The 2009 Corvette ZR1: A World-Beating Supercar...

Ed,

I just called Chrysler and told them to throw in the towel. Sorry Bob, but I always knew the Vette was better ;)

By the way, I heard that GM has been thinking of making the next Vette mid-engine.
I think instead of changing the Vette, why not make a mid engine Caddy? A M.E. Caddy, similar to the Cien, would be a great showcase of GMs engineering prowess.

Keep the Corvette "the everyman's dream car"
Make a "Cien" to showcase what GM can do.

GREAT JOB GM!!!

There should be a training course for anyone who buys one.

With the 400HP 'vette being so powerful, this 620+HP 'vette will be a "MONSTER."

Great car that leaves one question: when you'll be bring officially to Brazil? We're waiting for this and the new Cadillacs...

I'm glad you mentioned the OHV vs OHC "debate" here. There is only debate in the minds of those who base their respect of an engine on hp/liter and nothing else. GM, and to a lesser extent Chrysler, have proven that OHV designs can be competitive in this era. It's incredible that this level of performance can be gotten from such a design. Any logical person should've realized the "debate" was over when the LS7 came out with a 7000k redline. GM makes OHV engines that redline higher than Toyota's 2.4L DOHC four cylinder and yet people will tell you OHV engines are low revving and primative. On top of that many of GM's pushrod engines are all aluminum while several competitors are making "sophisticated" DOHC engines with iron blocks. VW is one of the offenders as was Lexus until they gave the GS a new engine.

The crazy thing about the LS7 and LS9 is they are making all this power without even using VVT like other GM pushrods.

ZR1 looks to be a monster and I'm glad its getting made before CAFE makes it impractical to make such powerful cars. At $100k it would be a bargain.

Ed can we talk techie here for once ?

It has been reported :

1. axle half-shafts of different diameters (33mm on the right and 40mm on the left).
How does this reduce wheel hop on launches ?

2. It is great you went with dual disc clutch disc clutch. Being the discs are smaller is their Floaters involved and if so will getting a 3,300 lb car rolling induce heat that could warp the floaters or discs ?

3. Launch control I assume commands rear shocks to go soft so that rear squats to help shift weight to the rear tires but are the fronts commanded stiff to assure total shift rearward ?

4. is the glass window for top of blower on hood made to come off so under race conditions to help further to reduce air temps within innercooler ?

5. Being sixth gear is now being used to obtain topend speed, will there be a gas tax added to cost of car ?

6. Does those dual brake cooling ducts do more as helping to reduce front end lift under higher speeds ?

7. Why after all the years an American tire as Goodyear worked well with older Corvette designs such as the 1984 C4 not used to design a tire for the ZR1 ?

8. What will be different this time that went wrong with the ZR-1 as those of us who bought one were refused warranty and non warranty service by dealers who claimed they could not work on them since they had no one trained to work on the LT5 but refused to work on the whole car ?

over 300 ft-lbs at idle????!!!!

Not that I would.... But this car makes me want to to BAD things to get one :)

I have one enormous gripe with GM about this car. AND THIS IS SERIOUS!!

This car, and the press release yesterday - made me drool so bad on my keyboard, I had to buy a new one!

GM, Chevy - and ALL who were/are involved with this program: This Car is freaking awesome! Congratulations to all of you!

...now to carry over some of this 'Vette-success into the Camaro....

We shall see, we shall see..

This is indeed the epitome of performance.
Now Even the editors from Edmunds just back from Japan for the GT-R tests have to change their tone when it comes to testing American cars.

The Corvette will always be the kid from the other side of the tracks no matter what you do; that's 90% of it's charm for me. The fact that it kicks the snob's behinds when they make the mistake of messing with it is just icing on the cake.

Great job Ed! Great effort by GM.

But now you should try to make a decent car that gets 100mpg. That will really change the world. Bring it.

