King Of The Hill

[TopHat]

Link To Autoblog

Detroit 2008: The King is back atop the hill - 2009 Corvette ZR1​

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The King of the Hill has returned! The new Corvette that has been variously known as the "Blue Devil" and SS for at least the past five years has now been officially designated as the ZR1. The new monster from Bowling Green has revived the ZR1 designation for the first time since the C4-based original faded away in 1995. Stories and spy photos of this mythical machine have been circulating the web and print media since well before the current C6 generation Corvette debuted in 2005.

The program has reportedly been killed and revived several times, but it is now very much alive and we have all the details of the fastest, most expensive production 'Vette of all time. Given the recent developments with fuel economy regulations (35 mpg fleet average by 2020) this new King may well turn out to be last and greatest member of this blood-line. The Corvette will no doubt live on with a C7 set to debut in the next few years. But like the descendants of the Porsche 917/30 Can-Am car of the early 70s, nothing may reach the heights of this ZR1. Of course, the same has been said many times before and look at where we are today. For now just follow the jump to find out what $100,000 will soon be able to buy you.

Holy 🤬. This is the coolest car ever.

 

[Jim Prower]

Rumpattarumpattarumpatta...

I can hear it's thunderous, cammy note right now...

 

[Joey D]

Learn to search you n00b

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80524&page=44

 

[Leonidae]

 

[TopHat]

I bet it still beats a GT-R around the track, and is just as liveable.

 

[YSSMAN]

No worries mate, the official stuff is worth its own section...

Huzzah! Sound the trumpets! Tell Ferrari to stuff it where the sun don't shine! The American supercar is back!

This ones gonna be killer, no doubt about it. I love the color, the carbon fiber, the glass hood, all the C6.R bits and pieces... Its just amazing!

 

[Leonidae]

wasn't this supposed to be the more hardcore 'vette? So I'd restrain myself from those "more liveable" comments, expecially since even the Z06 owners admit that it took a while before they got used to the harsh ride..

 

[ExigeEvan]

I bet it still beats a GT-R around the track, and is just as liveable.

Well to raise an old argument, if the ride on the Z06 was seen as harsh in the UK, this thing will probably be unbearable.

 

[YSSMAN]

It does have the magnetic suspension system lifted out of the "standard" Corvette, modified to Ferrari 599-like specifications. So, in theory, the ride should be supple and soft when in "normal" mode, or hard and adaptive when in full-attack mode...

 

[TopHat]

wasn't this supposed to be the more hardcore 'vette? So I'd restrain myself from those "more liveable" comments, expecially since even the Z06 owners admit that it took a while before they got used to the harsh ride..

Well to raise an old argument, if the ride on the Z06 was seen as harsh in the UK, this thing will probably be unbearable.

Standard Magnetic Ride Control (The suspension setup in the 599) should handle that nicely. Its sprung softer than the Z06 too. Part of development was to make it easier to drive than the Z.

 

[Renisis Power]

Hell Yeah! The Coevette ZR-1 is coming back! I love Corvettes so much, I cant wait to see it on the track. Leaf springs are not bad makes for a stronger rear during acceleration, and bumps. Corvettes are very wonderful handling cars, with of course awesome power.

The only think I do not like is that they are perceived as a rednecks sports car, and I hate that "king of the hill phrase!" I hate that show too

This is yet another dream car of mine.👍

 

[YSSMAN]

No word on transmission choices (or maybe I skipped that part?). They had been saying that this one could be offered with the 6L80E, possibly, although they weren't sure. Not that anyone in their right mind would want it, but I'm sure there are some that would like the slushbox with the paddle-shifters. I'm sure that would help the "driveability" scores a bit.

 

[Leonidae]

and how can you be certain that Chevy thinks similarly to ferrari when it comes to setting up that magnaride thingie?

 

[Jim Prower]

Driveability? this thing....

Naaaaaaaaaah...

This is the first time I've been enthusiastic about a Corvette since the C5 came out. Forget ZR1...I'm thinking L88 427...

 

[TopHat]

and how can you be certain that Chevy thinks similarly to ferrari when it comes to setting up that magnaride thingie?

Because they want to beat the Ferrari at its own game.

 

[YSSMAN]

and how can you be certain that Chevy thinks similarly to ferrari when it comes to setting up that magnaride thingie?

They were using Ferrari 599s to test/tune against a few months back. Oh, and lets not forget, Delphi (formerly owned by GM, or still may partially be) builds the same system for both the Corvette and the Ferrari, as well as the Audi TT (among others).

 

[Leonidae]

that's still not a guarantee. 599 is a GT car, where as this is brass-knuckled street fighter.

 

[YSSMAN]

The 612 is the GT car, not the 599. It too is the dedicated sports car. Chevrolet set that as the benchmark, so its safe to assume that it will handle and grip just as well, not to mention accelerating to sixty in less than 3.5 seconds... Presumably with a top-speed somewhere in the neighborhood of 215 MPH.

For $100K, that is not a bad deal at at...

 

[Dave A]

The 599 is a more sporty GT, but it is still a GT. Saying it isn't is like saying the Aston DBS isn't a GT because the DB9 is, you can have more than one GT in your range if you so choose.

 

[Leonidae]

Mmmhmm, and with increased performance comes increased stress.. I don't know what kind of power Chevy had in mind when they were designing the C6 chassis, but at this rate, it's limits will come up. and who knows what kind of little gremlins this car will develop when miles will pass..

