by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen April 25, 2008 10:17 AM
Filed Under: American, Chevrolet
The high word is finally out, the Corvette ZR1, powered by GM's new and most powerful engine ever, produces 638 hp. The hand-built 6.2 liter LS9 supercharged V8 engine was initially estimated at 620 hp, 100 hp per liter, but has exceeded expectations with 638 hp (476 kW) and 819 Nm of torque (604 lb.-ft.)
"One of the most amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our designers and engineers have attained. Even with all that power, this car has road manners that will allow our customers to enjoy it on the streets as a daily driver, and on the track," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.
"The combination of large displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it throughout the power band," said Winegarden. "The low-end torque is tremendous and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing."
[UPDATE - 2:45pm EST] GM has sent us this excellent video which shows a top speed run at their banked oval test track in Papenburg Germany. While the ZR1 takes the high road, other vehicles testing simulataneously such as a semi trailer truck are taking the low road and seem to be stationary objects as the ZR1 rockets past. Although a little difficult to see in the video, look carefully at the digital speedometer mounted just below the air vents in the center console. Cruising at a steady 100 mph, the ZR1 shows you how quickly it can reach 205mph
CHEVROLET ANNOUCES CERTIFIED POWER RATINGS FOR THE NEW CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1: 638 HP FROM THE SUPERCHARGED LS9 V-8
When it was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's power was estimated at 100 horsepower for each of its 6.2 liters of displacement. GM Powertrain has completed SAE certification of the ZR1's supercharged LS9 V-8 and the results exceed the estimate: 638 horsepower (476 kW) and 604 lb.-ft. of torque (819 Nm).
The LS9's output is nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the engine's 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive production engine ever manufactured by General Motors and enables the Corvette ZR1 to achieve a top speed of more than 200 mph (322 km/h).
"One of the most amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our designers and engineers have attained. Even with all that power, this car has road manners that will allow our customers to enjoy it on the streets as a daily driver, and on the track," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.
The Corvette ZR1 goes on sale this summer. Its 638-hp supercharged engine is complemented in the chassis by heavy-duty components not offered in any other model, including a six-speed manual transmission with race-hardened gears and dual-disc clutch technology that delivers exceptional clamping power and lower inertia, as well as strengthened axle components.
Fuel economy testing has not been completed, but engineers are confident the ZR1 will be the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market.
The LS9 engine is hand-built by specially trained technicians at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. It is a unique, small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Chevrolet Corvette Z06's LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.
"Developing the LS9 involved more than simply striving for a great horsepower number. Endurance and reliability testing have shown the engine to be robust and low-maintenance, just like other engines in the small-block family," said Sam Winegarden, executive director, engine engineering for GM Powertrain. "That it is distinguished as the most powerful engine ever from General Motors is a source of immense pride among everyone involved with the LS9."
Supercharged aspiration
The key enabler of the LS9's performance is the industry's first production application of a new, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger that has a unique four-lobe rotor design. Its design promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while the large, 2.3-liter displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is 10.5 psi (0.72 bar). It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance.
"The combination of large displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it throughout the power band," said Winegarden. "The low-end torque is tremendous and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing."
A raised hood provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate window in the hood provides a view of the engine beneath it.