You Go Ed!! Can't afford a 'Vette but I'm lookin forward to Hugging my own Camaro in a Year or so!! Keep up the great work!! Please Cut the vents all the way through in front of the rear wheels! Thanks. BTW, My 08 CTS is a great placeholder till my Z28 arrives!

I love the Car.. I want one so bad. I cant wait to see it in performance tests where i cant beat any car that is from any other country in the World. It truly America's Best car.

First off I'd like to say congratulations for the many improvements GM has made in a short span of time. Your cars and trucks are starting to look much better inside and out than they did previously.

While the performance of the ZR1 will no doubt be impressive and the looks for the most part are good, I have to question the wisdom of adding a window to the hood to showcase what appears to be a plastic engine cover. Maybe it's actually aluminum alloy, but if that's the case it still looks cheap. Either make it look like a work of art or lose the window. Engine covers look tacky and out-of-place on a $20,000 econo-box let alone a $100,000 supercar. After all the work you've done to upgrade your image don't overlook it and try to convince yourselves it doesn't matter, because it does. Details like this really detract from the overall presence of the car. I understand it's not a Bugatti Veyron, but if you can spend $10,000 on ceramic brakes you can afford a couple of hundred dollars to make the engine bay look presentable.

I'm looking forward to see GM continue to improve their product and I think you've made a great start. I especially like your bold commitment to tackle the Volt project. Forward thinking like that not only helps to position you as leaders and innovators, it's also a great source of inspiration. I'm looking forward to see what you bring to the market in the future.

Mr. Peper and Company,

The new ZR1 is truly a phenomenal car and as a Corvette owner and GM fan, I'm so glad you decided to bring a real flagship like this to market and flex the corporate muscle! Also love the sinister little logo touch on the air intake under the hood!

Two questions I was hoping you might answer, please:
1) Considering the more civilized nature (despite the brute horsepower) of the ZR1 compared to the Z06, a great move in my opinion, did you or are you considering a targa roof option? My C5 with the roof off really comes into its element, and I would surely miss that aspect of Corvette enjoyment. Also, perhaps just a fixed transparent roof would be an improvement over the more claustrophobic closed coupe? Sure, the fixed carbon fiber is gorgeous on the outside, but an open air option where it pops off shouldn't be ruled out.

2) Did you consider upgrading the seats? If there is one disappointment I feel about this car, it's that the seats are the same, often criticized and plain looking seats from the base car. I and I'm sure many others feel this was a serious mistake, and introduces the word "compromise" into what should be a true no-excuses, super exotic from GM. I would strongly urge you to reconsider this aspect of the ZR1 before it hits true production next year, and at least make optional a pair of first-class seats that can go up against the best in the world! The rest of the car obviously can.

Thank you for the forum, and for making us fans even more proud to be associated with the Corvette legacy!

The long awaited "Blue Devil" sure looks the part, and I'm sure the performance numbers will back it up. I wonder though, if GM has pushed the beancounters hard enough to allow the proper switches, materials, fit and finish, and mechanicals that this car and others in it's category truly deserve. I just read an article about the XLR-V and MacKenzie mentions the cheap plastics which have no place in a $100K+ car. Ed, why is GM so afraid to truly put a best foot forward?. Why must you be so cowardly and consistently cave in to the beancounters? Even with the recent awards, there are always too many elements that show GM is still hell bent on taking the cheap way out, instead of sticking to your convictions. What good are the cost savings if the car doesn't sell? Does sales performance in any way factor into the way beancounters and engineers are measured and compensated? Does the head beancounter lose his bonus if GM's sales decline? If not, why not? That is the only way that GM will truly turn around the declining sales. Focus must be on the product - in every aspect. Luxury and performance customers expect the best - do you truly feel that you're designing and delivering at this level, and not cutting ANY corners?

I thought the supercharger was a 5th generation unit?

bring back the holden v8 with 460ci 700hp 650ft-lbs!!!!and let holden produce a twinturbo 3.6 v6 with direct injection!!!!!!

