any Porsche with this car, and we're going to be right in there with the Ferrari [599s] and Lamborghini [Murcielagos]." Whoa, ease off the Red Bull, Tom. This is a just a souped-up C6 Corvette, right? Or did you slip a mid-engine V-12 in without the blogosphere noticing?
An hour with chief engineer Tadge Juechter reveals that this is indeed a Z06 upgraded with the best tech in GM's arsenal. A ZR1 was never part of the original C6 plan, but, at an early program review, the Z06's proposed aluminum frame, carbon-fiber parts, and LS7 engine so impressed CEO Rick Wagoner that he reportedly wondered aloud, "Geez, if that's what you can do with $60,000, I wonder what a $100,000 Corvette would look like?"
|
I also found this interesting:
Quote:
|
They started with turbochargers for efficiency's sake, but switched to supercharging when Eaton unveiled its latest four-lobe Roots-type blower. This new unit boasts thermal efficiency of nearly 76 percent (up from some 60 in the best three-lobe blowers) -- near turbo efficiency with no lag.
|
Quote:
|
Brembo calipers grabbing gigantic carbon-ceramic rotors designed for Ferrari's Enzo and FXX. (At an expected price of near $100,000, the ZR1 will be the least expensive car with standard CCM brakes.)
|
Quote:
|
The [carbon] fibers are visible on the roof and hood inner, and to prevent ultraviolet light from degrading them a special additive costing over $60,000/gallon (!) is added at three-percent concentration in the thin clear-coat layer ($2000/gallon).
|
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Vehi...84.A13768.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...zr1_first_look