2012 Z06 Vette 20 Seconds faster around 'Ring

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CodeRedR51

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http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/23/2012-chevrolet-corvette-z06-laps-the-ring-in-7-22-68-shaves-20/

So according to the quote below, it's almost as fast as the ZR-1. So, what exactly is the point of purchasing a ZR-1 now?

Corvette engineer Jim Mero took a brand new Z06 fitted with the Z07 chassis package to Germany's Nürburgring, only to find out that it's capable of ripping off a 7:22.68 lap time.

For those keeping track, that's 20 seconds faster than the last Z06 record lap (set in 2005), and only three seconds slower than the fastest ZR1 time.
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Eric.
Is that the same suspension as the ZR1 or something different?
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Same


R1600Turbo
So, what exactly is the point of purchasing a ZR-1 now?
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The ZR1 is still faster in a strait line, and it's the top dog Corvette which is worth the extra $20K for alot of people.

(I say only $20K because to get a Z06 w/Z07/Carbon package/ZR1 level interior is $95K+)
 
That was pretty damn good cornering. He hit 2.0G's at the carousel and 1.8 on some more flat turns.
 
Ah, but the biggest difference in both cars is the fact that they're using new tires.. Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, that is.
 
Is a newer much more insane ZR1 in the works?

Or is this the last hurrah for the C6?

I hope its both actually.
 
sumbrownkid
Is a newer much more insane ZR1 in the works?

Or is this the last hurrah for the C6?

I hope its both actually.
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I have a feeling that they are doing a new ZR1. The ZL1 camaro will be 600hp and I think that's a bit close to the Vette. Yeah the weight difference is there but this is america and all that matters is HP.
 
Considering the Camaro is ten times heavier and has the aerodynamics of a brick, giving it Corvette levels of power isn't going to make it as quick in any discipline.

[fanboyrant]They cheated! Michelin Pilot Sports are cheater tires! It's making 1,000,000 horsepower! They didn't do a full lap![/fanboyrant][/sarcasm] :D :D :D

Nice to see an atmo car kicking arse on the ring. 👍
 
It's amazing to see Chevy engineers pulling out such cornering capabilities on an considerably dated chassi, surely the tires are awesome and Jim Mero has boundless competence, but everything relies upon the chassi and suspension of the C6.

Bringing up the old ZR1 vs GTR war again, the Z06 doesn't have alien power figures when compared to the GTR as the ZR1 does, and even so it nuked the Nissan's lap completely destroying the "it's much more powerful, so it has to be faster" argument. The ZR1 has beaten the GTR record because it corners very competently and doesn't relies only on sheer power to overthrow the Nissan, and that's quite a surprise if I'm honest.

Nice.
 
These are world class cars with incredible performance ceilings at just about any pricepoint. The corvette team does their cars right, pure and simple. I really hope the C7 continues the tradtion.
 
It's great to see Ring competition pushing manufacturers to the limits, but it's hard to tell who's really faster without head to head driving.

I'd really like to see that happen some day (especially since I know the Viper ACR would kill them all - hey, I'm a Dodge fan).
 
Wow those tyres are impressive, 1.7-1.8 spikes (2.0 in cambered corners) and able to hold 1.3-1.4 in the corners. Not a bad car wrapped around them either. :p
 
Pfff.. 2012 GTR will improve as the current lap was made in semi damp conditions.
 
Dan_
The ZR1 has beaten the GTR record because it corners very competently and doesn't relies only on sheer power to overthrow the Nissan, and that's quite a surprise if I'm honest.
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I'd say it would be a surprise if it didn't beat the Nissan - slightly more power, slightly more torque and 300 kg less weight should do the trick. Something would be very wrong if it didn't.
 
Greycap
I'd say it would be a surprise if it didn't beat the Nissan - slightly more power, slightly more torque and 300 kg less weight should do the trick. Something would be very wrong if it didn't.
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You forget that it's rear-drive and extremely tail-happy. The GT-R's ability to keep the power down through the corners means that it can take more speed through some of the slower corners. And considering the Ring's slow corners are where most cars lose a lot of time, that could be a three or four-second difference.
 
Not to mention that the GT-R has nearly instant and effortless gear change as well as lower drag.
 
Greycap
I'd say it would be a surprise if it didn't beat the Nissan - slightly more power, slightly more torque and 300 kg less weight should do the trick. Something would be very wrong if it didn't.
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Why does that street only run one way?
 
Isn't there a C7 Corvette in the works? I'm guessing they're setting up a goal for them to beat :lol:
 
R1600Turbo
According to Nissan the GT-R has a drag coefficient of .27.

According to this link the C6 Z06 Corvette has a drag coefficient of .31 or .34.

Which one's the brick? :p
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Yes, but do they scale up equally? Drag coefficient is the shape of the body, it doesn't take into account how big the actual body is. A 747 has a lower drag coefficient than a brick, but produces more drag because it's so much larger.
 
R1600Turbo
According to Nissan the GT-R has a drag coefficient of .27.

According to this link the C6 Z06 Corvette has a drag coefficient of .31 or .34.

Which one's the brick? :p
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From http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0502_2006_corvette_z06/index.html
Aero tuning reduces total lift and balances the front and rear lift coefficients while increasing the base Vette's 0.28 drag coefficient to 0.34.
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So in other words, lower drag is not necessarily a good thing.

e.
 
encoded
So in other words, lower drag is not necessarily a good thing.

e.
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Sorry I don't know much about that stuff, I've always figured a lower number is better.

According to Wiki:

In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient (commonly denoted as: cd, cx or cw) is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag.
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R1600Turbo
Sorry I don't know much about that stuff, I've always figured a lower number is better.

According to Wiki:
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Less drag means less drag, and if you're optimizing for less drag, then yes, less drag is good. However, when designing a car, there is more to it than simply drag. The increase in drag that the corvette designers added to their design, also increases the car's downforce, giving it more cornering grip. This is a design trade-off made by the corvette's designers, based on their calculations and goals. Just as the car with the most horsepower doesn't always post the fastest laps, the car with the lowest coefficient of drag doesn't always either. It's one piece of a large overall equation that is the car's setup.

e.
 
To be honest, I forgot that the GT-R was bigger. But .28 vs . 34 is a big difference.

The CD_A of the Z06 is 7, the GT-R is 6, so the Nissan is less draggy.
 
Drag is a factor down the longer straights, but the Z06 will still probably have a higher top-end speed... Chevrolet quotes the top speed for the Z07 package (with the added aero) at 198 mph.
 

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