VETTE ZR1 REVEALED!!!

[big_bank5000]

Chalk up another loss Dodge/mopar for their precious viper. I like the new Zr-1 i saw it this morning on detroit news its suppose to making its apperence at the detroit auto show. When i saw it on the news i just knew you guys were going to be talking about it. Also i like the Zr-1 it gives corvette that distguished looked from the other corvettes. usually people cant tell a zo6 from an LS3 but now they can. I'm in love with this car and when i see it in the street in my camaro I know one thing.... im backin down lol.

and o yeah look at dodge already fearing a loss coming up Hennessy plans on releasing a stronger dodge viper with 675hp to fend off the ZR-1 here's some articles I looked up.

http://www.fast-autos.net/vehicles/H...er_Venom_650R/

http://njection.com/blogs/jalopnik/a...auto-show.aspx

[Hyperknight]

Haha, I love it! Dodge and Chevy going toe to toe. Ford better wake up.

[big_bank5000]

you can kind of relate this to the production of the camaro (and i know , i know GM says "FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR ENGINES") this still goes the show the camaro shot at 500hp is more than highly likely to get that. i just know one thing I love this corvette i changed my computer wallpaper from the camaro to the pics above. (only soon to be changed back to the camaro i just have to adore the beauty of the ZR-1). I cant wait till the 2008 detroit auto show comes!!!!

[Aries]

Originally Posted by stovt001

3.0L straight 6, 300hp. Oh, and the other ones you mentioned, the hp is there, but absolutely no torque. This makes both hp and torque darn near 100 per liter.

Again, supercharged. Not that impressed. And I thought we were talking about hp/liter not torque? Also, which BMW motor needs to use twin turbocharging to get 100hp/liter?

[LSxcellent]

Originally Posted by Aries

Again, supercharged. Not that impressed. And I thought we were talking about hp/liter not torque? Also, which BMW motor needs to use twin turbocharging to get 100hp/liter?

I think he's referring to the new 3L twin turbo motor found in the 335i and 135i. Its got an even 300hp/300lbft...

The only downside that I see to supercharging is the loss in efficiency (which it sounds like they've addressed with the new supercharger design) and the slight increase in weight associated with it.

BMW does make the best NA motors around... the new M3 motor is an absolute screaming race engine (8500+rpm redline! Crazy!). No doubt its a better engine, but you'll pay thru the nose for it... both up front and in maintence costs. If that M3 engine every breaks outside of warranty, I would be VERY afraid of the repair costs. The truly nice thing about ANY of these GM engines is that they are affordable to run and maintain.

~LSx

[Aries]

Originally Posted by LSxcellent

I think he's referring to the new 3L twin turbo motor found in the 335i and 135i. Its got an even 300hp/300lbft...

The only downside that I see to supercharging is the loss in efficiency (which it sounds like they've addressed with the new supercharger design) and the slight increase in weight associated with it.

BMW does make the best NA motors around... the new M3 motor is an absolute screaming race engine (8500+rpm redline! Crazy!). No doubt its a better engine, but you'll pay thru the nose for it... both up front and in maintence costs. If that M3 engine every breaks outside of warranty, I would be VERY afraid of the repair costs. The truly nice thing about ANY of these GM engines is that they are affordable to run and maintain.

~LSx

I find that comparing apples to oranges. A ZR1 motor compared to a grocery getting, entry level BMW? Gimmie a break.

Again, I think GM makes great cars and has excellent technology. I hope that the ZR1 motor finds it's way into the hi-po camaro. Maybe that's where they're getting the 550hp rumor. Makes sense. Past Camaro's have shared the Corvette motor, but in a slightly detuned fashion. (they said because of exhust routing....yeah right, we all know it was cause GM didn't want to step on the toes of the Vette guys)

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Myka

First, let me say, I almost feel sorry for the Viper. I can only imagine how the ZR1 is going to rip it apart in the magazine articles.

The next thing I want to say is, I don't think I would want this car. I like the idea of having a car that I can improve on throughout the ownership of it. There is no doubt in my mind that this car will run mid-to low 11's and 0-60 in about 3.0. And I wouldn't feel right about improving on it because the car is so expensive. And then I would start obsessing about it. Like being afraid of a wreck or a scratch. Eventually, I would stress about it to the point where I wouldn't even take the care out. I know others are different, so to each his own.

The 600 hp Viper is a good match to the Z06. The ZR-1 is a monster. And the best performance that you can get for 100k. I really want to see the comparisons that are made over the summer. Its rare that anything American gets put into the same class of performance as Lambo's and Ferrari's, especially when those cars cost 3x as much.

[Moose]

Just a little side story;

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal tonight about the ZR1, and a 54 yr. old multi-millionaire who is the President of Metropolitan Motor Sports, and owner of more than 100 rare and exotic automobiles, has at least 2 ZR1's on order!

