13.08.2008
Recently Chris suggested that Mercedes effectively ended the horsepower race when it released details of its SL65 AMG Black Series. With 670bhp it does seem unlikely that even Audi will bother to better it. But there’s another car that actually has a much greater power-to-weight ratio and is very much cheaper to boot. It’s not a crazy flyweight track special, either. And the reason I mention it is because DR is flying to the States to drive it next week. It is, of course, Corvette’s mighty new ZR1.
Now no car should be defined by numbers alone, but the ZR1 will surely be all about the frankly ridiculous power output of its supercharged 6.2-litre LS9 V8 engine: It produces an astonishing 638bhp and 595lb ft to push along its 1519kg (the SL65 Black Series weighs 1870kgs). That’s more power than a McLaren F1! GM claim that the ZR1 will do 0-100mph in 7-seconds flat and 205mph. In the US it will cost from $103,300 – or around £54,000/€69,000 at today’s exchange rate.
As is often the way with press launches, time with the car will be limited. However, I’ll take a VBOX out to the States with me and see if I can match the acceleration claims and I’ll also be meeting the team behind the ZR1. So the question is, what does the DR community want to know about the ultimate Corvette? If somebody could please suggest they’d like to hear how it would perform over a six-month period, maybe with day-to-day driving and a bit of track work from a UK-based journalist that’d be great…
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24 Comments
Marty
August 13, 2008I’d love to know where the team will go next with the Corvette. Surely there’s no point pushing power outputs any further and it already doesn’t weigh a great deal for such a monster, so what’s their plan?
Marty
August 13, 2008I’d love to know where the team will go next with the Corvette. Surely there’s no point pushing power outputs any further and it already doesn’t weigh a great deal for such a monster, so what’s their plan?
DBT
August 13, 2008How long are the big black lines of rubber it can leave on the road?
How does the gearbox feel compared to the Z06, is it still long throw and a bit wooly, or have they tightened it up a bit?
Is it that much better than a Z06? Does it REALLY need all that power?
How is it at the GT job? Comfy, yet firmly suspended?
And, cos I’m in a generous mood, what would it be like to live with on UK roads for 6 months, taking in a track day every couple of weeks or so?
I f**king LOVE ‘Vettes and I’m thinking of selling the wife for one.
DBT
August 13, 2008How long are the big black lines of rubber it can leave on the road?
How does the gearbox feel compared to the Z06, is it still long throw and a bit wooly, or have they tightened it up a bit?
Is it that much better than a Z06? Does it REALLY need all that power?
How is it at the GT job? Comfy, yet firmly suspended?
And, cos I’m in a generous mood, what would it be like to live with on UK roads for 6 months, taking in a track day every couple of weeks or so?
I f**king LOVE ‘Vettes and I’m thinking of selling the wife for one.
Jorge Amorim
August 13, 2008For anyone not familiar with that sort of power (me) the question is, does 600bhp “feel” any different from 500bhp and is there any real enjoyment and driver satisfaction to be had from it on the long run * or is the extra power is just something you treat as a new toy, addictive at first, boring after a while.
* note the underlying reference to the relevance of a 638bhp long-termer
Jorge Amorim
August 13, 2008For anyone not familiar with that sort of power (me) the question is, does 600bhp “feel” any different from 500bhp and is there any real enjoyment and driver satisfaction to be had from it on the long run * or is the extra power is just something you treat as a new toy, addictive at first, boring after a while.
* note the underlying reference to the relevance of a 638bhp long-termer
Alan
August 13, 2008I would be keen to know what it will actually cost if available in the UK. These cars and prices always sound attractive when the US price and exchange rate is used, but I expect it will cost at least £25k more when available in the UK. Is it going to be available as RHD ??.
Also, does it suffer from the age old problem of US cars of being (very) quick in a straight line but not so good in corners (particularly those found on a British B road which may need a good 6 months of testing here to find out !)
Alan
August 13, 2008I would be keen to know what it will actually cost if available in the UK. These cars and prices always sound attractive when the US price and exchange rate is used, but I expect it will cost at least £25k more when available in the UK. Is it going to be available as RHD ??.
Also, does it suffer from the age old problem of US cars of being (very) quick in a straight line but not so good in corners (particularly those found on a British B road which may need a good 6 months of testing here to find out !)
Alan
August 13, 2008On a similar theme Jethro, is there any updates on the current crop of longtermers ??
Alan
August 13, 2008On a similar theme Jethro, is there any updates on the current crop of longtermers ??
Steve
August 13, 2008Alan, regarding your question on long-termers we are launching a new tranche of functionality to the site next week that will finally allow us to treat long-termers as we have always intended.