 

[Joey D]

It was designed to be a 24 endurance racer, I can't see how normal use would be great than that.

**I wonder what sort of gremlins will surface with the GT-R?

 

[JCE]

/me counts down until this turns into another flame anti-Corvette fest.

 

[Leonidae]

there has been anti-corvette flamefest..? and I wasn't invited?

 

[ExigeEvan]

/me counts down until this turns into another flame anti-Corvette fest.

I don't think anyone is trying to flame it, just bring about a more even discussion rather than

I bet it still beats a GT-R around the track, and is just as liveable.

Holy . This is the coolest car ever.

Huzzah! Sound the trumpets! Tell Ferrari to stuff it where the sun don't shine! The American supercar is back!

Just cause we're not praising it to the high heavens, doesn't mean we're hating it either. Especially as it'll be a price bargain, even at GBP exchange rates I imagine.

 

[JCE]

I don't think anyone is trying to flame it, just bring about a more even discussion rather than

I was mainly referring to how all Corvette topics (and Skyline topics as well) turn into a flamefest from both sides of the fence.

Just cause we're not praising it to the high heavens, doesn't mean we're hating it either. Especially as it'll be a price bargain, even at GBP exchange rates I imagine.

I don't really care if anyone likes or dislikes it, I was just making a point about the subject in general.

 

[TopHat]

Mmmhmm, and with increased performance comes increased stress.. I don't know what kind of power Chevy had in mind when they were designing the C6 chassis, but at this rate, it's limits will come up. and who knows what kind of little gremlins this car will develop when miles will pass..

How much power does that C6.R have again? 590 horsepower? I think it should be able to cope. Also, It doesn't take much for them to strenghten the sub-frames. If that fails, they make it out of a totally different material.

there has been anti-corvette flamefest..? and I wasn't invited?

I'll be sure to notify you.

 

[-Fred-]

Might just be the color, but I think it looks like crap. It's like they just stuck random bits of bodywork here and there over a standard Z06 and called it a day. It just looks like one of those SEMA factory specials, or a very mild tuner car. It's way over the top, dare I even say kitsch?

 

[McLaren]

Huzzah! Sound the trumpets! Tell Ferrari to stuff it where the sun don't shine! The American supercar is back!

If this ZR-1 can touch the Enzo, I'll give it props. If not, Ferrari's still got it in the Scuderia.

The 612 is the GT car, not the 599. It too is the dedicated sports car. Chevrolet set that as the benchmark, so its safe to assume that it will handle and grip just as well, not to mention accelerating to sixty in less than 3.5 seconds... Presumably with a top-speed somewhere in the neighborhood of 215 MPH.

For $100K, that is not a bad deal at at...

The 599 is a GT car. Built similar off the 612 design, it's intended to be the bigger, sportier, flagship car of Ferrari right now.

The 612 is the modern day 456 while the 599GTB is our modern day Maranello.

 

[YSSMAN]

If this ZR-1 can touch the Enzo, I'll give it props. If not, Ferrari's still got it in the Scuderia.

Quite right, which would be an interesting battle in itself. We both know that I love Ferrari to death, but when American cars start knocking at the door, we also know where my alliances lie under those situations as well.

I'd suspect the ZR1 to be right there with the 599 (Enzo territory) for most things, but it isn't as though the Z06 was that far out either. The Scuderia will be nipping at it's heels, however, and as much as a lovely car that is (the exhaust note alone is worth it), I'd still prefer the 'Vette by days end.

...Yes, I'm a sick, sick man...

The 599 is a GT car. Built similar off the 612 design, it's intended to be the bigger, sportier, flagship car of Ferrari right now.

The 612 is the modern day 456 while the 599GTB is our modern day Maranello.

Understandable then. I had always assumed (for the most part) that a prerequisite for being a GT car was four seats, I may have been mistaken. No harm really then, still an excellent match for the Corvette.

One still hopes to see something better come of the XLR, and if we're lucky, a GTO with a similar powerplant.

 

[McLaren]

Quite right, which would be an interesting battle in itself. We both know that I love Ferrari to death, but when American cars start knocking at the door, we also know where my alliances lie under those situations as well.

I'd suspect the ZR1 to be right there with the 599 (Enzo territory) for most things, but it isn't as though the Z06 was that far out either. The Scuderia will be nipping at it's heels, however, and as much as a lovely car that is (the exhaust note alone is worth it), I'd still prefer the 'Vette by days end.

...Yes, I'm a sick, sick man...

While the 599 can lap near the Enzo, trust me, it's not Enzo territory even though it's using Enzo technology. Around Fiorano, the 599 is 2 seconds behind the monster Enzo, and using the same powerplant. However, the 430 Scuderia really shows the power of Ferrari handling by being .2 seconds off the Enzo with only 510 horses compared to the 660 of the Enzo. That's extremely impressive.

Now, since the 430 Scuderia is capable of Enzo times, let's compare some of the Enzo times to the Vette.
At Top Gear, the Enzo 1:19 compared to the 'Vette's 1:22.4.
Vairano puts the Z06 at 1:19.5 next to the Enzo's 1:17.448.
And finally, at Bedford, we find the Enzo, again, 3 seconds faster 1:21.

Now, this is not proof, nor am I saying the 430 Scuderia will match every Enzo time. However, if the 430 Scuderia can come with .2 seconds of the Enzo, it may very well do near the same again on other tracks. And of course, we will also be seeing a 600Bhp Corvette as well.