Your Worst Nightmare
By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman
Go ahead… make their day. Just try and outrun them!
58 Comments
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Now THAT’S scary.
Kudos to GM for kicking butt on not only this car, but across the line with the CTS, Malibu, etc.
That’s what I’m worried people will do.
I think a better, and still very GM solution, is the ability of OnStar to disable the car remotely and have it come to a controlled stop.
I may just have to roll through a stop sign, to see that baby up close
Can we get those wheels on ZR1’s slated for public use? They look mean in black.
Bob, Thats is sweet! I know I wouldn’t want to try to out run it, you never could!
Oh please do not give those to the Plano TX PD! I have enough problems without them having this!
Very cool, Bob. Would love to see it dressed in Police car black and white.
But I cringe at the thought of the ZR1 being used in a pit maneuver.
I can imagine our police dept justifying a car like this!
The only way they will get this kind of car, is when they bust some drug dealer driving one.
Why don’t GM build a real pursuit car? Not that Chevy Impala they have now.
Hey why don’t you add two more doors on a GTO, that would work out great.
oh-god! my poor fiero can barely hang with the chargers around here. i really am going to have nightmares now.
* WOW! *
Whats the Order Number for the Police Package?
Paul – ‘No, no, no!’
I hope GM carries on their new challenge for world excellence in building the best cars and trucks the world has ever seen. The GM design teams have done a remarkable job with the new CTS coupe and the new smaller SUV that should have been the SRX, a new set of clothes on the sigma platform. Get that Alpha platform on the front burner, give Chevy a new RWD Impala off the new Zeta Holden, build the new Buicks on the now proven Zeta platform or eliminate them. The Riv could share the Camaro platform or the CTS coupe platform. The short term pause on new rearwheel cars reminds of GM’s rebadge models of the late 70’s. Enuf said, Thanx
So how many of the “blue devils” are actually slated for Police Ops?
Not a bad idea, actually – might get things in S. Calif under better control.
When Bob found out they were auditioning Ponchs role in the new CHiPs, he made sure he would get the part.
I think if that car pulled me over I’d expect RoboCop to step out of it.
I remember a car and driver magizine back in the mid 80’s. Had a picture of a arizona state trooper porche 962. Had a caption something like this.
Imagine driving across arizona in a porche 911, flat out at 150mph. A cop car pulls up next to you and shifts down twice. What do you do?
Ummm…..Thanks Bob?!?!?! What have you done?!!!
I am soooo glad I live in Indiana where the State Police still drive archaic Crown Vics and couldn’t catch a cold.
With all of the hand wringing about CAFE, and the comment from some top GM exec that the new CAFE standards may lead to the demise of the Corvette, how about starting to take some weight and size out of future Corvettes? It’s a cheaper way to go fast.
Can anyone say Lotus Elise? How about a 2000# Corvette with a turbo Ecotec?
Photoshop’d.
OK, I think the LS9 rocks!
It should, since I was on the team that worked on the pistons here at GM.
Go ahead Mopar Boys, try to make our day. Once bitten, twice shy!
How about a 2000# Corvette with a turbo Ecotec?
How about no. I can live with the Vette losing weight. I can live with it losing displacement. However, 12 cylinders is the magic number for Ferraris regardless of displacement, and 8 cylinders is the magic number for the Corvette since the 50’s. Shrink the displacement to 4 liters if you have to, but 8 cylinders is required.
The ZR1 police cruiser is fantastic, but we also wanted to
respond to Paul’s comment that “a better, and still very GM
solution, is the ability of OnStar to disable the car remotely and have it come
to a controlled stop.” We agree with Paul so much that OnStar and
GM recently announced a new technology, called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, that
will do just what he suggests. This service will be available on nearly 1.7 million Model Year (MY) 2009 GM vehicles. Mike Wendland, technology columnist for the Detroit
Free Press, provides a great demonstration of Stolen Vehicle Slowdown.
Jocelyn Allen
OnStar Communications
HotCarNut, 3:17 PM:
Well that would certainly be progress. And thanks for your interest in my modest proposal.
