Corvette ZR1 (Blue Devil) unveiled
Posted: 2007-12-22 10:07pm
Linky
So, after more than two years of rumor and speculation (including a thread by me on this very board), the Corvette ZR1 (aka the elusive "Blue Devil") has finally been unveiled. I figured GM would wait until the NAIAS in January to unveil this car, but with the GT-R's performance numbers becoming common knowledge (which edge out even the mighty Z06), I guess GM didn't want Nissan stealing their thunder. So, here it is, the meanest factory Corvette ever. Superficially, it doesn't look much different from it's lesser siblings. At a hundred grand a pop, volume will understandably be very low (say, 1500-1750 units a year), so for a car that makes even the Z06 seem mundane, here is a rundown of some of it's coolest features:
-As expected, the engine is a 6.2L supercharged V8 with a minimum of 620hp and 595 lb-ft of torque: Note that these are only preliminary figures, and GM is notorious for understating horsepower estimates, so the car could end up having considerably more power as certified by the SAE. One prior example would be the Cadillac STS-V which was originally estimated at 440hp, but ended up being certified at 469. Personally, I think it would be awesome if the car was certified at exactly 666hp, though even I doubt it will be that high. Although based directly on the base Corvette's 6.2L, most of the components are made of stronger materials to withstand the extra pressure. Additionally, like the LS7 used in the Z06, the engine has a dry-sump lubrication system.
-The supercharger provides 10.5psi of boost, and is an all-new design with four-lobe rotors instead of the older three lobe design, bringing the unit's thermal efficiency up to 76% (near turbo efficiency levels), vs. around 60% for the best three-lobe designs. The supercharger is of course integrated into the intake manifold along with a water-to-air intercooler. The intercooler is reportedly capable of cooling incoming air by as much as 60°C. The top of the supercharger/intercooler assembly is visible at all times through a small polycarbonate window in the hood.
-Top speed is only vaguely stated as being "above 200 mph", but given that interior shots have revealed a 220mph speedometer (where the Z06 has a 200 mph speedo, and an actual top speed of 198mph) I think we can safely guess how fast this car will actually be.
-The manual transmission has been modified specifically for this car, with a new twin-disc clutch and different gear ratios. Additionally, the 6th gear is no longer just an overdrive for economical cruising as in lesser Corvettes (which can hit top speed in 5th gear), but is the gear that allows you to reach the car's top speed, lending further credence to the notion of a 220mph top speed.
-Most of the body panels are carbon-fiber, built onto the same aluminum chassis as the Z06. The paint's clearcoat finish reportedly costs $2,200 a gallon, thanks to a UV-blocking additive that itself costs $60,000 a gallon, allowing the body panels to last the life of the car. Some of the panels are painted with clearcoat only, allowing the carbon-fiber weave to be seen through it. Despite the weight savings afforded by the carbon fiber, the car still weighs about 200lb more than the Z06, contrary to the rumors that it'd be under 3,000lbs.
-The rear wheels are 20x12inches, and wear P335/25ZR20 tires, the front are 19x10 inches, wearing P285/30ZR19s. The tires are Michelin PS2s, though these particular tires were reportedly developed specifically for the ZR1.
-Brake rotors are carbon-ceramic, measuring 15.5 inches up front, and 15 inches in the rear (as big as both my cars' wheels). That's the same size as the Bugatti Veyron for the rear rotors, and only a quarter-inch less in the front. The ZR1 is also the least expensive production car with CCRs as standard equipment. Like the Z06, brake calipers are 6-piston up front, 4-piston rear, though the pads are 70% larger than those of the Z06.
-The ZR1 comes standard with magnetic rheological shock absorbers tuned specifically for this application, allowing maximum cornering ability while still delivering a relatively compliant ride, thanks to springs that are actually softer than those of the Z06.
-Last but not least, the car has a frikin' SKULL molded onto the air intake, specifically the emblem of the Corvette racing team (known as "Jake"). How badass is that?