I have been wondering why the drop in CID from the Z06? Is the LS7 going to be phased out?

Why was the positive displacement chosen over a Twin Screw supercharger?

Have you guys considered turbos on such a supercar?

I can understand why the drop in bore and it could be to have thicker cylinder walls for the amount of power being produced, but in all honesty, there are a lot of people doing a lot of more power on these LS7 blocks without problems on the liners or cylinder walls.

I would have wished to have seen a 427 or even a 454 supercharged engine. Not taking anything FROM the vehicle as its a freaking dream machine, but the 427 moniker as SUCH a nice ring to it.

Is it using a Speed Density Tuning or does it have MAF? Maybe using both methods?

WOW!!! PROPS!

what a fantastic car, and an engineering marvel! I am using one grey ZR1 as my desktop wallpaper. This car proves that if any American company puts its mind into it, it can accomplish anything. Witness great companies such as Google, Apple, IBM, Intel etc last but not least, GM! It's American ingenuity and innovativeness that sets Corporate America apart from the rest of the world!

Keep up the good work!

WOW THAT CAR WOULD BE A GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Nice work on the ZR1!

Speaking of world-beating cars, did you see the Edmunds.com Inside Line comparo between the Subaru WRX STI and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT?

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=123965

I sure hope the Camaro engineers are paying close attention to that contest, because it would be a darned shame to watch the new Camaro get its a-- handed to it by an import hatchback.

Seriously, make the Camaro V8 as import invincible as possible.

Any idea when the public will see some performance figures for the new ZR1?

Merry Christmas!

This vehicle is sick on many levels. Instead of fixing the Corvette’s feel and handling from heavy and burdensome, to light and instinctive, you add yet even more horsepower. This is the automotive equivalent of excessive cosmetic surgery covering disturbing mental (i.e. company culture) problems: shocking breast enlargements that never is big enough, or a too-dark tan that never seems tan enough to the person. They think they look better, and to the whole world they look like a sad freak.

YA Bring it!

Do I dare ask this? In light of the newly-mandated improved corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards to take effect--and considering this incarnation will be around for several years after its introduction--what kind of gas mileage does this get? The more GM people talk about "power," it seems, the worse the fuel economy. I hate to be the naysayer here (again), but we are moving into a different world. Each new, inefficient, turbo-charged Corvette on the road equals continued dependence on foreign oil, more greenhouse gas emissions, and another degree hotter in the global warming sweepstakes.
Please, please, please, those of us with some awareness beg you to wake up and smell the pollution. It's a whole new world--and it's heating up thanks to cars like this. Sigh...

Must have item for garage

This car is awesome! Now will the ZL-1 be returning?

Wow! Awesome new vette. Give the car launch control as it would probably cost only a few dollars.

Otherwise this vehicle is certainly the best vette yet. (DSG would be a cool option throughout the GM lineup though especially in its performance products)

I am sure GM made this vehicle so all of us could enjoy its capabilities.

Thats the great part about GM performance products.

JB

to Michael
Remember the Volt?
GM is taking economy and the environment seriously.

There's nothing wrong with offering super cars like the Corvette ZR-1, when GM also makes economical cars, and the Volt will be the icing on the cake.

This is the great car. period But not everyone in the country needs it. Now where is GM in the automotive x prize http://auto.xprize.org/ I know that GM could do just as well developing a car that could get 100 mpg and still be a useful fun car to drive. Maybe a more streamlined trailblazer turbo diesel hybrid. And for a common mans sports car how about a small aluminum V8 or V6 in the Soltice. Remember the 315 lbs 215 cubic inch Buick V8.
Nice job with the Vette but keep pushing the limits we need to always be the World Largest Automobile Company let Toyota stay in second....

michael,

Are you going to chastise Lexus for the new IS-F? How about MB for making cars with over 600hp? Dodge for making the Viper? Nissan for making a 480hp sports car? Of course not since you would like to pretend that GM is the only one making powerfrul vehicles. CAFE is a sales weighted average and thus the low volume ZR-1 wont mean much to GM's CAFE numbers. Furthermore, the new standards enacted recently take effect in 2020 which is long beyond when this particular model will be made. It's OK for European brands to launch one high powered sedan or sports car after another but people get mad that GM gets into the game with the ZR-1.