[Scotsman]

Originally Posted by Moose

Just a little side story;

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal tonight about the ZR1, and a 54 yr. old multi-millionaire who is the President of Metropolitan Motor Sports, and owner of more than 100 rare and exotic automobiles, has at least 2 ZR1's on order!

Greedy S.O.B. I probably couldn't even afford a wheel off of that car.

[Scotsman]

Aforementioned WSJ article:

GM Flexes an Old Muscle
With Souped-Up Corvette
Iconic Brand Boasts
600-Horse Engine,
Six-Figure Price Tag
By JOHN D. STOLL and TERRY KOSDROSKY
December 20, 2007; Page D4

After developing hybrids and promoting green-technology initiatives, General Motors Corp. is set to headline the North American International Auto Show with a car that will be among the most powerful and expensive it has ever sold.
[corvette]

Building on Chevrolet's muscle-car heritage and cachet with affluent car enthusiasts, GM will introduce its highly anticipated Corvette ZR1 coupe at the show. The car, with only a handful allotted to the Detroit company's thousands of Chevy dealers, will come with a supercharged, 600-horsepower engine and a price tag of about $100,000.

GM's ZR1 is expected to be a highlight at next month's Detroit gathering. Several auto makers are planning to show off high-horsepower vehicles that offer consumers a lot of juice and, in many cases, less-than-optimal fuel-economy numbers. Some of the ZR1's competitors -- such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis -- get about 10 miles a gallon, or one-third of what is considered ideal. GM hasn't released gas-mileage specifications for the ZR1.

While GM promises the ZR1 will be loaded with the latest in technology, it is a stark representation of the quickly fading glory days of the U.S. car industry.

As lawmakers increase efforts to force auto makers into building more fuel-efficient automobiles, GM executives admit the day of the American muscle car may be numbered.

"High-performance cars like this may be legislated out of existence," Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter said. Chevrolet is rushing to meet the demand for such vehicles, which commonly return hefty margins to their makers.

"The vehicle is a tremendous value," said Ken Ligenfelter, a multimillionaire car collector from Brighton, Mich. Mr. Ligenfelter, the 54-year-old president of Metropolitan Motor Sports, owns more than 100 rare and exotic automobiles, including dozens of Corvettes. He has ordered at least two ZR1s.

Some of the high-end European exotics, including cars made by Ferrari SpA and Automobili-Lamborghini Holding SpA, have higher prices. A Lamborghini Murcielago LP645 costs $340,000.

Despite the Corvette's price tag, Wisconsin Chevrolet dealer John Bergstrom insists it will be a hit, saying he has about exponentially more people saying they want the vehicle than will get a chance to buy one.

"The real important thing is this car can be had for half or sometimes a third of the price" of its competition, Mr. Ligenfelter said.

GM is pulling the ZR1 brand out of its recent-history book, borrowing it from a special-edition Corvette that was sold in the 1990s but offered far less power. One of the features that is expected to set the ZR1 apart is carbon-fiber body panels that the company guarantees will last a lifetime. The carbon fiber is lathered with a clear coating that costs about $2,000 a gallon because of a rare additive.

GM will likely build about 2,000 ZR1s annually in an effort to maintain exclusivity. Besides the ZR1, which goes on sale later in 2008, Chevrolet sells other versions of the car for base prices between $46,000 and $71,000.

[stovt001]

Originally Posted by LSxcellent

I think he's referring to the new 3L twin turbo motor found in the 335i and 135i. Its got an even 300hp/300lbft...

The only downside that I see to supercharging is the loss in efficiency (which it sounds like they've addressed with the new supercharger design) and the slight increase in weight associated with it.

BMW does make the best NA motors around... the new M3 motor is an absolute screaming race engine (8500+rpm redline! Crazy!). No doubt its a better engine, but you'll pay thru the nose for it... both up front and in maintence costs. If that M3 engine every breaks outside of warranty, I would be VERY afraid of the repair costs. The truly nice thing about ANY of these GM engines is that they are affordable to run and maintain.

~LSx

Yup thats what I was referring too. I think what this illustrates is that you can get 100+ hp/liter NA, but if you want the torque too it seems like some boosting is in order. Also, the LS9 probably could make far more power, but as it is hard enough to launch the 500hp Z06 without melting the tires away on the spot. The 620 hp ZR1, despite its advanced suspension to keep the rear tires loaded, will also be an absolute beast to try to launch. Adding any more power would just be counterproductive.

[Scotsman]

^Amen to that.

I'm sure at some point in time we will see a 5thgen with this motor, maybe a GM concept car for a future SEMA show???

[stovt001]

If GM doesn't, someone will.

[Scotsman]

Originally Posted by stovt001

If GM doesn't, someone will.

Exactly.