2009 Corvette ZR1 Spec
Discussion
2009 CORVETTE ZR1 PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
Overview
Model: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Body styles / driveline: 2-door hatchback coupe with fixed roof; rear-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
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery: SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio: 9.1:1
Horsepower / kW: 620 / 462 (est.)
Torque (lb-ft / Nm): 595 / 823 (est.)
Recommended fuel: premium required
EPA estimated fuel economy: TBD
Transmission close-ratio six-speed manual
Application: std
Gear ratios (:1):
First: 2.29
Second: 1.61
Third: 1.21
Fourth: 1.00
Fifth: 0.81
Sixth: 0.67
Reverse: 3.11
Final drive ratio: 3.42
Chassis / Suspension
Front: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Rear: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Traction control: electronic traction control; active handling (Magnetic Selective Ride Control)
Brakes
Type: front and rear power-assisted carbon-ceramic disc with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors; ABS std.
Rotor diameter (in / mm): front: 15.5 / 394rear: 15 / 380
Wheels & Tires
Wheel size: front: 19-inch x 10-inchrear: 20-inch x 12-inch
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 front: P285/30ZR19 rear: P335/25ZR20
Dimensions
Wheelbase (in / mm): 105.7 / 2685
Overall length (in / mm): 176.2 / 4476
Overall width (in / mm): 75.9 / 1928
Overall height (in / mm): 49 / 1244
Curb weight (lb / kg): 3350 / 1519 (est.)
Interior
Seating capacity 2
Interior volume (cu ft / L): 52 / 1475 (all models)
Headroom (in / mm): 38 / 962 (all models)
Legroom (in / mm): 43 / 1092 (all models)
Shoulder room (in / mm): 55 / 1397 (all models)
Hip room (in / mm): 54 / 1371 (all models)
Capacities
Cargo volume (cu ft / L): 22 / 634
Fuel tank (gal / L): 18 / 68.1
Engine oil (qt / L): 12.5 / 11.8
CORVETTE ZR1: IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING
DETROIT – Few new cars have ever caused the stir that whipped up around the 1990 Corvette ZR-1. It started with fuzzy spy photos and Detroit gossip about a high-powered, “King of the Hill” model. Chevrolet was coy, neither confirming nor denying the grist of the rumor mill.
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.
PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN DESIGN SUPPORTS THE CAPABILITY OF THE CORVETTE ZR1 – AND GIVES IT AN UNMISTAKABLE ATTITUDE
DETROIT – In 1990, the Corvette ZR-1 caused a stir with its wider quarter panels, convex rear fascia and squared taillamps. They were the visual clues that identified the special car – the shark fins that made the ZR-1 stand out in a sea of feeders.
Spotting the ’09 ZR1 at a glance is a snap, too, with its unique, carbon-fiber dual-port fenders, exposed carbon-fiber roof panel, rockers and front splitter, as well as a unique rear spoiler. Also exclusive to the ZR1 is a raised, carbon-fiber hood with a polycarbonate window that provides a view of the supercharged engine’s intercooler that proclaims “LS9 SUPERCHARGED.”
Enthusiasts may consider the ZR1’s hood a crystal-clear glimpse at the soul of the ultimate Corvette, while owners of slower, more expensive exotics might just look through it with a green tinge of envy.
“There is nothing subtle about the ZR1,” said Kirk Bennion, exterior design manager. “It is a car that isn’t shy about its capability.”
While the exposed carbon fiber elements and windowed hood symbolize the car’s character, there are numerous other design details that are less obvious yet no less important to the ZR1’s performance. They include:
· Carbon-fiber front fenders widened to accommodate the ZR1’s larger front wheels and tires
· ZR1-specific twin vents in the front fenders
· Full-width rear spoiler with raised outboard sections incorporates the center high-mounted stop lamp
· ZR1-specific 20-spoke alloy wheels in Sterling Silver (chrome available)
· Nineteen-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels inspired by C6R racecars
· Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires; P285/30ZR19 in front and P335/25ZR20 in the rear
· ZR1-specifc blue-painted brake rotors visible through the wheels
“The ZR1 has a performance-driven design,” said Bennion. “There is an aesthetic element to all of the unique features, but they were developed first and foremost to support the car’s performance capability.”
Bennion cites the front splitter and rear spoiler as prime examples.
“Because of its top-speed and handling capabilities, the ZR1 requires more downforce than the Z06 and the splitter and rear spoiler were carefully shaped and wind-tunnel tested to meet that requirement,” he said. “The front fenders were widened to cover the wider wheels and their new, twin-outlet vents provide a path for hot air to escape.”
The ZR1 shares the front fascia with the Z06, but the brake-cooling ducts are revised to channel more air to the brakes. Even the front suspension’s A-arms were aerodynamically optimized – they feature air deflectors that direct air to the carbon-ceramic brake rotors.
The ZR1 is available in seven exterior colors, including: Black, Velocity Yellow Tintcoat, Victory Red, Atomic Orange Metallic, Jetstream Blue Metallic Tintcoat and two new colors – Blade Silver Metallic and Cyber Gray Metallic.