I kind of hate to be "Mr. Negative" but I can't help but look at the design and still think 'Mulletmobile'. If your target audience are still men with big beer bellies and mullets, then the design still screams it.

Ed Peper said: "The ZR1 is the fastest and most powerful Corvette ever produced. In fact, it’s the fastest and most powerful production car in General Motors’ history."

Mr Peper,

That's quite an achievement, and one I'm sure you're quite proud of. But I have to ask, "What's the point?"

We've already overstretched the carrying capacity of the planet; we are running out of liquid hydrocarbon fuels; the 88% of the people in the world who don't now own cars are striving to buy one which will only put more stress on the carrying capacity of the planet; Brazil, China, and India are hot on our heels, and you gloat over building a 600 horsepower "supercar" that only a the elite will be able to afford.

What the world needs instead of a "supercar" is a sturdy, economical people mover that people can afford and operate in a sustainable fashion.

The ZR1 sounds like a tremendous technological achievement, but to what end? You say it's the culmination of a legacy, but what legacy are your speaking of?

Would you rather be remembered for a legacy of the last "supercar" -- something that represents little more than being in a state of denial -- or for solving the coming crisis?

Sadly, if you look at the trajectory of where personal automobile transportation is headed, the ZR-1 isn't part of that trajectory. India and China both have populations of more than one billion people. By 2020 the growing middle-class in India will probably have bought 150 million new cars, and China may have added as many as 140 million. The real trajectory of the auto industry is figuring out how and what kinds of cars those will be, and how those 290 million new cars can be sustainable with no adverse effect on the world, instead of a developing a 600 hp "supercar" that is completely beyond the needs of any reasonable person.

The ZR-1 is indeed quite an engineering achievement, but it is also an achievement without meaning. It is similar to designing to a high degree of luxury the first-class staterooms on the Titanic and bragging about it while the ship heads directly toward the iceberg. Unfortunately, the ZR-1's trajectory is headed directly at the iceberg.

As far as the auto industry is concerned, you should know full well the iceberg that can sink your industry is dead ahead. You could have put the engineers and design team who worked so hard on the ZR-1 to much better use.

As Aaron Claudy said above, I would much rather read about GM's entry into the Automobile X-prize. What we really need are super-efficient, fun-to-drive, affordable cars.

Unfortunately, the ZR-1 has little more value than giving you "bragging rights" at the Grosse Pointe country club.

Regards,

Gary Dikkers

Ed,

I have to hand it to you, for the first time in a long time (too long) I am seriously hoping to buy an American car, specifically this supercar. I have watched GM slowly reinvent itself, rededicating itself to building a truly world-class, quality product, with fit, finish and technology that rivals anything from Japan, Italy or Germany. I currently drive an Aston Martin V8 Vantage and a BMW Alpina B7, but I would consider trading both in for this car. You are definitely on the right track. I may have to put my Audi R8 order on indefinite hold. It's still a little early for accolades, but I think you and your team have created a car that changes the game (and perception among serious car-buyers, which is critically important). This car puts a halo over all of GM's products. Now I have to worry about how to get one of these bad-boys in my garage! Good luck rolling this out and staying true to your vision.

That car is awesome! I cant wait to see the car mags throw it up against the pricy exotics.

I have two questions if you could.

