Jalopnik: 2009 Corvette ZR1

First 2009 Corvette ZR1 Rolls Off Assembly Line To Thunderous Media Silence

Andrew Stoy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EDT

The much-anticipated 2009 Corvette ZR1 began production, as the first unit finished the assembly process and was delivered to Chevy dealer Dave Ressler during a press event in Bowling Green on Monday. What, you didn't notice? Well, it seems the build coincided with the unveiling of the new Chevy Camaro, forcing the ZR1 news under the radar. Guess those promotions budget cuts only allow one high-profile unveiling per week, eh?

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Dave Ressler, the new owner of the first 2009 ZR1 — the rights to which were sold at Barrett-Jackson, with proceeds going to charity — also happens to be the owner of the oldest known Corvette, a 1953 model. So what does Ressler do for a living? Why, he's a Chevy dealer, of course, and the owner of a large 'Vette collection in North Dakota. Ressler hasn't announced his plans for the new car, which has unique blue paint and a special VIN, but we hope he doesn't squirrel it away in his barn. North Dakota farm roads and ZR1s seem made for each other. [via VetteTube]

Video From Yesterday's Corvette ZR1 Long-Lead Drive Seeps Out, Shows Magazines "Driving" Blue Devil

Ray Wert — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:40:00 EDT

We'd heard the long-lead media "drive" for the 2009 Corvette ZR1 was yesterday and it looks like the first in-car driving footage is now out on the web, less than 24 hours later. We obviously weren't there, primarily since we'd heard it was all magazines there. Frankly, we just don't need as much time as the glossies to put out a good story. We don't have character blocks to set in the printing press, no ink to squirt out and no parchment to unroll. So we guess it makes sense that we wouldn't need an invite to an event this far out. Of course, we also expected the invited media reps from the big n' bad buff books would, you know, drive the cars themselves. UPDATE: The video's from Motive Mag, an online publication. Who knew they needed extra time too? Slow pokes.

Instead, we're treated to GM test engineer Jim Mero — we think — driving one of the invited journalists around the road course at the General's Milford Proving Grounds. We know Mero's a pretty damn good driver — he shot the ZR1 'round the Nubrugring in record time. Maybe he was just having a bad day today, but how many cones did he hit on this particular run 'round the "Lutz Ring?" Probably a lot less than the number whoever he was driving would have had he gotten behind the wheel himself.

Not to say he didn't. Whoever it is in the passenger seat probably did get a few minutes of limited driver seat time. We just hope this video won't cast aspersions on "test drives" coming out of the event. [More over at VetteTube]

Building The 638 HP LS9 Corvette ZR1 Engine

Mark Arnold — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Ever wonder what the hand-assembly of an LS9 — the 638 HP supercharged heart of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 — actually looks like? Well, the guys over at Automobile actually got to lend a hand in bolting one together. So, let's all take a moment to forget all about Nurburgring lap times and dealer mark-ups to sit back and watch GM do what GM perhaps does best: build a big ol' thumpin' V8. Video after the jump.

[AutomobileMag]

Jalopnik Visits Hennesey Performance: Track Addicts, The Corvette ZR1 And Lexus IS-F

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:20:00 EDT

With the demise of the Viper looming, Hennessey Performance is setting itself up to continue providing tuning services well into the future. Surprisingly, Hennessey will be working on the 2009 Corvette ZR1, a car that the company acknowledged as the Viper's enemy. They're also working on offering a kit for the Lexus IS-F, set to include headers and a modified exhaust system to squeeze more oopmh from the eight-geared oddity. And what about that big chunk of land they're sitting on?

We've already mentioned that the company has a drag strip behind their main building but that's just the start of the Lone Star Motorsports Park racing facility they hope to build. The first phase of the track is set to be approximately 1.75 miles long with a 1.06-mile second phase and two small connections. The combined long track should have a maximum length of 2.54 miles of racing surface. One of the features they're hoping to build into the track is a separate entrance for celebrities (Nicholas Cage, for instance) who own the extreme cars but don't necessarily want to get hassled in the pits by dudes who totally loved National Treasure.

(also see our tour of Hennessey HQ, Hennessey Challegner SRT600 Exclusive First Look and Weird Hennessey Vehicles)

Video Proof Of The 2009 Corvette ZR1s 7:26.4 Nurburgring Lap

Mark Arnold — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EDT

We've been eagerly waiting for this since we first heard the news of the stunning 7:26.4 Nurburgring lap time set by the 2009 Corvette ZR1. Now, we've finally got the footage of the Godzilla-killer in action, ripping up the Nordschleife. But will this silence the skeptics? Either way, the Nissan GT-R had better have something fast in store with the 2010 Nissan GT-R Spec V. But enough talk, let's sit back and enjoy the show. Video below the jump.