LS9 details
The LS9 features many unique design and manufacturing details that support its high-performance nature. They include:
Aluminum cylinder block with iron cylinder liners that are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed
Forged steel crankshaft with a nine-bolt flange
Titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons
Stronger, rotocast cylinder heads with 2.16-inch (55 mm) titanium intake valves and 1.59-inch (40.4 mm) hollow-stem, sodium-filled exhaust valves
Camshaft with 0.555-inch (14.1 mm) lift for excellent idle and low-speed driving qualities
A dry-sump oiling system with 10.5-quart (9.9 liters) capacity
Integrated oil cooler and piston-cooling oil squirters
Intercooler cover visible through the hood window that features ZR1-unique blue accents and "LS9 SUPERCHARGED" embossed on the left and right sides
Specifications
LS9 6.2L SUPERCHARGED V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc): 376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material: cast aluminum
Cylinder head material: A356-T6 rotocast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery: SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio: 9.1:1
Horsepower / kW: 638 / 476 @ 6500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft / Nm): 604 / 819 @ 3800 rpm
Fuel shut-off (rpm): 6600
Recommended fuel: premium required
Exhaust manifolds: stainless steel
Main bearing caps: forged steel
Crankshaft: forged steel
Camshaft: hollow steel; 0.555-in (14.1 mm) lift
Connecting rods: forged titanium
Valves:
intake: titanium
exhaust: hollow steel
Valve lifters: hydraulic roller
Supercharger: R2300, four-lobe "Roots" type (2.3L)
819 Nm of torque!!! What else does this car need?!?!?! However, Im sure it'll get completely knowcked out by the V-Spec.. 7:25, I doubt it can come even close..
the car is good looking and very fast and powerfull but i bet the build quality is sh*t + think of this, your in a zr1 at the lights and a gtr puls up beside you your car will look like a corolla compared to the gtr!!
Corvette's are reliable because they don't try to do stupid things to small displacement engines. Also, 0-60 times of the zr1 are supposed to be around 3.0s so If a GT-R does pull up beside you, it's gonna be an awfully close race, entirely dependent on your skill of keeping the launch under control.
Yeah, unlike the GTR driver that has the computers driving for him...at least if the ZR1 driver hits the suggested 0-60 time he knows part of it was his talent/skill, and not entirely the cars technology
This car is amazing. I had the pleasure of seeing a grey one (better looking than blue, in my opinion) at the Philly car show and it is stunning. My only question is, can I get one without the plexiglass hood? It looks ridiculous!
now.. wait!! they've got the engine to produce 638bhp... do they have a light enough tranny to put 'em all down on the road?? :O n how did the engine weigh u said?? :O :P
i dont kno about the gtr beating this. the recent motortrend article suggests that the gtr is insanely quick at launch, but then the magic wears off a little. this isnt my opinion, i'm just quoting motortrend.
Yeah, this'll definitely kick the regular GT-R's ass... at least in a straight line. I'm not betting against the GT-R V-Spec yet though. That's gonna be one helluva grudge match.
I hate when some guys says the japanese cars are the best, or Mercs are the best.
What I love about automotive is how cars can vary and be completely different and still be great
I love this Corvette and I love new GTR. I love how GTR is complicated and full of electronics, how it's usable and quite practical supercar, I love the way GTR is produced, it's reliability, very japanese looks and soul.
On the other hand we have this Corvette. It's brutal and savage car. It has fantastically powerful low revving V8, I love it's simplicity and how pure this car is. It's great but it's completely different animal from the GTR, very american and without all those playstation electronics and super advanced AWD.
So please stop saying "GTR will kick corvette's ass!". cause they're both superfantastic cars, they just have different souls and characters!
I like your post man, i like German cars nowadays alot, the most out of all. But things people say that "this countrys cars are the best" is stupid...from what i kno which isnt everything but enough, different countries have different strengths and different qualities, meaning they're all good in different ways. Sure you can have a favorite Car country, thats cool, but to say its the best...is ignorance IMO. and yea, this car is a pure american beast, i love its motor, the onloy thing better would have been a 427 supercharger but i can understand why GM didnt do that.
This car will easily take down a GT-R and i love the GT-R. The GT-R still might hold 0-60mph because of launch control but the ZR1 wont be far behind and it will beat it quite easily to the 1/4 finish line. You've seen the numbers of Z06 versus GT-R, by the finish line the GT-R is barely ahead. This car will compete mainly with the V-spec that will be close, im a Nissan man, but you can expect that the V-spec will again take off the line hole-shot power. However soon after that this car will catch up fast, so i imagine the 1/4 times to be very close in either cars favor.
