Posted on Thursday 24 April 2008
When introduced at the Detroit Auto Show back in January, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1’s power was estimated at more than 100hp for each liter of its 6.2L of supercharged V8. GM has lived up to that promise and delivered an official SAE certified power rating of 638hp (476kW) and 819Nm (604lb-ft) of torque.
This puts the LS9’s output at nearly 103hp per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the engine’s 376 cubic inches. It also makes the new powertrain the most powerful engine ever released by GM in a production car and ensures the Corvette ZR1 is able to reach speeds in excess of 200mph.
The supercharged V8 is hand-built by specially trained technicians at GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan. The site is a unique, small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Corvette Z06’s LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.
Key to the engine’s performance is a forged steel crankshaft with a nine-bolt flange, titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons, rotocast cylinder heads with titanium intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves, a dry-sump oiling system with integrated oil coolers and, of course, the positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger.
The design of the supercharger promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while the large, 2.3L displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is 10.5psi (0.72bar).
The Corvette ZR1 goes on sale in the middle of the year and is tipped to be the most fuel-efficient 600hp-plus vehicle on the market.
This is crazy!
I would like to see a comparison test between the ZR1, the Carrera GT and the Enzo. And throw the GT3 and the 599GTB in there for good measure. I just would like to see how they compare. Now the ZR1 has the power but does it have everything else?
hector; i’m interested myself. expect this car to make it onto top gear as soon as possible. you may just see that comparison test.
I know that chevy benchmarked the new C6 with the F430, and my understanding is that it’s actually quite good for the money.
as far as this monster though… the GT3, R8, and even the 599 might have a hard time… actually… i’d be willing to guarantee they’d be left in the dust. enzo is a class of its own and the carrera,… like wise.
They’ve surely done extensive tuning on this thing be even then… when you’re talking about a car that is a full 100 hp stronger than the rest of the cars that you listed… well… subtle losses in the handling can be grossly compensated with a little more throttle.
In a straight line, i think ZR1 would easily thrash GT3 and most likely will leave the 599GTB in it’s wake as well. As for CGT and Enzo, that’s harder to say, but i wouldn’t be surprised if ZR1 can just edge ahead or stay with them with all that power and torque. However, it will be handling in the corners that will be the real challenge
yeah but for a significantly lower bottom line….. who the heck cares.
Quite a car.
I’d love to see what it feels like to just nail that throttle while crusing along at 30 or so. Must be such a rush…
I still think this would be a comparison with the 599
it is more similar to that than the enzo because of its platform, and suspension set-up.
Also remember that the 599 is really just as fast as the enzo.
Yes, but the price!
It’s always something people forget, just how (relatively) cheap these cars are…
Gus, it will feel amazing to nail that throttle even at 100mph. With this much power
it’s a scary car to drive at any speed.
Score one for pushrods!
PRICE, PRICE, PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more???? Whatever this car lacks, can be upgraded for a few or even several thousand dollars more.-And still cost a FRACTION of the ‘competitors’. -And it can be driven daily without killing you on the gas bill side. That’s one of the several things that make this car TRUE “Daily Driver”-not just the bargain price.