[GM Next]

2009 Corvette ZR1 Spotted On Vacation In Elk Rapids, MI

Ray Wert — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:40:00 EDT

Jalopnik reader and tipster Kyle spent the July 4th vacation up near Michigan's pinkie finger in Traverse City. On a quick jaunt down to Elk Rapids, a town not too far away from there, he ran across a yellow 2009 Corvette ZR1 sitting pretty at the roadside in the resort town. Maybe it's just tired and taking a vacation over the summer GM shut-down. Although we did notice there's no manny plates on it, that may just be because it's a "captured test fleet" vehicle. In all fairness, we're still not quite sure we get the distinction between "captured test fleet" and you know, a "test vehicle." Maybe there's no distinction. Anyone want to take us up on our question — drop a note into the comments below.

Garage 419 Debates ZR1 Vs. GT-R, Nurburgring Times Faked?

Mark Arnold — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:20:00 EDT

In the wake of the 2009 Corvette ZR1's record lap of the Nurburgring, some people are arguing whether the claims made manufacturers are legit. Matt Farah over at Garage419 has sources who claim the tires may have been shaved for more grip. But how much do Nurburgring lap times really matter? If you were choosing between a ZR1 and a GT-R, would you care about 'Ring times? These questions and more, as Matt and cross-continental racer Alex Roy debate the hot topics on Garage419. Video below the jump.

The Fastest Laps Of The Nurburgring: How The ZR1 Stacks Up

Mark Arnold — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EDT

Now that the 2009 Corvette ZR1 has set a lap time of 7:26.4, we've been trying to wrap our heads around just how fast that really is. Sure, it's faster than the GT-R, but we're wondering if there's anything that can make the ZR1 look slow. With the caveat that lap times vary depending on track conditions and driver skill, let's take a look at some of the fastest lap times around the the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and see what's what.

7:29.03 - Nissan R35 GT-R
The calling card of the new Nissan GT-R is technology witchcraft. On paper, you wouldn't expect much from a 3800lb car with a V6. But on the track, the grip of the trick AWD system channeling 480 HP from the twin-turbocharged engine is pure magic.

7:26.40 - Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The instant legend. Keep in mind, there was reportedly a strong headwind on the main straight, which could have actually slowed things down a bit. Could the ZR1 possibly set an even faster time in the future?

6:55 - Radical SR8
With only about 360 HP, the Radical is not about raw power. Its strengths instead are a race-style chassis, complete with real downforce-generating spoilers. Or course, since the car only weighs about 1430 lbs, the Radical has an incredible power-to-weight ratio. A slightly less powerful 320 HP Radical SR3 Turbo has even run a 7:19 lap. Though we doubt you'll find one being valet-parked at the country club, the Radical is technically streetable. As such, it is the fastest road-going car around the Nordschleife.

6:11.13 - Porsche 956
If the ZR1 is fast, then this is warp speed. it's the fastest official lap time ever recorded on this configuration of the track. What makes it even more amazing is that this was 25 years ago, back in 1983.

[lap times]

Corvette ZR1 Laps Nurburgring In 7:26.4

Mark Arnold — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:35:00 EDT

Today, the 2009 Corvette ZR1 officially stepped up the global war for Nürburgring supremacy, as General Motors development engineer Jim Mero drove a stock ZR1 around the Nürburgring in a time of 7:26.4. That's significantly faster than the 7:29 lap set by the Nissan GT-R. We can't wait to see what the rest of the world's supercar competitors are gonna do now to step up their game.

GM assures us that the lap time was set by stock ZR1, fitted only with extra safety and communications equipment. Everything else, from the production-spec Michelin Pilot tires, to the factory-spec ride height and suspension settings were untouched. Even the fuel was normal pump gas, though that stuff is still probably like $500 per gallon in Germany, right? None the less, this is the same spec car that people all across the country are going to buy at an inflated price, and inevitably hide away in their garage only to be driven on Sundays. Let's hope some this isn't the last we'll see of the ZR1 ripping up a racetrack.
[General Motors]

Ashley Van Dyke Is NOT Driving A Corvette ZR1 In The Bullrun

Ray Wert — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:30:38 EDT

A quick glance at the very graphical press release from Ashley Van Dyke, the motor-loving mistress of the Bullrun TV show, and you'll think perhaps she'll be driving the new $413,000 ($105,000 minus dealer markup) and 638 HP 2009 Chevy ZR1 in this week's Bullrun road rally. It's hard not to. It's right there at the top of the press release. For a moment there we thought maybe Chevy was throwing down the ZR1 for some road rallying hype — like the Z06 before it for the Frankl twins. A quick e-mail to Chevy was enough to tell us they certainly didn't give her one and according to our friends at GTSpirit, we've found out what she is driving. They tell us the lovely lady's driving a Corvette Z06. While the Z06 is a blast to drive, we don't think it's quite the horsepowergasm of the upcoming ZR1. Mostly because it's not so powerful we're simultaneously pissing our pants and giggling like a schoolgirl at the thought of getting behind the wheel. So, while there's no ZR1 on the 'run, self-promotion is still running rampant. Hit the jump to see the press release in its entirety. [Ashley Van Dyke, Bullrun]

Watching Paint Dry, Corvette-Style

Mark Arnold — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Recently we showed you where a Corvette ZR1 comes from, but the video skipped over one key process that's often overlooked. That would be the paint job. Don't think it's just a couple guys with spray guns holding their shirts over their faces in there: This is a relatively elaborate process. When all's said and done, your new Corvette ZR1 be lookin' mighty fine indeed. Check out the video below the jump.