1.) I didnt hear you mention the rear of this car. Previous gen GTO's and CTS in the past on the enthusiast boards have had issues with the Get Rag rears. I am interested in a Camaro LS3. If the Rear of this thing can hold up reliably to 650 and over time it would set my mind at ease. Have they improved? Can you give us more info on reliability and durability of the new rears? if not now later?

2.) I have 1700 GM bucks. Im itching to get into a Camaro SS but I cant put that ahead of other priorities. Im looking forward to it but if it doesnt happen will you consider allowing other people to use the GM bucks that a friend or family has worked for. It could result in sale that wouldnt have happen otherwise.

Thanks in advance and I love the car!

I don't know which Corvette nameplate is more vaunted now, ZR1 or Stingray..... This is truly a masterpiece, GM. Worthy of standing right with the best from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. It brings a tear to my eye to see such a beauty......

Now, having gotten all that out of the way.......

I surely hope my Camaro is right on schedule for production. Will there be one ready to see at this year's auto shows?

Normally I wouldn't react to comments on my comments, but in this case, I think I should.

I truly believe, in this day and age, it is irresponsible for ANY car company (yes, that includes MB and Toyota) to be producing cars that have such a negative impact on the environment. It's more about laziness (and appealing to those middle-aged, beer swilling, fat, midlife-crises, checkbook-wielding men) than it is about making a statement. It's easy to come up with a retuned old engine that produces more horsepower. As is being proven every day with the nonexistent (beyond a prototype that doesn't work and is an aerodynamic nightmare--according to Mr. Lutz) Volt, GM can't really produce a car that is not going to have a negative impact on the environment.

Drool all you want over this fiberglass ZR-1, but it's a little boy fantasy for balding old men (to be fair, not all balding old men, myself included here; I've already had my midlife crisis but didn't solve it by buying a car; I simply reinvented myself out of necessity).

Pretty car it is. Practical it isn't. A worthy pursuit in this day and age? I think not.

Sure am glad I'm not a "reasonable person" and I want one.

The few that post here about GM and the evil of the ZR1 care to expound about how other corporations from other nations have gained market advantage here? You want all sorts of tech for saving the earth, you need capital. And this nation's political structure isn't doing anything to help any corporation generate capital like other nations do (like Japan with a phony half percent interest rate). Sure GM and others could do more but nobody here wants to take or give any "responsibilty" to home team corporations, only villianize them.

But take solace in something, GM has built one fricking powerfull car. And chances are it gets better real world highway MPG than a V6 Camry (or most of the similar cars in that class) And truth is, performance is directly related to efficiency.

I still want one, prefered in bright white with a red interior.

This will take Porsche and Ferrari in one bite! Amazingly awesome. GM is a lit rocket.

gary,

While I understand part of your job (or all of it) is to post on every GM blog and tell GM how wrong they are and how you have ALL the answers it would be easier to respect you if you acknowledged all the facts. Now doing so would nullify many of the points you are trying to make and thus you chose to tell half the story repeatedly in order to bash GM. YOu and I both know the ZR-1 is a limited production vehicle that is going to have minimal impact on the environment. Not only will few be sold but owners are unlikely to use this car as a daily driver because they will want to preserve their ZR-1s in case they become collector's items. Furthermore you know very well that GM is working on the Volt and has numerous hybrids on the market so its silly to act like they are devoting all their resources to high powered, gas guzzling sports cars. The regular GM bashers like yourself seem to be totally unaware that powerful vehicles are being produced by many automakers today including Chrysler, MB, BMW, Porsche and Audi. GM is competing with all those companies and you need more than 40mpg cars to fully compete with the top manufacturers. I would like to know why other automakers are not attacked for making vehicles with high powered engines that are not designed for maximum fuel efficiency.

I sort of have to disagree about the ZR-1 being some sort of nightmare for the environment. For one thing, I'd bet that 95% of ALL sports cars are being used as Sunday drivers, meaning if they do get driven, it is very little at all.

