Corvette ZR1, 638HP, 205 MPH

[Don]

AutoWeek.com

" The official dyno numbers are in: The supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the forthcoming Chevy Corvette ZR1 cranks out 638 horsepower.

That's about 20 hp more than the estimates from General Motors' powertrain gurus when they unveiled the new ZR1 and its monster motor last December.

To simplify the math: The LS9 engine in the ZR1 is rated at 103 hp per liter of displacement, or 1.7 hp per cubic inch (6.2 liters is equal to 376 cubic inches, for the old schoolers in the audience.)

All that power will push the Corvette ZR1, which goes on sale this summer, to a top speed of more than 200 mph, GM says. A suggested retail price for the car hasn't been set, but it is expected to be in the neighborhood of $100,000.

What about the grunt? The official number is 604 lb-ft of torque.

The key to that making all the horsepower and torque is a Roots-type supercharger with four-lobe rotors that sits atop the LS9 engine. A liquid-to-air intercooler is integrated into the supercharger's housing.

The supercharger has a volume of 2.3 liters, with a maximum boost pressure of 10.5 psi. Turning that blower required engineers to fit the LS9 with an 11-rib accessory drive belt.

The engine will be hand-built at GM's Performance Build Center in suburban Detroit, the same plant that hand-builds the LS7 V8 used in the Corvette Z06.

Time for some bench measuring, you say? OK:

-- The 6.0-liter V12 in the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano is rated at 620 hp and 448 lb-ft.

-- The 6.5-liter V12 in the Lamborghini Murcielago is rated at 580 hp and 650 lb-ft.

-- The turbocharged 3.6-liter flat six-cylinder engine in the Porsche 911 GT2 is rated at 530 hp and 505 lb-ft. "

VIEW VIDEO:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...ewsletter01iew

[Excaliber]

World class, by any standards.

[Cobrabill]

And to think it only took them 55 years to get there.

[69boss429]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

And to think it only took them 55 years to get there.

That is a lot of years in development!
Wish Ford had kept up work on the Boss 429 engine for a few years.
Now,Jon Kasse has taken up the task and is building new Boss 429 heads that will work on any 385 series block.
Dyno runs with stock 429 cu in,and a single carb(no blower) have shown to be an impressive 778 HP at around 6200 rpm.
1.81 HP per cu in
His 521 incher made over 900,both were on pump gas at 10.5 to 1 comp
As we speak he is putting together an 08 Mustang with his new engine , goal is 1000 streetable HP on pump gas.1.92 HP per in with a 521.
Still no substitute for cubic inches.

[cobra de capell]

Does anyone have insight into whether of not this car will be it, in other words - the end of the high HP cars or is even higher HP on the table? It seems if this is it, $100,000 is a good deal but if it isn't, it's just another year will faster cars to be made.

[Ron61]

Gee Bill, You don't want them to rush into anything do you? Wonder how many other types they will have to drop to make this work with the new coming 35 MPG fleet standard. But from what I have seen and read it is really some car.

Ron

[Don]

Mentioned in other articles, the speculation that the ZR1 engine actually could be rated higher in HP etc, but Marketing wanted to leave room for future published numbers w/o incurring additional costs. Just enough to stay competitive or ahead of the other higher priced sports cars.

"GM expects the Corvette ZR1 to be the most fuel-efficient 600-horsepower-plus car on the market, which isn't an outlandish statement considering the near-single-digit fuel economy numbers posted by the likes of the near-single-digit fuel economy numbers posted by the likes of the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 and others "

http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...zr1_horsepower

Probably minimal impact to the gas mileage standard considering the number of ZR1s that would be sold.

[Ron61]

Don,

They won't have to sell a lot to impact the average mileage. In fact I believe that I once read an article in one of the car magazines that they had almost killed the project because of the impact it would have on their fleet mileage. They will take the vehicle that gets the least mileage and that is where they will start their figure for the average for the fleet. And that is why Ford is going to phase out the V-8 in cars as they need it for trucks and the super charged V-6s make tons of power and torque, but do get somewhat better mileage which will help raise the fleet average. Many of the mid range cars won't get 35 MPG and the ones that do will have to get more than that to bring the average up and that is why the low mileage figure is so important, not the number sold. Or at least that is what I have read in various magazines.

