SPY SHOTS! 2009 Corvette SS/ZR-1

Link to Original Article and Spy Shots @ Jalopnik

These are likely the best and maybe the last pictures of what is commonly referred to as the Blue Devil Corvette, before it's makes its official debut in January at the NAIAS in Detroit.

For the last two years the media has called the supercharged Corvette everything from Blue Devil to SS, Z07 and Sting Ray, but Motor Trend recently stated that it will officially be called the ZR-1.

At a quick glance this might look like an 'ordinary' Z06 with a vinyl-clad hood, but this Corvette is anything but ordinary!

Power for this beast will come from GM's new LS9 motor. The LS9 is a 6.2L, supercharged, small-block V8. This powerplant will put out anywhere from 600-650 horsepower. The supercharged V8 will utilize an integrated intake manifold intercooler, and it's expected to run a 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds. The 6.2-liter V8 will be built at GM's Performance Center in Wixom, Michigan. Our photographer reported that the exhaust note coming from this monster was "VERY mean....VERY angry."

The super-hot ZR-1 will weight even less than the Z06, utilizing more carbon fiber in the body (notice A and B pillars, and the roof), as well as polycarbonate "window" in the hood. The rocker panels, as well as other body panels, may be carbon fiber as well.

With speeds reaching, and possibily exceeding, 200mph, a wider, taller, lip spoiler has been added to the back of this Corvette. The spoiler now runs almost the entire length of the car to increase downforce and keep those massive tires glued to the road.

In the past few months, rumors have circulated that GM would be switching from Goodyear tires to Michelin tires for this Super Vette. We can now confirm this as this test car is sporting Michelin Pilot Sport ZP tires. The rear tires appear to be a whopping 335/25Z/20 size! A quick look inside the tires also reveals a huge set of cross-drilled rotors and an equally large set of calipers. We believe it to be a carbon-ceramic brake set-up.

Production of the supercharged Corvette will start in July of 2008 (as a 2009 model). Annual production numbers expected to be in the 1500-1750 range. When the all-new ZR-1 goes to production- expect the price tag to be in the $100,000 range.

Speed is nice, but wonder what it will really look like. Right now it does not make me want to spend 100k for it.

Edited September 19, 200717 yr by dfelt

What have they don with the suspension setup/architecture?

Well I hope they do not make it look like "Bread and Butter" Z06 with "subtle" enhancements.

Our photographer reported that the exhaust note coming from this monster was "VERY mean....VERY angry."

When did Chris start working for Halapeno?

Those words don't seem like will come from Chris' mouth.

Couple of things I noticed:

Michelin tires, but they appear to be PS2s, not Pilot Sport Cups. Jalopnik says they are ZPs, but I'm pretty sure those are PS2s. Darn. (Pilot Sport Cup = closest thing to a racing tire that is street legal)

Those brakes are HUGE!

So far it is looking good, if a bit like the Z06 with a bigger hood.

Couple of things I noticed:

Michelin tires, but they appear to be PS2s, not Pilot Sport Cups. Jalopnik says they are ZPs, but I'm pretty sure those are PS2s. Darn. (Pilot Sport Cup = closest thing to a racing tire that is street legal)

Those brakes are HUGE!

So far it is looking good, if a bit like the Z06 with a bigger hood.

That's what I was thinking. If those front wheels are 20s, then those brakes have to be at least 16 inches.

Will there be an auto version? I think a supercar Grand Tourer, like the SLR, would be kinda cool, by making ultra high performance more accessible and comfortable.

Edited September 20, 200717 yr by empowah

Couple of things I noticed:

Michelin tires, but they appear to be PS2s, not Pilot Sport Cups. Jalopnik says they are ZPs, but I'm pretty sure those are PS2s. Darn. (Pilot Sport Cup = closest thing to a racing tire that is street legal)

No they are ZP's. I can read it on the full rez.

If you look at the pic's the vehicle looks to have a complete,flat underbelly.