So, after more than two years of rumor and speculation (including a thread by me on this very board), the Corvette ZR1 (aka the elusive "Blue Devil") has finally been unveiled. I figured GM would wait until the NAIAS in January to unveil this car, but with the GT-R's performance numbers becoming common knowledge (which edge out even the mighty Z06), I guess GM didn't want Nissan stealing their thunder. So, here it is, the meanest factory Corvette ever. Superficially, it doesn't look much different from it's lesser siblings. At a hundred grand a pop, volume will understandably be very low (say, 1500-1750 units a year), so for a car that makes even the Z06 seem mundane, here is a rundown of some of it's coolest features:
-As expected, the engine is a 6.2L supercharged V8 with a minimum of 620hp and 595 lb-ft of torque: Note that these are only preliminary figures, and GM is notorious for understating horsepower estimates, so the car could end up having considerably more power as certified by the SAE. One prior example would be the Cadillac STS-V which was originally estimated at 440hp, but ended up being certified at 469. Personally, I think it would be awesome if the car was certified at exactly 666hp, though even I doubt it will be that high. Although based directly on the base Corvette's 6.2L, most of the components are made of stronger materials to withstand the extra pressure. Additionally, like the LS7 used in the Z06, the engine has a dry-sump lubrication system.
-The supercharger provides 10.5psi of boost, and is an all-new design with four-lobe rotors instead of the older three lobe design, bringing the unit's thermal efficiency up to 76% (near turbo efficiency levels), vs. around 60% for the best three-lobe designs. The supercharger is of course integrated into the intake manifold along with a water-to-air intercooler. The intercooler is reportedly capable of cooling incoming air by as much as 60°C. The top of the supercharger/intercooler assembly is visible at all times through a small polycarbonate window in the hood.
-Top speed is only vaguely stated as being "above 200 mph", but given that interior shots have revealed a 220mph speedometer (where the Z06 has a 200 mph speedo, and an actual top speed of 198mph) I think we can safely guess how fast this car will actually be.
-The manual transmission has been modified specifically for this car, with a new twin-disc clutch and different gear ratios. Additionally, the 6th gear is no longer just an overdrive for economical cruising as in lesser Corvettes (which can hit top speed in 5th gear), but is the gear that allows you to reach the car's top speed, lending further credence to the notion of a 220mph top speed.
-Most of the body panels are carbon-fiber, built onto the same aluminum chassis as the Z06. The paint's clearcoat finish reportedly costs $2,200 a gallon, thanks to a UV-blocking additive that itself costs $60,000 a gallon, allowing the body panels to last the life of the car. Some of the panels are painted with clearcoat only, allowing the carbon-fiber weave to be seen through it. Despite the weight savings afforded by the carbon fiber, the car still weighs about 200lb more than the Z06, contrary to the rumors that it'd be under 3,000lbs.
-The rear wheels are 20x12inches, and wear P335/25ZR20 tires, the front are 19x10 inches, wearing P285/30ZR19s. The tires are Michelin PS2s, though these particular tires were reportedly developed specifically for the ZR1.
-Brake rotors are carbon-ceramic, measuring 15.5 inches up front, and 15 inches in the rear (as big as both my cars' wheels). That's the same size as the Bugatti Veyron for the rear rotors, and only a quarter-inch less in the front. The ZR1 is also the least expensive production car with CCRs as standard equipment. Like the Z06, brake calipers are 6-piston up front, 4-piston rear, though the pads are 70% larger than those of the Z06.
-The ZR1 comes standard with magnetic rheological shock absorbers tuned specifically for this application, allowing maximum cornering ability while still delivering a relatively compliant ride, thanks to springs that are actually softer than those of the Z06.
-Last but not least, the car has a frikin' SKULL molded onto the air intake, specifically the emblem of the Corvette racing team (known as "Jake"). How badass is that?