[General Motors]

Dealer Gouging Reportedly Sends 2009 Corvette ZR1 To Amazingly Insane Price Of $413,000

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EDT

The 2009 Corvette ZR1, GM's new mega-powered super car, will reportedly only be offered to the top 338 Chevy dealers nationwide. That effectively shuts out the other 3,594 from the chance of offering one to enthusiastic fans of the bowtied brand. We guess that explains the four-times-the-price gouging we're hearing about from potential customers. That's right, although the 638 HP 2009 ZR1 gets a price tag of $103,300 ($105,000 with the $1,700 gas guzzler tax) and Corvette engineers asking dealers to respect the MSRP, we've received at least one report from a reader of being told that despite his down payment 2 1/2 years ago, he'd have to put up between two and four times the MSRP to get one in his garage. If that number is accurate, the street price will be somewhere between $206,600 and $413,200 for Zee Really fast One. Full report from our tipster looking for recourse from someone — anyone — after the jump.

"I put a deposit down for the 2009 ZR1 about 2 1/2 years ago at "my" chevy dealer from whom I have bought many GM cars, including trucks, vettes. I have probably bought 15+ GM vehicles over the years. I was told 2 1/2 years ago that the price for this "iffy" car would be around the same ratio as the 5K overcharge I paid for my 2006 Z06.
I was called to order my ZR1 yesterday since I was #1 on the allocation list of this dealer's 4 allocations. I was told that by the way the price would be between 2-4 times the MSRP. Tadge Juechter, the Chief of Corvette Engineering, has urged GM ZR1 dealers to respect the MSRP. I am very upset with the greed and disregard for customer loyalty in a down economy. Is there any recourse?"

We wish there were — although we'll be forwarding on your complaint to the good folks at Chevy to ask them their thoughts. At the very least it definitely shows a demand for the highest priced car in the General's storied history, doesn't it? (Hat tip to Roger!) [via Automotive News (sub. req.)]

Mommy, Where Do Corvette ZR1s Come From?

Mark Arnold — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:45:00 EDT

There comes a time in a legendary sports car's life when the buyers start wondering where all those machines come from. If you're Ferrari or Lamborghini, you whisk your customers off to Italy to show them the hand-assembly lines. But if you're GM, you show off your production line in good ol' Bowling Green, Kentucky, and for real too — without the CG trickery found in their LS2 assembly video. People have been taking delivery of their Vettes straight from the factory for years, but now with a 2009 Corvette ZR1 costing over $103,000 we have a feeling people will be even more critical of how their babies are made. Video of all the hot Corvette construction action after the jump.

[General Motors]

2009 Corvette ZR1 pricing released: 638 HP For $103,300!

Wes Siler — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:55:01 EDT

It's official, the 2009 Corvette ZR1 starts at $103,300. That's $161 per horsepower or $502 per mph; the ZR1 will hit 205mph. Other numbers include 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and a 1/4 mile time of 11.3 seconds at 131mph. Click through for the full numbers.

That $103,300 (plus a $1,700 gas guzzler tax) which gets you a bare bones, lightweight interior based on that of the Z06. For an extra $10k Chevy will sell you the 3ZR package, which brings interior upgrades like power adjustable seats, sat/nav, more airbags, ZR1 embroidery etc.

DETROIT - The official Corvette ZR1 numbers are in and they're good. Very good:
* $103,300 MSRP (including $850 destination charge)
* EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 city and 20 highway
* 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds
* 0-100 mph in 7.0 seconds
* Quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.3 seconds at 131 mph

The Corvette ZR1 also has a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h), making it the fastest Corvette ever produced and ranking it among the global super cars of commensurate performance. None of those other super cars, however, equals the ZR1's performance-per-dollar ratio.

"The ZR1 is an incredible machine by any measure," said Ed Peper, North American Vice President, Chevrolet. "There's simply no other vehicle in the world that does a better job of balancing performance, price and fuel economy."

Performance perspective
The Corvette ZR1's 0-60 performance is 0.3-second quicker than the already-quick Corvette Z06 and the 0-100-mph performance is nearly a full second quicker - 7 seconds vs. the Z06's 7.9 seconds. It is performance that is equal to or better than many super cars costing substantially more.

"A favorable power-to-weight ratio gives the ZR1 an advantage over the competition and performance that has to be experienced to fully appreciate," said Tom Wallace, Corvette chief engineer. "Of course, on a racetrack, drivers of competitors' cars may appreciate the ZR1 in a whole different manner."

