Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Spied

Anything but ordinary

By Frank
September 26, 2007 11:49 AM
Filed Under: American, Chevrolet, Spy Photos

Anything but ordinary

Blue Devil, Z07, Sting Ray, SS or ZR-1, no matter what you like to call GM's latest attempt at a supercar but one thing is for sure, it will be impressive. Its official debut is scheduled for January's Detroit NAIAS show so these images are likely to be the last before we can show you the final product.

Power for the beast comes from the new LS9 engine. The LS9 is a 6.2 liter supercharged small block V8 and puts out between 600 and 650 hp. The supercharged V8 will utilize an integrated intake manifold intercooler, and it’s expected to run a 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds.

Weight will be reduced in comparison to the current Z06 by using more carbon fibre in the body work (notice the A and B pillars and the roof) and by utilizing a polycarbonate 'window' in the hood. Other body panels like the rocker panels might be made from carbon fibre too. A wider and taller lip spoiler, it now spans the car, will be featured on the new Z super Vette in order to provide more downforce when the driver reaches 200 mph or more.

Over the past few months rumors have surfaced that GM might switch tire manufacturer, and the spy photographer can now comfirm that GM is indeed using Michelin (and not Goodyear) for this prototype. On closer inspection, we found the car sitting on 335/25Z/20 size tires! Behind the wheels we found a huge set of cross-drilled rotors and an equally large set of calipers leading us to believe the car will feature a carbon-ceramic brake set-up.

Production of the Super Vette will commence mid 2008 as a 2009 model with annual production numbers expected to be around 1500 to 1750. Pricing is expected to be around USD 100,000.

Source: copyright AUTOMEDIA

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Comments

sebfill55

September 26, 2007 11:51 PM

If you look close the disks are carbon ceramic.

moyusuf

September 27, 2007 1:45 AM

I'd hope they are! In my world, a $100,000 corvette is unheard of! That thing better be able to fly.

silversedanman

September 27, 2007 5:05 PM

the porsche 911 turbo with tiptronic does 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds. They will continue to make this model unlike the bugatti veyron. The new 911 turbo is expected to be 3.0 seconds 0-60. The Corvette has always been a slugish car which can never match its German counterpart's lap times no matter its strightline speed.

SadDiegoFan

September 27, 2007 7:30 PM

I applaud GM for amping up the Vette's already prodigious power.

It's likely that Porsche Turbos will outhandle the Vette but this Super Vette, whether it's a ZR-1 or Blue Devil or Z07, will tear the doors of the Porsche 911 0-60 MPH.

Torque beats turbos.

silversedanman

September 28, 2007 12:17 AM

Heres the contest guys: Which country has the most cars with over 500hp? I'll do Germany. People are welcome to do a country of their choice. Must be cars that will be made for 2008 year. This is not a place to post concepts/ future models.

Mercedes-Benz 1.E63 (510hp, 465 lb-ft) 2.S65 (604hp, 738 lb-ft) 3.SL65 (604hp, 738lb-ft) 4.CL65 (612hp, 738 lb-ft) 5.SLR (617hp, 575 lb-ft) 6.CLK63 (500hp, 470 lb-ft) 7.R63 (503hp, 465 lb-ft)

Audi 8.RS6 (580+hp, 480 lb-ft) 9.Q7 v12 TDI (500hp,738 lb-ft)

BMW 10.M5 (507hp,383 lb-ft) 11.M6 (507hp, 383 lb-ft)

Maybach 12.57S (612hp, 738 lb-ft) 13.62S (612hp, 738 lb-ft) 14.57 (543hp, 664 lb-ft) 15.62 (543 hp, 664 lb-ft)

Porsche 16.911 gt2 (530 hp,505 lb-ft) (several 911 variants have over 500 hp) 17.Cayenne Turbo (500 hp, 516 lb-ft)

I may have missed a few..if so feel free to post the ones I have missed.

Let the competition begin!!!! Who has more powerful cars????

Germany has around 17. Lamborghini, Bentley and Rolls Royce are technically German companies now since theyve sold themselves..but for the sake of this competition we will give them to their original owners.

silversedanman

September 28, 2007 4:05 AM

The automatic porsche 911 turbo is a mere 3.4 seconds for 0-60. The new one is going to be 3.0 for 0-60. The current z06 corvette is ofcourse slower 0-60 with a sluggish pace around 3.8 seconds (IN FIRST GEAR) and has less than 500 lb-ft or torque.The new one is supposed to be around 3.5 seconds which is still slower than the current (old) 911. The corvette therefore has less horsepower than a 911 gt2, less torque than a 911 gt2, is slower 0-60, and slower nurnbergring (lap) times. Price is the only difference but were not talking price here we're talking performance :)

phobos

September 29, 2007 5:35 PM

american car with 650 hp on the rear wheels ? of course it will kick ass in the accelaration, but can it turn into the right direction, not the opposite direction ?

zongcs

October 15, 2007 5:17 AM

Great

Ferrariguy

October 22, 2007 6:58 AM

The Z06 beats the 911 turbo in just about everything including handling, and at the ring. Just look it up, fanboys! The only thing that the Vette doesn't match up is steering feel/feedback. I don't know why some people think it doesn't handle well just because it's american. Give credit where credit is do. It's no Porsche obviously, but it's a damn good car!

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