Ron

[Don]

The Dodge 2008 Challenger SRT 8 with 425 HP has an EPA rating of 15 MPG, will be an interesting comparison when the ZR1 EPA numbers are published:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...8/newsletter01

[AMF]

This car will be a beast. The biggest beast GM has put out from the factory.

Like the 03 Mustang Cobra SVT and the SRT-4, people will quickly realize that you can take this car, slap a few hundred dollars into and have more power than you could ever use.

That 638 comes with a fat factory tune and only 10.5 psi.

Unforunately, UNLIKE the 03 cobra, the SRT-4 and cars like the Buick Grand National, this car will be out of reach for most people. (it'll also be pretty difficult to get).

It also signals the "end" of the high displacement muscle cars. Like Ford, and Dodge and all the others that are falling in line...the solution now is a lower displacement motor with either a turbo or blower on it.

I have never been a vette guy (although I've always loved them) but I may try to pick up an 07 Z06, as it will be the last of the 7.0+ liter muscle car engines. In 15 years, it will appreciate as there will be tons of people looking to own one of the last large displacement engines offered. (I'd venture that in 25 years, you won't be able to buy a 7.0, non hybrid powered car....at least not without paying a HUGE gas guzzler tax or knowing someone).

[Don]

Recap on the value of the original ZR-1 series:

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_prices.htm

[Don]

GM gave the challenge for making the $100,000 Corvette having seen what was accomplished with the $60,000 + Z06, would like to think all factors were considered.

" Chevrolet isn't about to tell us the price it intends to charge for the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. But it tells us that the prime motivator for the project has been GM honcho Rick Wagoner, who asked, "What would a $100,000 Corvette look like?" The ZR1 is apparently the answer and we expect the car's list price will be near enough to the $100,000 mark."

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/25/o...and-604-lb-ft/

My 2002 405 HP Z06 is rated at 19 City and 28 Highway. Even though the ZR1 has a substantially different engine, the technological advances over the last 5/6 years will have a positive influence, especially in electronic engine management and fuel injection.

Will be interesting when the ZR1 mpg numbers are released, but if there is a gas guzzler tax, which the Corvette engineers are attempting to avoid, it probably will not influence the purchasing. The actual number of ZR1s manufactured will be limited which could be another influence. " Chevy says it is constrained by production of the carbon-fiber bits to only 2,000 ZR1s per year, " The recent sales declines in truck based SUVs and pick-ups will help the corporate average. The 2008/9 Porsche 911 GT2 w/ 530 HP, fuel mileage is 16/23 , city/highway

Top 9, worst gas mileage, all requiring premium fuel, city/highway:

Lamborghini Mucielago ( manual ) 8/13
Bugatti Veyon 8/14
Lamborghini Mucielago ( auto ) 9/14
Bently Azure 9/15
Bently Arnage RL 9/15
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti ( auto ) 9/16
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder ( manual ) 10/15
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti ( manual ) 10/15
Bentley Arnage ( auto ) 10/15

[Ron61]

Don,

You just made my day. I can see that I won't ever have to worry about having one of the top 9 worst gas mileage cars.

Ron

[PANAVIA]

Originally Posted by Don

Recap on the value of the original ZR-1 series:

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_prices.htm

That ZR1 Price sheet is almost 2 year old data.

After the NEW Zr1 pops out and is actually IN show rooms, then maybe the collectable stance of the 90-94s will be better. Right now my father-in-law is sitting on his 90' car number 3xx and cant get a decent offer on it.

sad times for selling a car right now, 638hp or not.

Steve

[Don]

Lot S37 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
350/405 HP, 6-Speed
Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction
June 27 - 28, 2008

http://www.mecumauction.com/auctions...9&entryRow=128

July Hemmings has two 1995 ZR-1's listed: black/black, 2,962 miles @ $40,000 and artic white/red , 7,000 miles @ $55,900

[Don]

Source: Hemmings.com

General Motors has just released the pricing and performance numbers for the most exotic production Corvette to date, the 2009 ZR1.