And the racetrack isn't the only place where the ZR1 trumps its super-car competitors - it beats them at the gas pump, too. According to fueleconomy.gov, the ZR1's EPA-rated 14 city and 20 highway mileage ratings beat 2008 competitors such as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano (11 city / 15 highway); the Lamborghini Murcielago (8 city / 13 highway) and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (12 city / 19 highway). They're competitive with the Dodge Viper (13 city / 22 highway) and the Porsche 911 GT3 (15 city / 22 highway).

Under the carbon-fiber hood
A new LS9 6.2L supercharged small-block engine powers the ZR1's performance capability. Heavy-duty and lightweight reciprocating components support high-rpm performance, while a new, sixth-generation supercharger (and complementing charge-cooling system) helps the LS9 make big power and torque across the rpm range. The engine is hand-assembled at GM's Performance Build Center, in Wixom, Mich.

In addition to the LS9 engine, the ZR1 is a technology powerhouse, designed with lightweight and unique components that reinforce its performance with a confidant feel on either a highway or road course.

Options
The standard ZR1 comes with accoutrements based on the Z06, including lightweight seats and lightweight content. The available uplevel interior package includes power-adjustable, heated and leather-trimmed sport seats (embroidered with the ZR1 logo); side air bags; Bose premium audio system; navigation system; Bluetooth connectivity; power telescoping steering column; custom leather-wrapped interior available in four colors and more. Chrome wheels are the only other available option on the ZR1. Detailed pricing noted below.

* $103,300 Base MSRP including destination
* $1,700 Gas guzzler tax
* $10,000 Option package
* $2,000 Chrome wheels

2009 Corvette ZR1 Trying To Set Record Lap?

Mark Arnold — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:20:00 EDT

To say the 2009 Corvette ZR1 is a fast car, that would be an understatement. But just how fast? Well it looks like the General has taken aim on setting a record time at the Nürburgring. Rumors are swirling of smack-talking engineers claiming the big bad 'Vette can out-pace the Nissan GT-R. Those claims would mean the ZR1 would have to set a time of less than 7:29 around the Nordschleife.

We're sure the ZR1's 638 HP LS9 supercharged V8 will provide all the power needed, but it's all about how that grunt is put to use. After all, the GT-R only has a V6, albeit twin-turbocharged and connected to a sweet AWD system.
[BridgeToGantry]

Chevy Gets A 2009 Corvette ZR1 Right To The Chin Hey, Look, A ZR1

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Looks like Jay Leno is going to be the first journalist with a drive of the 2009 Corvette ZR1 as these pictures — taken by Jalopnik reader Brendan McAleer — show. That is definitely the Chin taking a spin around Detroit. Guess that means that the current store on autojounro ZR1 drives sits as follows: Pop Mechanics 1, rest of Auto Journiverse 0.
Come on Angus and Chubby Checkers, are you going to let Pop Mech get the scoop? To be fair, we don't know who he is doing this for and, quite likely, he's probably just driving it because Ed Welburn gave him the keys to his ZR1 and said "here, take it." (UPDATE: This is apparently not Jay Leno and the photos were not, it seems, taken by our reader. Rather, they're from the Corvette Forums and taken by a nice guy named Jason about a month ago. Still, pics of a ZR1 on the street.)

2009 Corvette ZR1 Power Numbers Finalized: LS9 V8 Hits 638 HP!

Ray Wert — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:20:00 EDT

We got a release from the folks at the General yesterday, and we were told we could run it at midnight-plus-one, but then we forgot about it. These things happen, you know. We mean, who gets excited about something as fait accompli as the 2009 Corvette ZR1 getting just over 620 HP? Well, if your answer is everyone, you're probably right. And why shouldn't we be excited about Zee new Really fast One from Chevy? Especially since they've now got officially certified power ratings on that beautiful Jakegasmic LS9 engine — 638 HP, nearly 103 horses per liter — and 604 lb-ft of torque, which'll let the new supercharged Corvette ZR1 break that all-important 200 MPH speed barrier. We knew there was a reason we liked this from the moment we first exploded the LS9 for all to see. Next question however is whether Wes will be back in the road test saddle in time for what we're expecting will be a summertime drive of the new ZR1 or whether it'll have to be one of us other Jalops jumping behind the wheel of the supercharged new Corvette. This may be the first time we've ever hoped someone wouldn't get better as quickly as possible. We kid. On the square. Anyway, what we do know is we've got the full press release after the jump.

CHEVROLET ANNOUCES CERTIFIED POWER RATINGS FOR THE NEW CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR1: 638 HP FROM THE SUPERCHARGED LS9 V-8
PONTIAC, Mich. - When it was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1's power was estimated at 100 horsepower for each of its 6.2 liters of displacement. GM Powertrain has completed SAE certification of the ZR1's supercharged LS9 V-8 and the results exceed the estimate: 638 horsepower (476 kW) and 604 lb.-ft. of torque (819 Nm).