Exposed carbon-fiber
A lightweight material pioneered in racing circles, carbon-fiber has an undeniable air of exoticness and only a few production cars have ever employed the relatively expensive composite in their exterior panels. The 2004 Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition featured a carbon-fiber outer hood and the current Z06 has carbon-fiber fenders and floor panels.
On the ZR1, the roof panel, roof bow, lower rocker moldings, front splitter and the underside of the hood feature exposed-weave carbon-fiber. The other carbon-fiber parts of the ZR1 include the front fenders and hood. The front fascia, doors, rear fenders and rear fascia are made of various other composite materials and all are painted body-color.
The carbon-fiber panels contribute to the car’s visual identity – particularly the exposed-weave panels – but they also serve an important purpose: they save weight. The carbon-fiber roof panel and roof bow, for example, weigh about 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg) less than the already lightweight composite panels on the Corvette Z06.
Ironically, the identifiable and intricate weave pattern of carbon-fiber on most production cars is hidden beneath a shell of paint, because the weave is very susceptible to ultra-violet (UV) light damage, which can cause yellowing or a generally dull appearance. But thanks to a specially developed material that ensures a deep, lustrous and long-lasting finish, the ’09 ZR1’s exposed-weave panels feature a clear coat that protects like paint.
“The clear coat is applied to the exposed carbon-fiber panels that are exposed to sunlight,” said Mark Voss, designing engineer. “In addition to preventing damaging UV rays, the coating has the chip and scratch resistance of conventional paint.”
The special clear coat, which is a proprietary product developed by a GM supplier for the ZR1 program, gives the carbon-fiber parts a shiny, almost wet finish that adds to the visual depth of the weave pattern.
Interior details
The ZR1’s interior builds on the brand’s dual-cockpit heritage, with high-quality materials, craftsmanship and functionality that support the premium-quality experience promised by the car’s performance. The ZR1’s cabin differs from the Corvette and Corvette Z06 with the following:
· ZR1-logo sill plates
· ZR1-logo headrest embroidery
· Specific gauge cluster with “ZR1” logo on the tachometer and a 220-mph (370 km/h) readout on the speedometer
· Boost gauge added to the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display
The “base” ZR1 (RPO 1LZ) comes with accoutrements based on the Z06, including lightweight seats and lightweight content. The uplevel interior package includes unique, power-adjustable and leather-trimmed sport seats (embroidered with the ZR1 logo); custom, leather-wrapped interior available in four colors; navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and more.
Overview
Model: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Body styles / driveline: 2-door hatchback coupe with fixed roof; rear-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
Cylinder head material: cast aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel delivery: SFI (sequential fuel injection)
Compression ratio: 9.1:1
Horsepower / kW: 620 / 462 (est.)
Torque (lb-ft / Nm): 595 / 823 (est.)
Recommended fuel: premium required
EPA estimated fuel economy: TBD
Transmission close-ratio six-speed manual
Application: std
Gear ratios (:1):
First: 2.29
Second: 1.61
Third: 1.21
Fourth: 1.00
Fifth: 0.81
Sixth: 0.67
Reverse: 3.11
Final drive ratio: 3.42
Chassis / Suspension
Front: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Rear: short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone, cast aluminum upper & lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf spring, monotube shock absorber
Traction control: electronic traction control; active handling (Magnetic Selective Ride Control)
Brakes
Type: front and rear power-assisted carbon-ceramic disc with 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers, cross-drilled rotors; ABS std.
Rotor diameter (in / mm): front: 15.5 / 394rear: 15 / 380
Wheels & Tires
Wheel size: front: 19-inch x 10-inchrear: 20-inch x 12-inch
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 2 front: P285/30ZR19 rear: P335/25ZR20
Dimensions
Wheelbase (in / mm): 105.7 / 2685
Overall length (in / mm): 176.2 / 4476
Overall width (in / mm): 75.9 / 1928
Overall height (in / mm): 49 / 1244
Curb weight (lb / kg): 3350 / 1519 (est.)
Interior
Seating capacity 2
Interior volume (cu ft / L): 52 / 1475 (all models)
Headroom (in / mm): 38 / 962 (all models)
Legroom (in / mm): 43 / 1092 (all models)
Shoulder room (in / mm): 55 / 1397 (all models)
Hip room (in / mm): 54 / 1371 (all models)
Capacities
Cargo volume (cu ft / L): 22 / 634
Fuel tank (gal / L): 18 / 68.1
Engine oil (qt / L): 12.5 / 11.8
CORVETTE ZR1: IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING
DETROIT – Few new cars have ever caused the stir that whipped up around the 1990 Corvette ZR-1. It started with fuzzy spy photos and Detroit gossip about a high-powered, “King of the Hill” model. Chevrolet was coy, neither confirming nor denying the grist of the rumor mill.
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.
PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN DESIGN SUPPORTS THE CAPABILITY OF THE CORVETTE ZR1 – AND GIVES IT AN UNMISTAKABLE ATTITUDE
DETROIT – In 1990, the Corvette ZR-1 caused a stir with its wider quarter panels, convex rear fascia and squared taillamps. They were the visual clues that identified the special car – the shark fins that made the ZR-1 stand out in a sea of feeders.