Secondly, I did look at a number of new Corvettes at the dealership and was frankly impressed with the fuel economy these get. We're talking a shy 4-5 MPG below the Camry. So yes, in many ways you can have a fast car and be environmentally conscious. That isn't to say that GM absolutely had to make the car more efficient, but they did, which is in my mind telling of where there concerns are.

Mullett mobile? Big beer bellies with mulletts? Middle aged beer swilling fat mid-life crises checkbook wielding automotive equivelent of cosmetic surgery covering disturbing mental problems with shocking breast enlargements.
I,m visualising very righteous, judgemental people here.
Yes, it is not practical and is not supposed to be. If someone has the desire and money to spend on a toy, I say more power to them. Everyone has the right in America to be impractical if they want.
Every manufacturer has a halo vehicle to help define image and keep people young and old interested in their products.
I'm sure the likely $100,000 price tag for this car will assure it wont be seen at many honky tonks. That is unless some car nut like Jay Leno or Paul Newman decide to invite all their mullett wearing friends to their annual line dance and 10 kegger in Beverly Hills.
If you have a problem with this car, don't buy or critisize the car or it's buyers because you don't get it. It's a car for the living and pleasure of life there of. Not for the, "I've given up and after i'm done writing and whining to this blog, I'm off to pick out my coffin", crowd.
See, now you've gotten me judgemental.

Ed,

Congratulations on the most awesome car ever produced! I have an even better idea for you. Why don't you drop the LS9 supercharged engine into the Cadillac Escalade, lower it, add 24 inch dubs, and make it the biggest, baddest Caddy in history. That would be one cool car that gives all the whiny, Prius-driving, "environmentalists" a huge middle finger. Hope you have the courage to do it.

"As is being proven every day with the nonexistent (beyond a prototype that doesn't work and is an aerodynamic nightmare--according to Mr. Lutz) Volt, GM can't really produce a car that is not going to have a negative impact on the environment."

exactly right. The Cobalt, Aveo, HHR, Aura hybrid, Malibu/Aura/G6 four cylinders, soltice/sky, Vue hybrid, tahoe hybrid, etc. are all examples of GM's commitment to nothing but powerful gas guzzlers that pollute the air and increase our dependence on foreign oil. Its a good thing Michael is here to shed some light on the situation and remind us that every vehicle GM makes gets poor gas mileage.

The only thing I'm going to say to those who villify GM and the ZR1 is this: This is the United States of America, where you are free to make your life how YOU want it. If one has the means to afford this car, and wants to buy it, then they can. Plain and simple. I'm tired of all these green people bashing others for political gain. You want to drive a Prius and live on tofou, go right ahead. Just don't press your way of life on mine. No amount of whining about the environment is going to change the mind of anyone who wants and can afford this car to begin with.

To start off.My god, that is the most amazing car I've ever had the the privilege of laying my eyes on. This is THE CAR in my opinion that GM needed and FINALLY built.To think that i thought the last Zo6 was going to be the best corvette ever.I mean, let's be honest people. To those of us who truly love and understand the corvette. This is our dream car finally built. I don't know who or how many people to thank for the development of this car.THANK YOU! I simply drool over this car. It does something to me I thought only possible by women. For all you people out there that are criticizing the corvette.You must just hate it cause your never going to own one, or possibly disappointed and are depressed cause your over priced new Viper or Ford GT Wont come CLOSE to this new coming super car. Do do us all a favor and go complain to the other twenty or so auto makers about there gas sucking super cars. Or better yet, tell the lucky guy next to you at a stop light how you feel about his car. Chances are, no matter what YOUR driving. You wont be able to catch him to get your response. I just checked my age and own a corvette. {25} I guess that eliminates me from the Beer belly,Mid life crisis,Small man syndrome, fat over weight group. Did it a cure to you critics that people enjoy sports cars? Great Job GM!

insulting the potential owners of a $100k car is just silly. Anyone who can afford a ZR1 can easily afford the majority of BMWs and MBs sold in America. If you buy a $100k SL550 you are smart but if you buy a $100k Vette you are a beer drinking, mullet wearing, undereducated midwesterner. Most people than can afford a car of this price are pretty accomplished in life.