We have a ‘55 Corvette vintage race car. First of the V-8 Corvettes, as we all know. It has a proper 265 ci (4.4 liter) V-8. It has a vintage Carter 4 barrel and cast iron exhaust manifolds to make it class legal. It weighs right at 2500 pounds. Curb weight of a stocker was listed at 2850. With the legal modifications of removing top, side curtains, windshield, radio, carpets, and spare tire, that’s where we are. It will accelerate wheel to wheel with any C-4 with an L-98. After that, whe haven’t had occasion to try.
I would like to see it lighter but, if you could get a modern Corvette down to 2500#, with a modern 4.0 liter engine, I would bet that it would be as fast as the current 6.2 in a straight line, and it would corner and stop faster. Plus, the fuel mileage potential would be way better, which might get rid of the threats to dump the Corvette in the face of CAFE.
The new Automobile magazine has an article on the HHR SS. Leaving aside my personal feelings about the styling of the HHR, it has a really potent engine. It is a turbo Ecotec rated at 260 hp. They say that soon there will be a Cobalt SS coupe with this same engine. I don’t know what a Cobalt coupe weighs, but I bet it will give a few Corvette drivers an unpleasant surprise with 260 hp. My wife’s Impala SS has 260 hp, and it runs pretty good for a giant whale of a Caprice Classic!
Finally, I understand that some turbo Ecotecs in drag and salt flats cars have put out over 1000 hp, so the potential is unlimited. Just turn up the boost until the rods come out of the bottom of the block, and then dial it back a whisker!
No! Noel. No! That is the worst idea to hit this blog in a century.
If you think the Corvette will be a Corvette with an “Ecotec” (yuck) then you are suffering from the same disease that GM is trying to recover from.
A Corvette (like any iconic car) is a car with a heritage. You can’t just make any old thing and call it a “Corvette”.
Might as well make the Corvette a four-seater gas-electric hybrid front-wheel drive wagon!!!
What makes a car a car if not its heritage?
Turbo Ecotec”?!! Oh dear. I must go take a nap now.
Is it form “Need for Speed III: Hot Persuit”?
What a beaut!!! I would love to drive that.
Hey Onstar lady, what about the bounty hunters daughter?
We agree with Paul so much that OnStar and GM recently announced a new technology, called Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, that will do just what he suggests. sitemap
sitemap2
I’m kinda disappointed that this “police ZR-1″ is just for show. Meanwhile, in Italy, there are Lamborghini Gallardo police vehicles for that purpose to catch speeders and good PR for Lamborghini.
Why can’t WE think outside the box and do the same? What, GM can’t “allocate” or “donate”, maybe 5 or 6 ZR-1 to the Michigan HP for use?
Look at the positive PR results it will bring, plus a new “intimidating” look on the Michigan highways. They will definitely catch the attention of motorists, particularly after a NASCAR race at MIS.
Give me the keys to a new CTS-V, with AWD and I’ll take my chances.
Better yet, drop the “V” engine in the G8 and strap some lights on top.
God Bless America
The car looks really nasty (in a good way). I wouldn’t even think about out-running that car. I would not want to be the cop that wrecks it if there’s a car chase. They might take it out of their checksssss.
As for comparing it to Knight Rider’s (Kitt), I think it would look better than that stupid mustang that they already picked. Leave the rims, paint it black, put the red sensor strip on the front, take off the police fixtures, and tint the windows. I think the ZR-1 would be a much better frame for Kitt. Too bad the movie executives screwed it up…. again!! I hope the mustang kitt blows up and then they replace him with the ZR-1 body.
The devil’s turning up his thermostat: GM and I agree on something.
The ZR1 police cruiser is SCARY and not far enough from reality. There is this little gem around here which will just ruin your day if you find it in your rear view mirror.
http://www.riekmann.prohosting.com/magazin/woodward_avenue/police_corvette_z06.jpg
Now where did I put that Michigan State Police application at? I know it’s around here somewhere….
