Corvette ZR1 First Drive

EARN MORE ABOUT THE 2009 CORVETTE ZR1:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/...

Possibly the only thing more surprising than the existence of a $100,000-plus, 638-horsepower factory-built Corvette is that the car is a total pussycat.

Don't get us wrong, this 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 can kill you quite completely dead. We mean like augured-in, test-pilot kind of beyond-recognition dead. It is capable of such stunning velocity in such a short distance that if things go wrong at even a fraction of its ultimate speed, it'll tear a ragged hole in just about whatever it encounters.

This ZR1 produces 638 hp — the equivalent of the power produced by the 405-hp 1995 Corvette ZR-1 (the "King of the Hill Corvette") plus a 1984 Corvette plus a 1968 Citroën 2CV.

Or think of it this way. If you bolted three 1980s-era Corvette L83 small blocks end to end to end to produce a single V24 engine, it would still produce 23 hp fewer than the ZR1's supercharged LS9 V8. For perspective, the total power received by the earth from the sun is considerably higher at 174.0 petawatts (1015 watts) or 233,334,000,000,000 hp*.

But for all its badass credentials, its power output of a hydroelectric dam and its stunning production-car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the ZR1 doesn't really seem to want to kill you all that bad.

What do you think this is, a freakin' Dodge Viper or something? That widowmaker is right now sitting in a nearby parking lot plotting ways to turn you into freshly chopped liver — liver that it will then fry to a savory

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Chevrolet
• Corvette
• ZR1
• GM
• Chevy
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• muscle
• car
• auto
• motor

[redhot916spd]

because everyones ass is quite different.

And a seat that is meant to take this car to the edge of it limits(1.0+g) is custom anyways. Anyone who wants to go really fast will have one custom fit for themselves if you do intend on racing it. Most however will enjoy garage duty on shitty days and at worst alot of saliva dripping on them

[redhot916spd]

the haters merely add gas to the fire, I love it. !!

[jcobaltss2005]

im actually glad people dont really like the new zr1...at least now it will drive the resale value down and i will be able to pick up one of these awesome machines :b ps i dont care about what other people think...i know for myself how godly this car is

[mickvk]

The features of all the thermo polymers in 'plastic identification group 7' like polycarbonate are temperature resistance, impact resistance, and optical properties. I would bet that the rest of the hood is just as thin or thinner and this material was chosen just for the "optical properties".

[b7160]

From what I understand, the window isn't solely for looks; it's there to make that section of the hood thinner so it would fit over the engine without a bigger hood bulge.

[etmichel42]

Sounds awsome, as expected. But why,, why won't they put a decent seat in these high performance versions(ZO6/ZR1)? I just don't get that, and there is no good excuse. How many times has this issue been raised over the years?

[mickvk]

The plastic window to see plastic covers seems very tacky. The blue accents clash with any other color. I wish the design was more of a departure from the Z06.

Fun to see, but I'm not ready to part with my $110k.