For a mere $103,300 (plus the $1,700 gas guzzler tax), the ZR1’s hand-built supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V-8 will rip you from 0 to 60 mph in a Ferrari-chomping 3.4 seconds, reach 100 mph in 7 seconds and tear through the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 131 mph. At that speed, the über-Corvette still has 74 mph in reserve! All the while, this car will still get 20 mpg on the highway.

“A favorable power-to-weight ratio gives the ZR1 an advantage over the competition and performance that has to be experienced to fully appreciate,” said Tom Wallace, the Corvette chief engineer. “Of course, on a racetrack, drivers of competitors’ cars may appreciate the ZR1 in a whole different manner.” “The ZR1 is an incredible machine by any measure,” added Ed Peper, the North American vice president of Chevrolet. “There's simply no other vehicle in the world that does a better job of balancing performance, price and fuel economy.”
- By Mark J. McCourt


http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette/zr1/

[Excaliber]

I was never impressed with the C4 90 to 95 ZR1's, I just don't get the big deal hype these car's seem to generate. At around 400 horse it aint 'that special' and only moderatly faster than a typical C4 of the same era, which cost considerably less. If you do need engine work on a ZR1, your pretty much screwed. Crate the engine and ship it off to some speciality shop and take a beating on the price.

It is a pretty cool engine with it's OHC and all, but it's such a waste off technology. Leaves me wondering, "WHAT were they thinking?" You could EASILY build a small block 350 or 400 GM traditional pushrod motor that would make more horses for a LOT less money and kick the ZR1's butt.

Now the modern Vette's DO get my attention. Finally GM has a Vette that can rightfully take it's place among the 'world class' cars of today. And it only took them about 50 years to figure it out...

[AMF]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

I was never impressed with the C4 90 to 95 ZR1's, I just don't get the big deal hype these car's seem to generate. At around 400 horse it aint 'that special' and only moderatly faster than a typical C4 of the same era, which cost considerably less. If you do need engine work on a ZR1, your pretty much screwed. Crate the engine and ship it off to some speciality shop and take a beating on the price.

It is a pretty cool engine with it's OHC and all, but it's such a waste off technology. Leaves me wondering, "WHAT were they thinking?" You could EASILY build a small block 350 or 400 GM traditional pushrod motor that would make more horses for a LOT less money and kick the ZR1's butt.

Now the modern Vette's DO get my attention. Finally GM has a Vette that can rightfully take it's place among the 'world class' cars of today. And it only took them about 50 years to figure it out...

I've always had similar arguments for a lot of "tuner" vehicles like Roush or Saleen or Hennessey (sp?)....but most of the Roush guys would respond by saying that the warranty is the real issue. You can take a C6 and make the same monster for less money, but you won't have a factory GM warranty to go with it and you won't be able to resell it even close to what you paid for it.

It's a weak argument to me, but that's the one they always throw out. There's going to be a line longer than your arm to get these cars, most of the people who buy them either have way more money than you or I (and don't think it's worth doing it cheaper) or are just die hard vette enthusiasts and will consume the latest product to that end.

[Don]

The Callaway Corvette, sold by selected Chevrolet dealers, has a warranty, not sure if the warranty is from GM or Callaway:

The Callaway Corvette is a specialist version of the C6 Corvette, built by Callaway and sold through selected Chevrolet dealers

They are professionally engineered, seriously fast and an unbeatable value. They are also fully warranted and emission compliant in all states.

http://www.callawaycars.com/callaway...Components.htm

Note the MPG:

City/Highway:
18/28 mpg w/manual transmission
17/27 mpg w/automatic transmission

[Ron61]

Don,

A few years ago one of the car magazines did a test of all of the top tuner cars, Calloway Corvette, Ford GT, ( the new GT-40 ), model, a couple of specialty Mustangs, and a Hennessey Viper. they bought a stock Corvette off a showroom floor to use as a base line for their tests. After all the testing was done, for all the extra money the so called tuner cars cost I would have gone for the stock corvette. Also they took them all down to Southern Calif. and ran them through a smog test. Two passed. The Ford Gt and the stock Corvette. If I had paid that much for a car that was advertised as 50 state legal, there would have been some serious problems when they failed the smog tests. and they failed badly.

Ron