Insideline recently spoke to Corvette Chief Engineer, Tadge Jeuchter about the Corvette ZR1 and to say that Tadge is confident in the ZR1’s abilities is an understatement.
He said that the ZR1 “will be able to take the production-car track record at any racetrack”. We all know that there is only one production car lap record that really matters and that’s at the Nurburgring. When GM finally introduce the ZR1 to the Green Hell Tagde says they are expecting a lap time of “seven minutes, twenty-something seconds.”
That’s big talk and obviously aimed at Nissan’s new GT-R, which in North America will be the most affordable ‘off the rack’ imported performance challenger to the likes of the ZR1 and Z06 Corvettes.
With the standard GT-R clocking a 7:29 lap of the ‘Ring just recently we can’t help wondering if Tadge has conveniently forgotten about the lighter and more powerful V-Spec GT-R that has just recently taken to the ‘Ring and is already circulating faster than the standard car.
Maybe Tadge knows something that we don’t…?
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With a specifications list as below, I think this will be the first corvette ever to not only be quick, but handle and stop. It might even be enough to take it to the europeans, but of course time will tell.
The ZR1’s basic stats:
* All-new LS9 supercharged 6.2L V-8 targeted at producing at least 100 horsepower per liter, or 620 horsepower (462 kW), and approximately 595 lb.-ft. of torque (823 Nm)
* Six-speed, close-ratio, race-hardened manual transmission
* New, high-capacity dual-disc clutch
* Higher-capacity and specific-diameter axle half-shafts; enhanced torque tube
* Specific suspension tuning provides more than 1g cornering grip
* Twenty-spoke 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels
* Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires - P285/30ZR19 in front and P335/25ZR20 in the rear - developed specifically for the ZR1
* Standard carbon-ceramic, drilled disc brake rotors - 15.5-inch-diameter (394-mm) in the front and 15-inch-diameter (380-mm) in the rear
* Larger brake calipers with substantially increased pad area
* Standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control with track-level suspension
* Wider, carbon-fiber front fenders with ZR1-specific dual vents
* Carbon-fiber hood with a raised, polycarbonate window - offering a view of the intercooler below it
* Carbon-fiber roof panel, roof bow, front fascia splitter and rocker moldings with clear-coated, exposed carbon-fiber weave
* ZR1-specific full-width rear spoiler with raised outboard sections
* Specific gauge cluster with boost gauge (also displayed on the head-up display) and 220-mph (370 km/h) speedometer readout
* Only two options: chrome wheels and a “luxury” package
* Curb weight of approximately 3,350 pounds (1,519 kg)
It’s certainly got what it takes and when the cars chief engineer makes a claim as bold as “will be able to take the production-car track record at any racetrack” it gets you wondering just what this car will be capable of.
The truth as always will be in the lap times.
“He said that the ZR1 ‘will be able to take the production-car track record at any racetrack’.”
Them’s fightin’ words.
“Seven Minutes, twenty-something seconds”. That’s still twenty seconds below the production car lap record.
Everyone forgets the Radical SR8, that runs [url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2990770163894389660&q]6:55[/url].
Its not particularly streetable, but the ZR1 isn’t going to rival an S Class for comfort either. It qualifies as a road legal production car and that’s what matters.
If GM is still talking in the 7 minute range, then they’re well off the pace.
The Radical SR8 is a streetable race/track car, not a comparable car to the ZR1.
Semantics aside, the SR8 doesnt have an all leather cow interior that Dennis Leary would be proud of nor does it have climate control, cruise control, premium sound system, sat nav and all the other creature comforts that the ZR1 has, and for that matter any of the other real competition for the American bruiser.
And its exactly this sort of debate that gets you wondering why the chief engineer would shoot his mouth off like he has…unless of course he has real reason for having extraordinary confidence in the track ability of his new creation.
Of course its comparable Daniel. You yourself just admitted that its a streetable car. You write semantics off, but without a common understanding of a certain term you can’t have a discussion or comparison.
Chevrolet says it’ll be the fastest “production car”, not the fastest “coupe with a V8 and RWD” or “fastest American car” or any other caveats. If you want to talk production cars, the SR8 is a part of that group.
They’re not comparable, but then with your logic you could easily say the GT-R isn’t comparable either. No V8 loving, All-American, burnout doing patriot is going to buy some V6 turbocharged “Jap crap” either. Neither is some snobby, overpriced, 911.
Alan, the SR8 is NOT a production car. The blurb from the SR8 website at no time says it is a production car but rather: “The Radical SR8 has broken new ground in the burgeoning sports prototype market.”
Sports prototype market doesn’t sound like production car to me, nor does their statement “are currently producing over 150 cars per year.” 150 cars a year? Compare that with the sheer numbers the ZR1 will be built in. Hence my term semantics, and to get technical the definition of Production car is:
1. A car manufactured on production line.
2. A car of a type manufactured in large numbers on a production line for general use.
Neither of which fits in describing the SR8 as its questionable about an actual ‘production line’ also large numbers to me would mean numbering in the thousands, not 150 per year . Stating that the SR8 Radical is for ‘general use’ come on! In what parallel universe would anyone jump into their radical and run down the street to get some bread or milk, even dropping the kids off to school? So not only does the SR8 not fit the criteria of a production car, and to customers looking at purchasing one, do you really think the two cars and clientele are comparable?
While I don’t doubt the SR8 Radical or its credentials, putting it in the very same category as an American Icon such as the Corvette is not fitting. However, looking at the kerb weight, power outputs, suspension, brakes, equipment levels and numbers in build. This Yankee Doodle dandy competes with iconic Italian, German and Japanese Marques, GTR very much included.
If Ed Pepper has been quoted as saying: “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,” “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.”
Then you can bet your bottom dollar GM is going all out to get a piece of the high end performance sector.