Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Hits the Nürburgring!

[toffytofik]

After months of seeing the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 sitting on a stand at auto shows, we can finally bring you video of the 620-horsepower supercar in action — and you won't be disappointed. Shot on the Nürburgring test track in Germany, the engineers behind the wheel of the most powerful Corvette ever were flogging it hard and we have the lap times to prove it. According to our shooters on the ground, the Corvette ZR1 was turning in lap times in the low 1:40s, a pace that puts it right up there with the world's fastest supercars. And given the damp conditions and rough, hand-timed numbers, you can expect to see even quicker official lap times when Chevrolet goes public with its Nürburgring data. Introduced earlier this year at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is a limited-production version of the standard Corvette. It features a supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V8 rated at 620 hp and 595 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed transmission sends power to the 335/35R20 tires. Extensive use of carbon fiber gives the ZR1 a unique look, but it still weighs a few hundred pounds more than a standard Corvette Z06. That said, the folks at Chevrolet aren't worried about the performance potential of their $100,000 halo car. According to ZR1 Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter, the ZR1 will beat the track record for production cars at any road course in the world. Looks like they still have some work to do at the Nürburgring, because the Nissan GT-R has already run a lap of 1:38. We're guessing the ZR1 will be able to shave off another 4 seconds without much trouble. The only question now is how much quicker than 1:38 can it go? We'll keep you posted. Source (spy video available!): http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=125496

7:40 is a joke. Weather it's damp conditions of the track, inaccurate laptime measurements or whatever... it should be way faster than that.

[nthfinity]

"7:40 is a joke. Weather it's damp conditions of the track, inaccurate laptime measurements or whatever... it should be way faster than that.""

They obviously haven't gone "balls to the walls" yet, and low 7:40's is hardly a joke when testing the suspension.... that would be akin to timing the new GTR, and GTR V spec during the same conditions ... these few weeks are shakedown tests

GM are running the NS for about 2 weeks..... toward the end of that time, I would expect a more "public" number to be released

[rusrocket]

why are they saying 1:40 instead of 7:40

[RC45]

Originally Posted by rusrocket why are they saying 1:40 instead of 7:40

Because just like 98% of all media outlets, Edmunds is run by clueless jackasses and moronic idiots just in it for the advertising money

I know of 9 year olds that could read a prepared script better that the one in the video.

[toffytofik]

Originally Posted by nthfinity They obviously haven't gone "balls to the walls" yet, and low 7:40's is hardly a joke when testing the suspension.... that would be akin to timing the new GTR, and GTR V spec during the same conditions ... these few weeks are shakedown tests

Yup, exactly what i thought shortly after posting the thread. There're two guys in the car, at least one of them is engineer (if not both).

[styla21]

CAN'T WAIT!!

[madpony]

You know I wouldn't at all be surprised if all out Chevy comes back with something in the high 20s. That would put it in some nice company too; Carrera GT/Zonda. Of course if it comes in under the new Vspec time RC will have a heyday.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by styla21 CAN'T WAIT!!

Hmmm.. you sound as excited as if you were one of the "family"..... you are still joining the "family" right?

Originally Posted by madpony Of course if it comes in under the new Vspec time RC will have a heyday.

What? Me worry?

[nthfinity]

Originally Posted by madpony You know I wouldn't at all be surprised if all out Chevy comes back with something in the high 20s. That would put it in some nice company too; Carrera GT/Zonda. Of course if it comes in under the new Vspec time RC will have a heyday.

I'm not expecting "much" under 7:30, for the main reason that the new ZR1 is a GT, and not a track oriented street car.... I'm looking for the Viper SRT-10 ACR to set something special when it comes to lap time if they are willing with the cost of spending a week or two at NS over at Chrysler...

[graywolf624]

Im just curious how much the heat soak will affect it. But gm wont show that.

[styla21]

Originally Posted by RC45 Hmmm.. you sound as excited as if you were one of the "family"..... you are still joining the "family" right?

Feels like I'm at the DNA testing lab waiting for results to come back.. Appears that all RHD conversions will be done here in Aus, but all performance mods, tweaks, and fittings will be done with MTI. Check email

[RC45]

Originally Posted by styla21 Feels like I'm at the DNA testing lab waiting for results to come back.. Appears that all RHD conversions will be done here in Aus, but all performance mods, tweaks, and fittings will be done with MTI. Check email

Hehe - "Go Nuts" - nice

Talking of going nuts, I might have a little something something being cooked up this summer - not many details are final yet, but how does 800bhp+ normally aspirated tickle the fancy??

[styla21]

You're always a step ahead.... But to say it sounds intriguing, would be a gross understatement!
Definately, more info please asa available!!

[79TA]

I still wish GM would just give the Z06 another shot with some more aggressive tires (ie make that an option on the car; no more of this runflat nonsense) . . . that alone should be enough to beat the GT-R's claimed ring time.

[5vz-fe]

^It's really a m00t point really. The Z06 owners will not love their cars any less because it's a few seconds behind at the ring. For what's worth, they should be proud given the minimal electronic help, RWD, less grippy tires, just good old push rod NA setup and leaf springs suspension, the Z still comes just few seconds behind.