The LS9's output is nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the engine's 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive production engine ever manufactured by General Motors and enables the Corvette ZR1 to achieve a top speed of more than 200 mph (322 km/h).

"One of the most amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our designers and engineers have attained. Even with all that power, this car has road manners that will allow our customers to enjoy it on the streets as a daily driver, and on the track," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.

The Corvette ZR1 goes on sale this summer. Its 638-hp supercharged engine is complemented in the chassis by heavy-duty components not offered in any other model, including a six-speed manual transmission with race-hardened gears and dual-disc clutch technology that delivers exceptional clamping power and lower inertia, as well as strengthened axle components.

Fuel economy testing has not been completed, but engineers are confident the ZR1 will be the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market.

The LS9 engine is hand-built by specially trained technicians at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. It is a unique, small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Chevrolet Corvette Z06's LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.

"Developing the LS9 involved more than simply striving for a great horsepower number. Endurance and reliability testing have shown the engine to be robust and low-maintenance, just like other engines in the small-block family," said Sam Winegarden, executive director, engine engineering for GM Powertrain. "That it is distinguished as the most powerful engine ever from General Motors is a source of immense pride among everyone involved with the LS9."

Supercharged aspiration
The key enabler of the LS9's performance is the industry's first production application of a new, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger that has a unique four-lobe rotor design. Its design promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while the large, 2.3-liter displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is 10.5 psi (0.72 bar). It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance.

"The combination of large displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it throughout the power band," said Winegarden. "The low-end torque is tremendous and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing."

A raised hood provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate window in the hood provides a view of the engine beneath it.

LS9 details
The LS9 features many unique design and manufacturing details that support its high-performance nature. They include:
Aluminum cylinder block with iron cylinder liners that are finish-bored and honed with a deck plate installed
Forged steel crankshaft with a nine-bolt flange
Titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons
Stronger, rotocast cylinder heads with 2.16-inch (55 mm) titanium intake valves and 1.59-inch (40.4 mm) hollow-stem, sodium-filled exhaust valves
Camshaft with 0.555-inch (14.1 mm) lift for excellent idle and low-speed driving qualities
A dry-sump oiling system with 10.5-quart (9.9 liters) capacity
Integrated oil cooler and piston-cooling oil squirters
Intercooler cover visible through the hood window that features ZR1-unique blue accents and "LS9 SUPERCHARGED" embossed on the left and right sides

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

# # #

Specifications

LS9 6.2L SUPERCHARGED V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc):
376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):
4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material:
cast aluminum
Cylinder head material:
A356-T6 rotocast aluminum
Valvetrain:
overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery:
SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio:
9.1:1
Horsepower / kW:
638 / 476 @ 6500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft / Nm):
604 / 819 @ 3800 rpm
Fuel shut-off (rpm):
6600
Recommended fuel:
premium required
Exhaust manifolds:
stainless steel
Main bearing caps:
forged steel
Crankshaft:
forged steel
Camshaft:
hollow steel; 0.555-in (14.1 mm) lift
Connecting rods:
forged titanium
Valves:
intake: titanium
exhaust: hollow steel
Valve lifters:
hydraulic roller
Supercharger:
R2300, four-lobe "Roots" type (2.3L)
Additional features:
piston oil-spray cooling; direct-mount ignition coils; 11-rib accessory drive

2009 Corvette ZR1 Raptured, Leaves Behind Carefully Labeled Carbon Fiber Clothes

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Here's a pretty slick wall display from Plasan, the supplier of the carbon fiber parts for the 2009 Corvette ZR1. Instead of just stacking their stuff on the floor and making a path for people to walk through, like we do in the home office, they decided to utilize the wonders of vertical storage and even went all the way with a clever labeling scheme. Here we find out the weights of all the carbon fiber bits they supply for the mega-Vette.

2009 Corvette ZR1 Sets Nürburgring On Fire

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is getting oh so close to launch, and it's just been caught doing hot laps on the Nürburgring. The most powerful Corvette ever built was captured on video running consecutive laps in the 7:40 range — that unofficial time puts it in the race for the top production car ever round the Nordschleife. Not only that, but the conditions of the drive were pure funk, with a cold and wet track and engineers at the helm. ZR1 Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter is noted as saying the ZR1 will beat any production car's track record anywhere in the world and this news stands to back that up. Meander over to Edmunds Inside Line to see video and hear the beast in its element for the first time.

Fireblade Concept Is The New 2009 Corvette ZR1

Ray Wert — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EDT

There's little doubt we're fan-boys when it comes to the new 2009 Corvette ZR1. Any time you take a Corvette and give it more power, lighter weight, bigger brakes and a more competent suspension, you're talking about all the ingredients to send our supercar-loving hearts thumping right out of our chest, sign in hand proclaiming, "Do Want!" Then we found this — the Fireblade design concept — a re-skinning of the already potentially iconic Corvette ZR1 by South African designer-wannabe Idries Noah. Now we know it's nothing more than a 3D dream car rather than even a one-off design, it's still making at least one of us feel a level of pants-tightening excitement we haven't felt since the first time we spotted the ZR1 in an embargoed press event the month before the Detroit Auto Show. True, one of us did say...

