2009 Corvette ZR1

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It has been announced that there will be a mximum production of 2,000 ZR1's for 2009. It is estimated that nearly half will go to high paying celebrities and the ramining 1,000 to be distributed accross the United States. Only 10% of Chevrolet dealerships will even receive one. Of those 10% most will receive two or less for the year. Some dealerships will receive more but it is likely very few.

 

The ZR1 has officialy been dynoed at 638 hp with a top speed of 208 MPH. The SAE certification also indicates 604 lb-ft of torque. For those concerned about fuel mileage with gas prices on the rise, the ZR1 will be the most fuel efficient 600 plus horsepower car on the road. We believe it since if you look at past corvette fuel mileage, it is really quite good. But really who cares with this car?

 

Corvette Chief Engineer (and Autoblog commenter) Tadge Juechter said that the new ZR1 "will be able to take the production-car track record at any racetrack" and should lap the famed Nurburgring race track in Germany in "seven minutes, twenty-something seconds." Considering Nissan just posted a new official lap time of 7:29 for the GT-R and that the GT-R V-Spec is reportedly clicking off laps in 7:25, them sounds like fightin' words. Well, the ZR1 is officially being flogged around the Ring as we speak, though no one has yet to report a lap time for this gorgeous prototype. BridgetoGantry.com reports that yesterday there was a helicopter over the track "chasing something that sounded very V8 and awfully supercharged," so perhaps lap times will soon be forthcoming. We imagine the supercharged LS9 V8's 628 horsepower and the ZR1's 205-mph (spec'd) top speed will not disappoint.
Corvette ZR1 chief engineer Tadge Juechter recently sat down to participate in a live chat on GMNext to answer questions about Chevy's new supercar, with topics ranging from fuel-economy to production numbers.

GM hasn't run its fuel economy test yet, but in a previous release from the General, it expects the ZR1 to be the most fuel-efficient 600-hp vehicle on the market. Juechter did say that the ZR1, "will be somewhat less [fuel-efficient] than a Z06," which is currently rated at 15/24 by the EPA, "and we expect a small gas-guzzler tax [on the ZR1]." Production will be limited to 2,000 units each year for worldwide consumption and pricing will be revealed sometime this month.

Juechter went on to say that ZR1 accessories wouldn't be made available for lesser Corvette models, so buyers won't be able to option up for carbon-ceramic brakes or Michelin tires on their Z06s. When asked if engineers considered all-wheel-drive for the ZR1, he emphasized that making the vehicle as lightweight as possible was a top priority and that an AWD system "would have added too much mass." [copyright http://www.autoblog.com]

 

Rumor became fact at the 1989 Geneva Auto Show, when the ZR-1 officially debuted. It was a time when performance cars were only beginning to regain some of the underhood strength enjoyed during the heyday of the muscle car, and the ZR-1’s 375-horespower (280 kW) LT5 V-8 engine – with its DOHC configuration and four-valve heads – was an intoxicating  breath of high-octane excitement. The all-aluminum LT5 engine’s design was a collaboration of GM and Lotus Engineering, sharing only a 5.7-liter displacement with other small-block engines. The engine was built by Mercury Marine, which was renowned for its aluminum machining capability. Engineers were justifiably proud of the LT5’s refinement and smoothness; so much so that it was claimed a nickel placed on its end on top of the engine wouldn’t fall over when the engine was started.

 

The challenge was immediately taken up – and the LT5 roared to life while the nickel remained standing. The ZR-1 was more than merely a more powerful Corvette – it was a complete performance package that included wider rear bodywork to accommodate humongous rear tires and a unique, convex rear fascia with rectangular taillamps that made the car recognizable at a glance. The distinctive exterior elements contributed to the car’s mythical status among enthusiasts and auto critics.

At its launch, the ZR-1 was found on the cover of just about every automotive publication around the globe, with Car and Driver dubbing it the “Corvette from Hell.” Proving the ZR-1’s performance lived up to its instant legend status, a production model was sent to a high-speed test track at Fort Stockton, Texas, and set seven world speed records – the most notable being a 24-hour endurance run that averaged 175.8 mph (283 km/h) and recorded more than 4,200 miles.

 

During 1990, the premium ZR-1 recorded 3,044 sales. Subsequent model years didn’t quite match the buzz created by that first year, even with a horsepower increase to 405 (302 kW) in 1993. This was due partly to all Corvette models from 1991 through 1995 – the ZR-1’s 1995 final year – wearing convex rear fascias that made them almost indistinguishable from the higher-performance “King of the Hill” models. Total production of the 1990-95 ZR-1 was 6,939. The new king Nineteen years after its release, a new ZR1 is set to reclaim the title as the king. Interestingly, the standard 2008 Corvette has more horsepower than the 1990 ZR-1, but the new ZR1’s approximate 620 horses is 45 percent more than the base model’s 430 rating. That’s roughly the same advantage the LT5 carried over the standard 1990 Corvette’s 250-horsepower engine. With features such as unique , exposed carbon-fiber body panels, a raised hood with a window to the LS9 engine and massive 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, there’s little chance the new ZR1 will be mistaken for any other model. It also wears distinguishing blue accents, including the engine cover visible through the hood window, the brake calipers and the rear fascia badge – the only rear fascia badge affixed to current-generation Corvettes. By the way, historians and detail-minded enthusiasts will note the ’09 ZR1 is spelled without the hyphen that designated the 1990-95 ZR-1. This is because GM has changed its naming convention and the un-hyphenated “ZR1” corresponds with the current rule for alphanumeric designations.

 

The specialized components of the new ZR1 work harmoniously to deliver the most powerful and fastest automobile ever produced by General Motors. Performance estimates will be announced closer to vehicle’s summer 2008 launch. “Preliminary testing shows the ZR1 builds on the highly respected Corvette Z06 in every performance category, from acceleration and braking, to cornering grip and top speed,” said Peper. “It all boils down to the power-to-weight ratio and the ZR1’s is exceptional – better than the Porsche 911 GT2, the Ferrari 599 and even the Lamborghini LP640. In fact, the ZR1 is
expected to be the first production Corvette to achieve a top speed of at least 200 mph.”

 

Below is a speed trial of the new Corvette ZR1.

 

 

This has some great race footage of it as well.

 

 

Fill out our quick form at the bottom to get current information direct from us. We are an authorized retailer and will be receiving multiple ZR1's in the US. We will still take orders up to the very last Corvette! Chevrolet has announced a cap of 2,000 total ZR1's to be produced. We anticipate we will recieve 5-10 of them. Don't delay, we have been allotted two ZR1's at the beginning of June and are expecting more. We encourage anyone interested to contact us now because as the popularity continues to grow, the car will be tougher to get.

 

2009 CORVETTE ZR1 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
Overview:
Model:	2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Body style / driveline :	2-door hatchback coup with fixed roof; rear wheel drive ear-wheel drive.
Construction:	composite and carbon-fiber body panels, hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components
Manufacturing Location:	Bowling Green, Ky
Engine	6.2l SUPERCHARGED V-8 (LS9)
Displacement (cu in / cc):	376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm):	4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material:	cast aluminum
cyiinder head material:	cast aluminum
Valvetrain:	overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery:	SF1 (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio:	9.1:1
Horsepower / kW:	620 / 462 (est.)
Toroue (lb-ft I Nm):	595 / 823 (est.)
Recommended fuel economy	Premium Required
EPA estimated fuel economy	TBD