Corvette ZR1 (Blue Devil) unveiled

[Ma Deuce]

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?

[nickolay1]

That car looks as bad as it is efficient.

[aerius]

620 horsepower definitely sounds a bit low. The Callaway C16 has the same size engine with 7.5psi of boost and it makes 616 horsepower, with about a third more boost the Blue Devil should be in the 650 range. Kinda disappointed with the weight gain, then again it wouldn't be good to have the body panels flap around at high speed like they do on the Z06, still I expected maybe a 50-100 pound gain, not 200. I wonder if it can avoid the gas guzzler tax like previous Corvettes...

[Ma Deuce]

I wonder if it can avoid the gas guzzler tax like previous Corvettes...

I doubt it: As I understand, the Z06 evaded the tax only by a slim margin, and the Corvette's Chief Engineer also tacitly admitted the more aggressive gearing on the ZR1 would impact fuel economy (I believe his exact words were something like "The person who can afford this car would say 'give me the performance, I can pay for the gas'"). I also wouldn't be surprised if the ZR1's tranny has done away with the CAGS used on the lesser models. Offhand, I'd guess fuel economy would be somewhere between the Dodge Viper and Ford GT.

[Uraniun235]

I guess that's cool. I still think the 70's-era Corvettes look the best, though.

[Darth Wong]

I guess that's cool. I still think the 70's-era Corvettes look the best, though.

If you're going for style, you can't beat this:

Obviously, it wouldn't hold a candle to the latest car in terms of performance, but it's not as if most buyers will be using the performance anyway. If this area is any indication, most people who buy the new top-of-the-line Corvette will be aging men going through mid-life crisis.

[Sea Skimmer]

Obviously, it wouldn't hold a candle to the latest car in terms of performance, but it's not as if most buyers will be using the performance anyway. If this area is any indication, most people who buy the new top-of-the-line Corvette will be aging men going through mid-life crisis.

I’d expect most sales to go to racing teams myself, amateur and professional. Even for 100 grand, which is about 30 grand more then the base price of the 505hp Z06, it’s still an absurdly good performance bargain. 150+ grand Euro cars like the 911 GT3 could hardly match the baseline Z06.

[YT300000]

*snip pic*

Mmmm, agreed. And those late 60's/early 70's Sting Rays in particular just look excellent.

[Scottish Ninja]

It looks spectacular - good for something which has been called "America's only sports car" or at least the only one of real note. I wish I could get one, but there's no way I could afford one. Not that I really have much business driving something like that anyway.

[Simplicius]

Call me when they build a 'Vette which looks as good as the '56-'62 models.



That's the thing that ticks me off about American design these days - there isn't any of it. God forbid a car trade "ruff 'n' tuff" for actual style.

[J]

That's the thing that ticks me off about American design these days - there isn't any of it. God forbid a car trade "ruff 'n' tuff" for actual style.

I present the Pontiac Solstice as an example proof that American cars still have style.



And an official promo picture

[Darth Wong]

I present the Pontiac Solstice as an example proof that American cars still have style.

And as an added bonus, it also transforms into a fighting robot.

[Phantasee]

I think the new 'vette looks quite sexy. I was wondering about the strange thing on the hood, didn't realize it was a window. Nifty.

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

I'd say the best looking 'vette is the '63.
From the back
From the front

[Uraniun235]

Meh. Too flat.

Here's the kind of Corvette I like, in no small part due to the way the body curves over the front wheels:

[Sephirius]

Meh. Too flat.

Here's the kind of Corvette I like, in no small part due to the way the body curves over the front wheels:

My dad had one of those, before we got an 89


also, the ZR-1 is made of win and awesome.

[aerius]

The SAE dyno numbers are in.

638 horsepower
604 lb-ft of torque

Initial estimates were definitely a bit conservative, then again, what's 20 hp when you're well over the 600 mark?
I can't wait till the car magazines run it through their full road tests.

[Mr. Coffee]

See, I don't get the whole "it don't look purdy" thing when it comes to cars in the ZR-1's performance class. Face it, you aren't going to buy a car like a ZR-1 because it looks pretty, if you want pretty go buy a solstice or pay through the nose for a restored late 50s Vette. You want a car that whispers in your ear things like "lay the hammer down and I will ROCK YOUR FUCKING WORLD" or "see that 25mph curve coming up... I bet we can take that at 70..." then you buy something like a ZR-1.

Seriously, at the performance levels this car reaches, pretty body style is secondary to body style that adds downforce and reduces drag.

[MichaelFerrariF1]

The C6R scared everyone else out of the ALMS GT1 class. I can't wait to see what this thing racing version will do, if any manufacturer is brave enough to take it on. Maybe Aston's win over Corvette Racing at LeMans will convince them to come back and play.

Side note: A Houston based Ferrari team took GT2. Nice work.

[Napoleon the Clown]

Well, they've done speed runs of 205+ mph, now. Can we start calling it a supercar yet? Or does the car need to cost twice as much or be an import before we start doing that?


Now we just wait for it to make the Nürburgring its bitch.

As far as the looks thing goes, Mr. Coffee, they're entirely subjective and that's often a tactic used by companies that are trying to make their vehicles that perform similarly look like they're worth paying twice as much for.

Edited for grammar.

[Sea Skimmer]

Well, they've did speed runs of 205+ mph, now. Can we start calling it a supercar yet? Or does the car need to cost twice as much or be an import before we start doing that?

No reason to bother, the term supercar has already lost all meaning amid the surge of high horsepower cars from every direction since the start of the new century. They just don’t make them like they used to.

[Mr. Coffee]

As far as the looks thing goes, Mr. Coffee, they're entirely subjective and that's often a tactic used by companies that are trying to make their vehicles that perform similarly look like they're worth paying twice as much for.

Oh, I understand that. What I'm saying is cars like the ZR-1 are at the level of performance where the body styling is part of why the car can go faster and hug the road tighter. It's not about looking pretty so much as keeping the car down on the road and reducing drag.

[aerius]

Maybe Aston's win over Corvette Racing at LeMans will convince them to come back and play.

And they only got that win after race officials handicapped the crap out of the Corvette with restrictor plates and weight penalties.

[MichaelFerrariF1]

Well, they've done speed runs of 205+ mph, now. Can we start calling it a supercar yet? Or does the car need to cost twice as much or be an import before we start doing that?


Now we just wait for it to make the Nürburgring its bitch.

Well, the Z06 was a supercar and made the Nurburgning its bitch, so this thing certainly is.

If you're going to call the F430 a supercar, you have to call the faster Z06 and ZR1 supercars as well. I love Ferraris, but as they say, "You get what you pay for, and half of what you pay for is the Ferrari badge on the front. The other half is for the car."

[Stuart]

I guess that's cool. I still think the 70's-era Corvettes look the best, though.

If you're going for style, you can't beat this:

Consider it beaten

STYLE!

Obviously, it wouldn't hold a candle to the latest car in terms of performance, but it's not as if most buyers will be using the performance anyway. If this area is any indication, most people who buy the new top-of-the-line Corvette will be aging men going through mid-life crisis.

AHEM