..."there's a whole lot of mess going on there in the grille area," and another let us know clearly "I hate it." But we don't care. We think it's beautiful and we want to take it home and pet it all day and dress it up in baby clothes and...yeah. That may have gone too far. Oh well, it's hot. [Serious Wheels via World Car Fans]

2009 Corvette ZR1 Caught Testing In Assorted Colors

Mark Arnold — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:30:00 EDT

It's not secret that we're psyched about the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. So while we've already seen a lot of the upcoming super 'vette in blue, gray, and even with its LS9 engine in pieces, we're excited to see up close shots of it in red and yellow. And now, thanks to some kid hanging out near Corvette HQ in Kentucky, we have. How exactly were the ZR1s caught? They stopped to get burgers. Just don't tell Jeremy Clarkson; we'll never hear the end of it.

[YouTube via CorvetteBlogger via AutoBlog]

We Visit Specter Werkes, See GTR In Progress

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:20:00 EDT

After hearing about the pending unveil of the Specter Werkes GTR and since they're situated only a stones throw from the Jalopnik Detroit HQ, we decided to give 'em a ring and head out for a visit. President and founder Jeff Nowicki gave us a tour of the Troy, Michigan facility and gave us the low-down on what kind of hotness their rebodied Corvette C6 will be. The full scoop below the jump.

The GTR is the natural progression of Specter Werkes existing product line, which was previously topped out with the Group 6 model. When we first saw the new GTR, the car had just finished primary sculpting, meaning one half of the car had been carved out of clay and the full design was given the green light. As might be expected, half a custom car would only raise the ire of enthusiasts, so duplicating the work for the other side was the order of the day when we visited. The working buck was raised on static stands underneath a 4-axis CNC machine designed to scan one side of the car and duplicate it on the other. This is the kind of stuff the big boys do — so there'd be no corners cut here. The CNC tech has the job of fiddling with the the surface model program, setting it to execute, and then making sure the machine doesn't gouge a huge hole out in the progress. It's calm and quiet work requiring an eye for detail, and the ability to tweak software when needed. Normally it's not.

The car emerging from that massive hunk of clay is looking pretty sick. We've heard complaints about the C6 Corvette that despite lacking the giant-rear-end syndrome of its predesessor, it's without a certain je ne sais quoi in the aggressiveness department. The Specter Werkes GTR certainly gets rid of any of those complaints. The crazy aggressively angular body work will be complimented by exclusive Michelin PS2 Zero Pressure tires as wide as your arm is long, at 335/25R20 mounted to 20x12.5" Forgeline wheels in the back and 285/30R19 on 19x10 wheels up front. In case you weren't paying attention right there, that's a crap load of rubber. Carbon fiber bits and pieces will be scattered around in such components as the diffusers and the headlights. We were impressed to find out Specter is working directly with the Tier 1 supplier, Visteon, on getting those headlights directly from the source. These won't be crap aftermarket products.

We're eager to see the GTR #1 at its unveiling next month and we're pretty sure Rollie Purifoy Chevrolet in Lupton, Colorado is excited as well, considering their name is on the papers for that first car off the line. One of these days we might get out to the track to see just what these things will do. Fear not, we'll bring you along for the ride. [Spektor Werks]

Man Generously Selling First Batch Of Corvette ZR-1's, Only $350,000

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:20:00 EDT

We wouldn't blame someone for wanting three 2009 Corvette ZR-1's, as the supercharged V8-powered promises to be the fastest Corvette ever. We guess we can't blame him for selling the other two because, you know, what are you going to do with three of them? But call us old fashioned, because we think charging $350,000 a piece is somewhat uncool. There's no final official price for the car, but a tax slip from the Big BJ Vette Auction let slip that it may only be $99,000. Will the market bear a price 3.5 times the sale price? Probably. The ad below the jump.

Very hard to get ZR1 Corvette 2009 - $350000 yes i have guaranteed myself to get three but only selling two who wants one ?dont wait till this summer there are only 2000 being made price will go up SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY 3476727911

[LA Craigslist]

Chicago Auto Show: 2009 Corvette ZR1 Numbers Confirmed?

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST

Holy surprise, Batman! GM bit the bullet and confirmed those 2008 Corvette ZR1 numbers for us. As we expected, the supercharged V8 will be putting down 620 hp and 595 lb.ft. of torque. And also as expected, the car will rocket to a 200 mph top speed. It's further expected to end world hunger, invent perpetual motion, and discover the origins of life. Seriously! 595 lb.ft. of torque can do that!

Motor Trend Gaming Google on the 2009 Corvette ZR1?

