Another round of Corvette "Blue Devil" rumors
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With General Motors not providing any official information on the upcoming uber-Vette, rumors continue to fly around the automotive world. Automobile Magazine weighs in with its two cents, stating that the so-called "Blue Devil" will actually carry the significantly less satanic moniker of Z07 - or maybe Z06.R (with the "R" presumably standing for "Really hazardous to your driving record"). That seems somewhat more clumsy than the Sting Ray or Super Sport/SS names that we've heard tossed around, but would fit in with GM's long history of three-digit alphanumeric codes.
The 650 HP 6.2L supercharged GenIV V8 looks to be housed under a huge air duct, which is likely required by the addition of a air-to-water intercooler unit. Serious speed requires the shedding of serious heat, and so the car has also grown vents along the top and rear of the front fenders, and a NACA duct has appeared on the top of the rear quarter panels. Hit the link to see the full spy shot - we're anxious to hear what you think, as we're already in love.
The supercar is said to be on its way in 2008 as a 2009 model (giving us two more years to make inaccurate predictions), and will carry a price tag of around $100K. Given the Z06's superlative performance, we don't doubt for a moment that the Z07 will provide the biggest bang for the buck in its market segment.
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
motorman 12:55PM (8/22/2006)
i hope this corvette comes true because that would take the pressure off of the ZO-6 and i could get a ZO-6 at a discount. :D
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Keith 1:06PM (8/22/2006)
Yeah, it will be like with the Subaru WRX.
It was hot sh!t when it came out, but once the STi was available, it was all of a sudden a bread & butter can and you could get them for not a whole lot above $20k!
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naggs 1:14PM (8/22/2006)
i dont think that they will make even 1000 of these, its not going to affect the market much.
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TJ 1:59PM (8/22/2006)
This looks suspiciously like a photoshopped picture of a C6-R. The hood with the scoop, the ducts on the back fenders, and even the rims are eerily similar to those of the race car.
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Chris 2:01PM (8/22/2006)
You know they are raising the price on the Z06 for next year? It will be well north of $70,000, probally closer to $80,000. While the Z06 is one helluva car it looks lame. It doesn't look different enough from the $45,000 Vette and has the same interior as the "regular" Corvette. This car certainly looks the part of "Super Vette" were the Z06 comes up short.
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Jordan 2:04PM (8/22/2006)
My sources (I work for a dealer, so you can take that as you like) tell me that it IS currently known under the name "Z06 R," and the production run would be extremely limited. Also, there have been ideas batted around about requiring a potential purchaser to complete a course or something (akin to Skip Barber), being that this is supposed to be as close to a track-day car as is road legal.
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Taylor Alexander 4:54PM (8/22/2006)
Yeah... that doesn't looks like a "spy shot" so much as an official photo... but i thought GM wasn't talking? If not, where'd the photo come from?
-Taylor
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PHC 8:39PM (8/22/2006)
That has to be a photoshop, no way a supercharged 6.2 is fitting under that hood
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that hood is so fake... 1:09AM (8/23/2006)
That's the C6.R hood, and it's only even possible because the engine is moved back noticeably into the passenger compartment on the C6.R. I can't imagine GM would make a production car with the engine that far back. I'm not sure it could even be made street legal that way.
I can't imagine the value of selling a truly short production version. If you want a really short production version, line up for a C6.R. They will be for sale someday, although I bet Luc Alphond gets his before you get yours.
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Shawn C 11:28AM (8/23/2006)
I don't have a problem with the engine fitting in there. They already moved it backwards and down for the "regular" Z06. I'm sure they could come up with a low-profile supercharger. Just look at how compact that new Volvo V8 is. That show just how compact you can get an engine if you really try.
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Jerry Bazar 7:18AM (8/28/2006)
Ok, so its hot looking and fast, when will Corvette make a Convertible with a retractable hardtop? That with a big engine is what we need. No more rag tops for this super car.
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Mustang Man 7:57AM (8/28/2006)
It may be fast but it's UGLY UGLY UGLY.No make that BUTT ASS UGLY!
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David 8:23AM (8/28/2006)
A Corvette with a retractable hard top? Sounds cool, but why then wouldn't we just use the Caddy XLR body? The motor pictured for the blue devil does look pretty tall. But there are things that can be done to cram it in. Lower mounted & farther back in the engine bay, taller hood scoop simular to the cowl induction hoods used on the 1970 chevelle.
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KEN 9:24AM (8/28/2006)
TYPICAL corporate GM ,
I HAVE OWNED A FEW VETTES, 56, 59, 66, 75
GM IS ALWAYS PLAYING CATCH UP TO FORD LATELY, AND NOW Chrysler as well, fire the old farts and get new blood in there. it all started when the old farts opened the sales gate with a 6 cylinder vette and Ford hit the market with a V-8. Both were behind Studebaker with their 53 Starliner V-8. When are we going to be ahead of the curve instead of behind the pack and playing catch up.
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G.K. 8:50AM (8/28/2006)
It may be Ugly, but, as long as they put great looking tail lights on it, it will be just fine. The tail lights are what will be seen most. Breifly anyway !!
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jerry 9:07AM (8/28/2006)
only $100k? if the performance is as i've heard, i'll definately order one...i really like scaring those backward hat types in those stupid jap cars...you know the drill, geek boy is rolling along at just over a ton, telling his know-nothing little g.f. how bad his car is with that 250 shot of giggle gas, and i go by at warp 8+ and she says "what was that?" he rplies sullenly "it was a vette" and turns the thump box on... ah... life is good.
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Jordansim 12:47PM (9/04/2006)
This is a joke.
On the HP vs Cost...hold up a second. $35k more than a Z06 just for 145 HP and a new body kit? Uhm. That's just stupid. You can easily get those HP numbers using aftermarket components. Go to the Lingenfelter website and you will see that you can get 616HP on Z06 for a miniscule $5,500...and these guys are considered expensive! That leaves you with a whopping $30k left over to do whatever you want to the car.
Let's not forget to add that the additional $35K does not add any real exclusivity from the same general body style as the base model Corvette.
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GREG 11:16AM (8/28/2006)
Big deal... There is a corvette "tuner" in South Florida already making carbonfiber C6 Z06 body panels and you can take a stock C6 and add a twin turbocharger (over 900 HP) or an ATI Procharger supercharger for a fraction of the price of anything GM is producing.
Too much hype.
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Dan 11:56AM (8/28/2006)
99% of the C6+ is beautiful, even this one. The issue I have is with the "face" that is made by the lights, hood and frontal air intake. It looks terrible, like it's been blasted by a giant air hose. It's blown back and confused, not aggressive & stylish as a sports car should be. To me, this is just poor design.
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Eric 12:09PM (8/28/2006)
Having owned a '57 Corvette I want to see a retro '57 because at $100,000 plus I will never own another '57 unless Chevy comes out with a retro ......
I now drive Porsches as I can purchase a stunning '78 911 Carerra in pristine condition for only $15,000, one owner, 92,000 original miles .....
But nostalgia becons, should Chevy ever duplicate the '57 I would be first in line at around $45,000
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