as for top end, im sure with the tech in the GT-R drivetrain loss due its 4WD system is reduced by its likely still evident simply because of more moving parts. So the ZR1 should have much better 100-200mph acceleration. The only other thing is that this car is american so we ca expect 6TH gear in this car will likely be yet another useless overdrive/economy gear, i hope not tho.
the other day i was walking with a friend through my town and we were watching at the lamers with their ferraris and bentleys and mercedeses doing laps through the center. and we have a guy with a dodge viper i think the `07 one 8.3 L. and we were "Admiring" the car and saying..."i just couldnt have one of these knowing it has under the bonnet a humongous engine and such little bhp..and takes corners like a boat". we talked about all american super cars and i asked him what does he thinks about the new zr-1, which i think is great. yeah..finally we both agree that the corvette is the only worthy, super american car which can be among its european rivals. after seing this video, it sounds and runs great..(in a straight line, as we all see)..but nontheless, im bewitched.
HAHAHAHAHA, a viper takes corners like a Boat ? you kno that ever since the Vipers inception its built for the track ? meaning its built to carve corners. Especially the new 8.3L 3rd generation vipers. Im not even talking about the ACRs that have race suspension. Them carving corners like a boat is just a very wrong stereotype.
HAHAHAHAHA, a viper takes corners like a Boat ? you kno that ever since the Vipers inception its built for the track ? meaning its built to carve corners. Especially the new 8.3L 3rd generation vipers. Im not even talking about the ACRs that have race suspension. Them carving corners like a boat is just a very wrong stereotype. Vipers AND Corvettes can do a hell of a lot more than just a straight line.
People just assume that because they are American that they cant handle. Its a very ignorant view and people that believe it arent with the effort to argue with
If you watch inside line's review of the GTR, they compare it against the viper, 911 turbo and vette. The one place where the viper beat all of those cars was in the cones where it is all about handling.
Dubaiaue...this car will REALLY not get smoked by the GT-R and im a Nissan man.. Im not even sure the V-spec will be much faster, it should be close but neither car will be a clear winner.
The GT-R V-spec might not have the straight line power of the ZR-1, but it will abslutely destroy it on a track!! EVERY1 KNOWS THAT! This car is amazing, but its not much more than a hurricane under the hood, unlike the GT-R which is opposite to that.. Corvette is running on basics, GT-R is on modern science, which proves that its far away better..
Magnetic-Ride-Control, the fastest reacting suspension technology available in production cars is basics? And what about the Carbon Composite brakes? The supercharger and air to water intercooler built into the block? Dry-sump lubrication? Carbon fiber body and panel structures? These are all basics? Get a grip you hater!
What are you talking about ? who cares, the GT-R is a car that takes far less skill to drive than a GT-R...its made for newbies. The only reason why the GT-R beat the Z06 on track tests was 1, because the Z06 stock comes with run-flat tires and 2, the GT-Rs used were "press" cars that weren't stock. I kno bro, you think the Corvette is just an American drag race car...its too bad your horribly wrong. I love the V-spec....but the ZR1 will beat around a track, if they actually use a driver who knows what hes doing. The GT-R is basically a decent engine with ALOT of computers, i can say this because im a long-time Nissan man, but i dont talk trash and make it something its not. The ZR1 is a hell of alot more than a hurricane under the hood, its a hurricane around the track.
Running on basics? maybe thats true but it still gets the job done. the GT-R is a car that takes far less skill to drive than a Z06...its made for newbies. EVERYTHING Corvette has learned from winning Le Mans and championships has trickled down to normal street corvettes, the same goes here, this isn't your average Corvette, although the Z06 is INSANELY fast around a track. You just believe stereotypes about American cars.
Yeah Z06 and ZR1 are truly up to the competition for once. Assuming the driver's competent, GT-R would only lead the way in the wet. And there are two major advantages on both Vette's behalf: manual tranny and better exhaust note.
The ZR1 will be very fast but I doubt it will beat the standard GT-R, again,a s someone pointed out I think the ZR1 requires more skills and should be more fun/dangerous.
Appeals to different people, I love both, amazing cars with different philosophy.