Ray Wert — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:45:00 EST

While covering the Barrett-Jackson auction this weekend, specifically the $1 million purchase of the first "retailable" 2009 Corvette ZR1, we did a quick Google search for the 2009 Corvette ZR1 in order to pull up our old story on the new super-Vette from the General. When the results came up, we noticed something rather odd. No, not Motor Trend being the first result — we mean, come on, they're Motor fuckin' Trend — the fact that Jalopnik is merely a step behind them says little about us and more about Motor Trend's inability to leverage their brand name on the internet — and about how low they've let their brand name go. But we digress. What was weird was that they've got their "exclusive" "scoop" on the ZR1 set up in the "roadtest" section of their site. What? Do they know something we don't? Was there some super-secret drive of the new ZR1 they partook in with Chevy? Our sources at Chevy say no. So what's the reason?

Perhaps the magazine all about the Trend in all-things Motor was merely trying to game the Google system. Basically, if someone does a search for something like "2009 corvette zr1 road test," in order to figure out if they want to buy a super car like the new 2009 Corvette ZR1, and to read about what an actual road test in Zee Really fast 1 would be like, they'd end up with Motor Trend right on top of the search results. This despite not actually having a road test for the prospective reader to read on the new 'vette. Not to smack them for it — just stating what we're seeing — or are we missing something here? [Google Search]

Barrett-Jackson: First 2009 Corvette ZR1 Sells at Auction for $1,000,000

Ray Wert — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:19:54 EST

The first 2009 Corvette ZR1 just sold here on big money day at the big BJ auction for $1,000,000 with a little help from GM's best bud, Jay Leno to Dave Ressler. Although the money's all going to the United Way, we're wondering what this'll mean for the mark-up on the sticker price we'll see for this already $99,000 two-seat supercar. And keep in mind we still don't know what the final number will end up being on horsepower and torque. But — what we do know now is that the sticker price will be $99,000 — thanks to the need to provide the above-and-beyond price for IRS purposes and the charitable deduction. But hey, maybe you'll still get that 100,000 mile guarantee on the powertrain — even if you're buying #1 off the assembly line. Full description from the folks at Barrett-Jackson plus more on winning bidder Dave Ressler, main man at Ressler Chevrolet, below the jump.

From Rumor to Instant Legend in the Blink of an Eye. Chevrolet presents the very "First Retailable Unit Built" Corvette ZR-1 for auction at Barrett-Jackson on Saturday, January 19, 2008 with all proceeds from the auction will benefit The United Way. GM AND BARRETT-JACKSON MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE).

About Dave Ressler:

Dave Ressler of Ressler Chevrolet of Mandan, North Dakota was destined to be in the automotive sales business.
"You can say I was inspired because of my dad who was a car salesman for 25 years," said Ressler of his dad, Chris, who died in 1977 and worked at Bob Chase Chevrolet. "From the day that my dad passed away, Bob kept calling and wanting to hire me."

He eventually did.

In 1972, Chase moved into the facility Ressler now occupies. It was Mandan's only Chevrolet dealership at that time - a distinction it still holds today and is home to 21 employees. In 1980, Chase sold to Ivan Gandrud, who held the store until 1988. Thirty people were working for Chase when the business changed hands. And in 1988, Ressler bought the dealership and hasn't looked back.

Ivan started with 30 employees and took it up to roughly 55 when he sold.

With Ressler it went from 55 to over 130 employees.

Ressler is pretty proud of the growth of his business. He's proud, and justifiably so, of a lot of things.

"I'm probably the youngest car dealer in the two towns," he said. "I started when I was 32. I work hard at what I do. I'm a workaholic. I really don't know how I got that way. Maybe I got it from my dad."

The hard work has paid off.

Ressler said his dealership has received eight Customer Choice Awards over the lasts 6 years. He said this is an accomplishment achieved by no other Chevrolet Dealership anywhere.

"The awards are based on customer satisfaction," he said. "We do not get any extra money for this. It's a 'wow' effect, I guess. It tells us we're all doing a good job."

Ressler said he expects a lot of himself and the same from his employees.

"We have a mission statement that we all work by," he said. "There are five critical areas that we focus on everyday."

They are:

Customer Satisfaction
Employee Enthusiasm
Market Leadership
Ongoing Improvement
Financial Performance
"If we work hard at these five things everyday, we know that we're doing a good job," he said. "It's important to have our employees focused on the right things."

Ressler said he's a hands-on employer - he can't help himself being the workaholic that he is - and enjoys being involved in the daily activities. But there certainly must be a point when he has to slow down, take a break and say "enough already."

But, that's not going to happen anytime soon. In March of 1999, Ressler moved to Bozeman, MT. and acquired a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Toyota dealership. "I'm back in the day-to-day," says Ressler, spending about half his time in Bozeman, and the other half in Mandan.

The Bozeman store, which employs 85 people, believes in the same values as the Mandan store. Because of this, it enjoys being the leader in the Gallatin Valley with more new/used car sales, service, parts sales and body shop service than any other dealer in the valley.