Ed,

Why not place this Corvette engine in a special edition STS-V sooner rather than later? Mix it up a bit.

And where is the special edition V-12 for the high end crowd? You need it to take down Mercedes.

Over Christmas break, I encouraged a friend to test drive an STS-V. He already has an E-55 AMG, and seem very interested in the STS-V, and its grille, feel, and so on, price is not an issue, wouldn't be surprised if he buys his first Cadillac at some point now, though he asked about Quad tail pipes for the STS-V and a bigger trunk. Wife commented that the STS-V, 0-60 acceleration was not as smooth as the E-55 AMG.

Bottom line: GM needs more high end offerings to enrich the image.

And why not have a smaller less powerful more efficient V-8 for those who want a nice sedan/coupe. The 5.3L V-8 is good, but can you do better than 28 mpg? Why not a smaller V-8 maybe a 4.0 with good mileage without all the computers for the regular enthusiasts? And can you put it in a nice sedan like new Malibu with comfortable seats?

Sheth said: "You and I both know the ZR-1 is a limited production vehicle that is going to have minimal impact on the environment. Not only will few be sold but owners are unlikely to use this car as a daily driver because they will want to preserve their ZR-1s in case they become collector's items."

Sheth,

Of course you're right, GM will sell only a relatively small number of ZR-1s, and collectively they will have only a minimal impact on the environment.

The problem is not their small collective impact, but the perception the ZR-1 gives of what GM thinks is important.

As I said earlier, as neat as the ZR-1 is, it is only a dead end offshoot from the true trajectory of where personal transportion must be headed.

Millions of Indians and Chinese are rapidly moving into the middleclass and all will want cars; perhaps even more importantly, our balance of payments is shifting to where those two countries are controlling more and more of what used to be our treasure and they will soon be able to bid up the price of oil to any level they want in order to get the oil their millions of new cars will need.

Faced with that prospect, one has to question whether GM's use of its limited resources to develop what is really a deadend supercar is a wise decision.

Sheth said: "The regular GM bashers like yourself seem to be totally unaware that powerful vehicles are being produced by many automakers today including Chrysler, MB, BMW, Porsche and Audi. GM is competing with all those companies and you need more than 40mpg cars to fully compete with the top manufacturers. I would like to know why other automakers are not attacked for making vehicles with high powered engines that are not designed for maximum fuel efficiency."

I know very well that Chrysler, MB, BMW, Porsche and Audi make supercars, and I would say the same to them: The true trajectory of where personal transportation is headed doesn't include supercars. To GM's credit they are the only automaker I have found that allows direct communication through a forum such as this.

As a former fighter pilot in the USAF, I appreciate what the ZR-1 is and would actually enjoy driving one. Twenty years ago I flew a jet that burned about 2,000 gallons of fuel an hour and didn't think twice about it. However, as much as I might enjoy driving or owning a ZR-1, the sense of social responsibility I now have wouldn't allow me to drive one.

Best regards,

Gary Dikkers

First of all let's try to remember that GM, just like any other company, is a full-line automobile manufacturer. In order to be successful it has to reach out to all markets, from those unltra-concerned about fuel mileage and the environment to die-hard gearheads and everything in between. Quite frankly, to a lot of people even base Corvettes don't make any sense. And that is fine. But I resent the notion that the cars are just for uneducated, redneck, fat, "beer-swilling" rubes. I don't believe guys like us want to be labeled that way any more than the environmentalists want to be labeled granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing hippies.

Production of the ZR1 shouldn't top 1,000/year, so the collective environmental impact of these cars is going to be non-existant when compared to the 400,000 Camrys that Toyota sells each year. I think most within GM are aware that their most important car in the pipeline right now is the Volt. So please, do not act as though GM doesn't "get it".