Rather than post individual entries within a general blog, we will cover each long-termer within its own page, with regular short updates and enable DR registered users to contribute their own views, upload images and compliment our running reports with their own experiences.
Steve
August 13, 2008Alan, regarding your question on long-termers we are launching a new tranche of functionality to the site next week that will finally allow us to treat long-termers as we have always intended.
Rather than post individual entries within a general blog, we will cover each long-termer within its own page, with regular short updates and enable DR registered users to contribute their own views, upload images and compliment our running reports with their own experiences.
CyberBilly
August 13, 2008Does the fact that the ‘Vette still uses archaic leaf spring rear suspension mean that the extra power is a waste of time?
Also, re long termers, I seem to remember that Monkey made a reference some time ago about you lot running ‘affordable’ cars (and I don’t mean a Perodua Kelisa) but the cars mentioned were E39 M5, Integrale Evo, Cosworth R500 etc. Any developments on this front – can I suggest the M5 as (depressingly as an owner) they are rapidly becomeing worth naff all!!
CyberBilly
August 13, 2008Does the fact that the ‘Vette still uses archaic leaf spring rear suspension mean that the extra power is a waste of time?
Also, re long termers, I seem to remember that Monkey made a reference some time ago about you lot running ‘affordable’ cars (and I don’t mean a Perodua Kelisa) but the cars mentioned were E39 M5, Integrale Evo, Cosworth R500 etc. Any developments on this front – can I suggest the M5 as (depressingly as an owner) they are rapidly becomeing worth naff all!!
Steve
August 13, 2008Chris is narrowing his search as we speak and preparing to pounce on a suitable candidate. Will it be an E39 M5?…
Steve
August 13, 2008Chris is narrowing his search as we speak and preparing to pounce on a suitable candidate. Will it be an E39 M5?…
Cameron
August 20, 2008ahhh i’m not so sure, i have to agree with chris, having seen him in that merc longtermer. kind of seems like he likes it too much to change.. lol
and have you heard it’s engine note, the sound of beauty, is what it is!!!!!;)
Cameron
August 20, 2008ahhh i’m not so sure, i have to agree with chris, having seen him in that merc longtermer. kind of seems like he likes it too much to change.. lol
and have you heard it’s engine note, the sound of beauty, is what it is!!!!!;)
marc
August 28, 2008I drove new Mustang this weekend. Different .. in a funny good way and so affordable but sadly, totally unuseable. Big, fast Yank Tanks bring along with them their own enjoyable quirks but with LHD, oh dear .. in a scary way. I would love to love this ‘Vette. What an engine, what a noise (i assume confidently), looks like a supercar should look with numbers like a supercar should have. Even if it comes in to the UK at 50% more, it would still be an absolute steal. But, with a big B, does LHD leave you thinking “if only..” I would be so happy if you were to tell me that i’m talking bull … light it may be but narrow it aint.
marc
August 28, 2008I drove new Mustang this weekend. Different .. in a funny good way and so affordable but sadly, totally unuseable. Big, fast Yank Tanks bring along with them their own enjoyable quirks but with LHD, oh dear .. in a scary way. I would love to love this ‘Vette. What an engine, what a noise (i assume confidently), looks like a supercar should look with numbers like a supercar should have. Even if it comes in to the UK at 50% more, it would still be an absolute steal. But, with a big B, does LHD leave you thinking “if only..” I would be so happy if you were to tell me that i’m talking bull … light it may be but narrow it aint.
David Lanchbery
September 22, 2008Drag race a GT2.
David Lanchbery
September 22, 2008Drag race a GT2.
Steve (DR)
October 1, 2008Rather ironically, Corvette UK has just announced and adjustment to their pricing for the C6 and Z06 models.
2008 Model Year Corvettes are now priced as follows:
C6 Coupe (437 ps) – from £39,999 (manual) and £42,449 (auto); previously £45,995 and £48,600
C6 Convertible (437 ps) – from £46,499 (manual) and £48,999 (auto): previously £52,995 and £55,600
Z06 (512 ps) – from £54,995 (manual only); previously £62,100.
There was no word on whether these changes would also apply to the ZR1, but the Z06 is now looking even better value in comparison.
Steve (DR)
October 1, 2008Rather ironically, Corvette UK has just announced and adjustment to their pricing for the C6 and Z06 models.
2008 Model Year Corvettes are now priced as follows:
C6 Coupe (437 ps) – from £39,999 (manual) and £42,449 (auto); previously £45,995 and £48,600
C6 Convertible (437 ps) – from £46,499 (manual) and £48,999 (auto): previously £52,995 and £55,600
Z06 (512 ps) – from £54,995 (manual only); previously £62,100.
There was no word on whether these changes would also apply to the ZR1, but the Z06 is now looking even better value in comparison.