"Selling BEST PRICE has been well accepted, along with Saturday service and parts sales," says Ressler. "I'm having a blast and business is great at both stores. Enough isn't enough, I guess. I'm not going to stop. I'm chasing to be the best of the best!"

Anyone want to buy a 2009 Corvette ZR1? ...

Ray Wert — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST

Anyone want to buy a 2009 Corvette ZR1? The official website just went live. [Chevy]

Detroit Auto Show: Corvette Manager Talks ZR1, Environmentalism?

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST

Our intrepid videographer spent some time listening to Harlan Charles, the Project Manager at GM behind the 2009 Corvette ZR1 talks about his demon ride. During the conversation he manages to fit in as many refs to other products as possible. Count along: Ferrari 599, Audi R8, Corvette Z06, previous gen ZR1. He then goes on to hint inadvertently that the next C6 special edition could involve an environmental twist, but quickly retreats from the statement. Hybrid Vette anyone? Probably E85 Vette first.

Detroit Auto Show: More 2009 Corvette ZR1 Pr0n!

Ray Wert — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:35:15 EST

Hey, you know — who can't get enough of the 600+ HP 2009 Corvette ZR1? We know we can't — which is why we sent Team Jalopnik photographer Sherry Kraft down to the show floor to get us some more shots of Chevy's new super-hotness. We hope you enjoy these close-up and friendly shots. We did, and we ain't even dragons.

Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Corvette ZR1 at GM Style, on Runway...and with Kid Rock?

Ray Wert — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:58:38 EST

Oh yeah, that's it baby, that's it — work it girl! Work — oh wait, something's not right. We know why — that's not a model up there. Nope, it's the 2009 Corvette ZR1 — unveiled here at the GM Style event tonight for it's first ever public unveiling. For a moment we thought maybe it was just some insanely beautiful woman. Also, we thought we were a dragon. Shoot — wrong on both counts. Still some sexy metal — and an amazingly sexy engine. Click the link if you've been living in a cave bereft of any and all automotive news and need to know more about Chevy's new super-Corvette. And yes, to clear up any questions, that is Kid Rock behind the ZR1 and yes, that is Jeff Gordon driving it down the runway. But, what truly made the evening amazing was none other than Run of Run D.M.C. jumping out on stage to bust some rhymes — or whatever it is them thar rappers do. We were too busy gaping at the ZR1 to notice much of what else was going on. Mary J. who?

Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Corvette ZR1? Wait, GM Style Is About Cars?

Ray Wert — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:01:00 EST

Who knew? Seriously — we're here at the GM Style event and although the place is chock full of pretty people and faux hipsters — it's unfortunately seemingly rather bereft of the "cars" at the moment. But for a site like Jalopnik, cars are the stars and supposedly we'll be seeing a very special one tonight — it's the 600+ HP 2009 Corvette ZR1 — and we're absolutely tingling with excitement and anticipation. So, keep checking back this evening and we'll keep you up-to-date on our first sighting of GM's super-duper car. For the moment be content with a car-star — GM's Rick Wagoner. He looks totally hawt tonight, OMG!

More Corvette ZR1 P0rn09r4phy

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST

GM's endowed webshow Garage 419 with a considerable amount of track footage of the soon-to-be outed Corvette ZR1 shot at VIRginia International Raceway. One none-too-surprising observation: at full bore, the kompressor'd LS9 sounds just spacey enough to play the lead role in a movie version of OutRun 2019 (that's Quantum Redshift to you, youngsters). Still, while we're all for the ZR-1's lightness calculus and considerable horsepower, that engine cover — as seen through the hood window — looks like the inside of a Hamilton Beach panini maker. We'd have been satisfied with a shaker hood and a feathered roach clip hanging from the rear-view. [Garage 419]

Barrett-Jackson to Auction First "Retailable" 2009 Corvette ZR1

Ray Wert — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST

Want to be the first to get your hands on a new 2009 Corvette ZR1? In 14 days, head on over to the Barrett-Jackson auction as we've just heard the first ZR1 will be going up for auction as part of their "Muscle Car Wars" marketing of a sale of the first 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, a Shelby GT500 KR and now a 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1. Don't they know we've already got the "Muscle Car Wars" thing trademarked? We'll take our royalties in either cash or any mix of the above acronym-obsessive vehicles from the BJ auctioneers. Full lot quote from the folks all about the BJ after the jump. Oh — and did we mention the Barrett-Jackson folks think it's a "ZR-1 CONVERTIBLE?"

LotNumber 1316 Year 2009 CarMake CHEVROLET CarModel CORVETTE CarStyle ZR-1 CONVERTIBLE
"From Rumor to Instant Legend in the Blink of an Eye. Chevrolet presents the very "First Retailable Unit Built" Corvette ZR-1 for auction at Barrett-Jackson on Saturday, January 19, 2008 with all proceeds from the auction will benefit The United Way."

[Barrett-Jackson via Edmunds]