Hey I’m new to this. The ZR1 Vette is going to be a great car but as a Police Interceptor? Why? After the boys in blue catch up to the fleeing suspect. Then what? He can’t do any pursuit ending manuevers as the fiberglass Vette is to Fragile to use as a bumper car. There is no car that can outrun a Helicopter or radio that I know of so why spend $100k + for multiple Super Police Cars? I can see the engine being used in an Impala or something but not a ZR1 guys come on.
Ms. Allen, what safeguards are in the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown to protect us from “1984″ and the authorities usurping this service to control simple speeding in non-stolen vehicles?
In the early 1990’s, MI State Police used a tricked out Mustang in MSP blue, shield on 1 side only. I heard it met an untimely end when driven by an over enthusiastic trooper, but don’t know if that’s true.
A Blue Racer is not necessarily a reptile
I think that GM should give one away to the Michigan State Police as a PR move.
Lamborghini donated a Gallardo to the Italian State Police…
hey, I’m a trooper in Michigan…can I drive it!?!?!?
Tim, aren’t you already driving a REV – you gotta let other troopers have some fun too!
~GURU
Mr Lutz,
Interesting, but what goes around comes around.
The Alabama Department of Public Safety actually used more than 100 AMC Javelin AMX’s in 1971 and 1972 as police interceptors — all with 401 CCID V-8s.
You can see a picture of one here Javelin AMX Police Interceptor (That Javelin doesn’t look that bad for a car designed 37 year ago, does it?) and read the story of an Alabama state trooper running down a Corvette with a Javelin one night after a five mile pursuit through the Alabama hills:
(Must have been embarrassing for that Corvette driver to be run down by an American Motors Javelin don’t you think?)
And the story of one state trooper using his radar to clock another trooper in a Javelin at 158 mph:
Actually, any trooper using a ZR-1 for an interceptor would have the same problem the Alabama Troopers had with their Javelins — they were fast but impractical for real police work. Once they caught somebody, they had to call for backup to transport the perp back to a police station since the Javelin had very little usable room in the backseat.
Best regards,
Gary Dikkers
Sorry, Bob, but Barricade would crush that Corvette in three seconds.
Bob, while the car is beautiful and quite intimidating for speeders alike =) I would be angry if our police force could afford such a machine! Spekkio is also correct, barricades and other objects could crush this baby is seconds.
I hope someone in GM realizes just how badly the brand is traversed when projects like this are green-lighted:
http://www.corvettedollar.com/?cid=396833
Seriously. Legal Tender in Palau! This is an embarassment! Cancels the police interceptor brand cache right out. Someone slap the licensing guy.
Yep. Nice Pursuit car.
On-Star for controlled stops? Just what we need for a greater push to Communism and the reduction of our Freedoms. “Don’t worry about it. The government will protect you.”
GM and Mr. Lutz,
We loved the picture of the Corvette MSP Interceptor. Reality would be much nicer.
Respectfully,
A Lot of MSP Troopers in Detroit
CTS-V…The ultimate cop car!
That’s not my worst nightmare – a Bugatti Veyron Police Interceptor is!
That thing is terrifying as hell. how would you get away from that.
That thing is terrifying as hell. how would you get away from that.
It’s only terrifying if you’ve done something wrong. What have you done that you would need to get away from it?
I am having a NCM Delivery April 29,2008. I need a bumper for the front like that one. WHO MAKES IT..?
In 1972 I was at a friends trailor next to hwy #80 outside of Selma. We heard a siren coming so we went ouyside. A car went by doing about 100 mph , a while later a city police car came by doing maybe 80mph. We laughed and said he would never catch him! A few seconds later a trooper in a javelin flew by, shaking the trailor. He must have been doing at least 125mph. We looked at each other and said “he’ll probably catch him”.
I guess if a drug dealer wanted to do a favor for the police, he’d buy this car then let the police confiscate it!
Marina
Your trusty philologist
Mr. Lutz,
Here Sir, is a police interceptor to really fear: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 stalks Italian speeders
V/R
Gary Dikkers
It would work. reminds me of the z06’s in nfs carbon. just reinforce the front fenders. Now, what would be sweet is if they put nos on it.
Long Live the King!!
I don’t even think light itself could outrun that thing…