Two words: "Wretched excess"

Interesting car, but a more appropriate name would have been L-88. Built from 1967-69, these cars also had over 600 hp.

As to what would top this car, how about the rumored mid-engine corvette? I think this explains the real reason for building the seperate xlr production line. Could it be 1,000 Cadillac Cien's and 1,000 mid-engine vettes built there annually, while maintaining the front engine vette on the regular line?

Okay, so the environmental nuts have had their say, and the car nuts have had their say too. I live in balance in both realms, and this car really lights my fire. Gentlemen, I can't thank you enough for putting the ZR1 into production. I love it. But what I'd like to comment about is on a different path from either of these, about where the industry and GM may be headed.

I know full well that every car manufacuturer has to have its bread-and-butter line of boring, middle-of-the-line family haulers and generic people carriers to pay the big bills of the corporation. Few companies can survive on building sports cars alone. But I see the proliferation of new car companies from all over the world entering into the North American market as spreading this previously fat slice of the pie thinner and thinner for everyone. I hope one day that niche markets will become the new commodity market. GM does so well when it puts a team of passionate, talented, and enthusiastic designers and engineers (GM has thousands of them) to the singular task of creating a brilliant car in which its owners can share in that passion, and minimizes the interference from the accounting department. This ZR1 is the best example of that yet, but it could never exist without selling loads of those aforementioned middling, average people carriers to fund its development and keep it affordable. Still, I look forward to a future of focused cars for specific niche markets, produced by a GM that can and does do them better than anyone else. Let the Corvette, the XLR, the Camaro, the Solstice/Sky, and GM's other brilliant niche cars lead this revolution, and leave the el-cheapo green "transportation appliance" market to automotive C students like Tata and Chery. In the meantime, the Corvette should be its own marque in America just as it is everywhere else. It is no longer of benefit to its customers or the corporation for it to be sold alongside Chevy-branded Daewoos and other lesser vehicles. A Porsche just wouldn't be the same if it were sold next to Volkswagens, and neither is this brightest shining star of the American automotive galaxy.

How do you get on the list to buy one of these ZR1's? I'm serious!

Somebody at GM tell me if it's possible to add your name to buy one or are they all spoken for?

Sheth,

Terrific post in response to Gary Dikkers. Gary is indeed always short on relevant facts (believe me I know) especially when they reinforce what is routinely the case, that he has no reasonably defensible point. The good thing is that most here know what he is about and have learned to largely ignore him and his predictably tiresome views.

Case in point, Ed, AWESOME job. I am on my second new Corvette (2005 and before that a 1999). I have already alerted my dealer that I will be trading my C6 in on a ZR1 next year.

Nissan's GT-R is "rumored" to whip the tires of the Vette...Any comments on the twin turbo six with all wheel drive.

yea this is pretty much like my dream car yo!! its awesome everybody did one heck of a job! nice work...

Gary:

GM is trying to prove itself to the rest of the world. It hates how it the world rejects the Z06 as a supercar. To whip them back for doin that, GM has released the ZR1. Guaranteed to beat every car in the world. The only cars that are going to beat this car are the super-expensive exotics with over 700 hp.

By the way, Ed, you have to improve the Z06. I just read in a magazine that it got beat by a Nissan GTR. You have to turn around and not 1 up them but 2 up them.

For the people complaining about the interior, realize it. Its a chevrolet. If you want a nice interior and lots of horsepower, buy yourself the upcoming Cadillac CTS-V with 550 hp. That caddy will give the best interior you ever wanted.

The ZR1 is great Its better than the Dodge Viper Srt/10 thats for sure! People Complain about the zr1 gaining 200 more pounds but it is still lighter than the viper. Keep up the Good work GM.
Beat Ford, Dodge and the imports.

Amen Mr. Baker