Spotting the ’09 ZR1 at a glance is a snap, too, with its unique, carbon-fiber dual-port fenders, exposed carbon-fiber roof panel, rockers and front splitter, as well as a unique rear spoiler. Also exclusive to the ZR1 is a raised, carbon-fiber hood with a polycarbonate window that provides a view of the supercharged engine’s intercooler that proclaims “LS9 SUPERCHARGED.”
Enthusiasts may consider the ZR1’s hood a crystal-clear glimpse at the soul of the ultimate Corvette, while owners of slower, more expensive exotics might just look through it with a green tinge of envy.
“There is nothing subtle about the ZR1,” said Kirk Bennion, exterior design manager. “It is a car that isn’t shy about its capability.”
While the exposed carbon fiber elements and windowed hood symbolize the car’s character, there are numerous other design details that are less obvious yet no less important to the ZR1’s performance. They include:
· Carbon-fiber front fenders widened to accommodate the ZR1’s larger front wheels and tires
· ZR1-specific twin vents in the front fenders
· Full-width rear spoiler with raised outboard sections incorporates the center high-mounted stop lamp
· ZR1-specific 20-spoke alloy wheels in Sterling Silver (chrome available)
· Nineteen-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels inspired by C6R racecars
· Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires; P285/30ZR19 in front and P335/25ZR20 in the rear
· ZR1-specifc blue-painted brake rotors visible through the wheels
“The ZR1 has a performance-driven design,” said Bennion. “There is an aesthetic element to all of the unique features, but they were developed first and foremost to support the car’s performance capability.”
Bennion cites the front splitter and rear spoiler as prime examples.
“Because of its top-speed and handling capabilities, the ZR1 requires more downforce than the Z06 and the splitter and rear spoiler were carefully shaped and wind-tunnel tested to meet that requirement,” he said. “The front fenders were widened to cover the wider wheels and their new, twin-outlet vents provide a path for hot air to escape.”
The ZR1 shares the front fascia with the Z06, but the brake-cooling ducts are revised to channel more air to the brakes. Even the front suspension’s A-arms were aerodynamically optimized – they feature air deflectors that direct air to the carbon-ceramic brake rotors.
The ZR1 is available in seven exterior colors, including: Black, Velocity Yellow Tintcoat, Victory Red, Atomic Orange Metallic, Jetstream Blue Metallic Tintcoat and two new colors – Blade Silver Metallic and Cyber Gray Metallic.
Exposed carbon-fiber
A lightweight material pioneered in racing circles, carbon-fiber has an undeniable air of exoticness and only a few production cars have ever employed the relatively expensive composite in their exterior panels. The 2004 Corvette Z06 Commemorative Edition featured a carbon-fiber outer hood and the current Z06 has carbon-fiber fenders and floor panels.
On the ZR1, the roof panel, roof bow, lower rocker moldings, front splitter and the underside of the hood feature exposed-weave carbon-fiber. The other carbon-fiber parts of the ZR1 include the front fenders and hood. The front fascia, doors, rear fenders and rear fascia are made of various other composite materials and all are painted body-color.
The carbon-fiber panels contribute to the car’s visual identity – particularly the exposed-weave panels – but they also serve an important purpose: they save weight. The carbon-fiber roof panel and roof bow, for example, weigh about 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg) less than the already lightweight composite panels on the Corvette Z06.
Ironically, the identifiable and intricate weave pattern of carbon-fiber on most production cars is hidden beneath a shell of paint, because the weave is very susceptible to ultra-violet (UV) light damage, which can cause yellowing or a generally dull appearance. But thanks to a specially developed material that ensures a deep, lustrous and long-lasting finish, the ’09 ZR1’s exposed-weave panels feature a clear coat that protects like paint.
“The clear coat is applied to the exposed carbon-fiber panels that are exposed to sunlight,” said Mark Voss, designing engineer. “In addition to preventing damaging UV rays, the coating has the chip and scratch resistance of conventional paint.”
The special clear coat, which is a proprietary product developed by a GM supplier for the ZR1 program, gives the carbon-fiber parts a shiny, almost wet finish that adds to the visual depth of the weave pattern.
Interior details
The ZR1’s interior builds on the brand’s dual-cockpit heritage, with high-quality materials, craftsmanship and functionality that support the premium-quality experience promised by the car’s performance. The ZR1’s cabin differs from the Corvette and Corvette Z06 with the following:
· ZR1-logo sill plates
· ZR1-logo headrest embroidery
· Specific gauge cluster with “ZR1” logo on the tachometer and a 220-mph (370 km/h) readout on the speedometer
· Boost gauge added to the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display
The “base” ZR1 (RPO 1LZ) comes with accoutrements based on the Z06, including lightweight seats and lightweight content. The uplevel interior package includes unique, power-adjustable and leather-trimmed sport seats (embroidered with the ZR1 logo); custom, leather-wrapped interior available in four colors; navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and more.
Edited by Vet Guru on Wednesday 2nd January 23:38
Edited by Vet Guru on Wednesday 2nd January 23:40
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