Click on the photo for a gallery of high-res images of the Ron Fellows Edition Z06
During an interview with a group of bloggers including yours truly at the Detroit Auto Show, Bob Lutz answered my question about a Viper-Vette horsepower war in the affirmative. He said that GM and the U.S. market were both schizophrenic and that they would continue competing with Chrysler at the upper end of the performance spectrum. Last week during the Chicago Auto Show, General Motors confirmed that a 600-HP Corvette would be coming in the summer of 2009. General Motors hasn't mentioned pricing yet, as the car is still two years away, although insiders are guessing at $100,000 easy. Considering how long spy photos of the "Blue Devil" Vette have been floating around, the 2009 timing seems a little long, but maybe GM is planning this as a special end of run model before the C7 Corvette shows it's face.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
D Man @ Feb 12th 2007 3:11PM
Why is it always about horsepower? What about handling, torque (which provides acceleration) and suspension? I would still get a GT-R over a corvette!
John @ Feb 12th 2007 3:17PM
D Man, while I like the GT-R, listen to yourself.
Since when has ANY recent Corvette been deficient in handling, TORQUE, or acceleration?
Haters will jaw on and on about leaf springs in the suspension, but hey, the Corvette certainly doesn't seem to be suffering. Use what works.
RBW @ Feb 12th 2007 3:49PM
"Why is it always about horsepower? What about handling, torque (which provides acceleration) and suspension? I would still get a GT-R over a corvette!"
You've never driven a Corvette, have you?
aman @ Feb 12th 2007 4:00PM
stop hating on the guy. i do agree though
Gooch @ Feb 12th 2007 4:49PM
The Corvette has a tremendous racing heritage. The GT-R is cool, but it's no Corvette.
Anyone can flame all they want, but you can't refute cold, hard facts.
naggs @ Feb 12th 2007 5:12PM
"1. Why is it always about horsepower? What about handling, torque (which provides acceleration) and suspension? I would still get a GT-R over a corvette!"
that deserves the ignorant statment of the day award
corvette >> anything that has ever come out of japan
if you like to bitch about the interior or if you think that awd is cool then go ahead and get the gtr but know that your paying more for less "handling, torque (which provides acceleration) and suspension"
corvetteconti @ Feb 12th 2007 5:51PM
This car will rock the entire Super Sport car segemnt world wide. Look for release to dealers SEPT 2008 ( as a 2009 model) Production to begin July 2008!
Estimated production 1300 - 1000 U.S. dealers, 300 export.
NoNameDenton @ Feb 12th 2007 5:52PM
I personally would love to own one of these, sadly it has been said that this car will get a $100,000+ price tag, but a man can dream
M. @ Feb 12th 2007 6:45PM
#3: Does this thing still have this ugly swing axle with virtually no travel to keep the camber in a small range?
bernie @ Feb 12th 2007 8:23PM
So they pay Lutz HOW MUCH to keep going back to the well time and time again? How about new product besides the pathetic HHR and Cobalt? How about retiring?
DC @ Feb 12th 2007 8:44PM
Yep, Bernie is a troll. Please delete these obvious trolling attempts guys, its getting really old.
Non-Bizarro Adam @ Feb 12th 2007 10:20PM
I am a pretty big fan of the GT-R, but it sure as hell ain't no 'Vette. If you want to compare numbers, look at what the two cars have done on the 'Ring.
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?viewThread=y&gID=3&fID=0&tID=10073&bottom=0
Z06 - 7:42
GT-R - 7:59
'Nuff said.
naggs @ Feb 13th 2007 1:43AM
i have heard that the gtr is lapping around 8 min but i havent heard any specific times. where did you get that 7.59
NoNameDenton @ Feb 13th 2007 4:33AM
The GT-R is a nice car, but I prefer the OHV engines in the Corvette, mainly because you do not have to do much revving up to get power into the right rpm range for power, since in an OHV the power is better distributed then in a OHC style engine (I read it in an atricle which I have a cooy of on the computer). The advantage cars like the Vette and Dodge Viper have over the GT-F, the up coming Lexus super car and cars from Ferrari and Lambo and the Audi R8, is the fact that they hav more toque because of the OHV design engines (Look at the numbers in the specs, the Americn cars have more torque).
SeJoWa @ Feb 13th 2007 5:37AM
Torque does not equal acceleration.
Power does.
Compare the formulas for torque and power, and you will see that TIME does not figure in the former.
Torque in this case is the equivalent of one hammer blow on a piston connected to the crankshaft - if a lesser blow hits it more often than a larger one, you'll get better acceleration.
I think it's slightly odd to suggest the Corvette is lacking in that respect. What could be improved is the rear suspension's susceptibility to jump on uneven pavement. That may not be of import on the Ring, but in the real world, it's going to cause some sweaty palms when combined with the Vette's power.
D Man @ Feb 13th 2007 10:24AM
--> 12
Z06 is an insane vette. What GT-R is racing there? A 4 year old one?
NUFF SAID!
Daniel @ Feb 14th 2007 6:43PM
Seems like a long time away if they want it to compete with the updated Viper.
Michael @ Feb 18th 2007 6:59AM
"corvette >> anything that has ever come out of japan"
Certainly not when it comes to quality. Why is it that most American cars start breaking down around 50k yet Honda's and Toyota's go 150k easily?
TOM @ Feb 18th 2007 7:10AM
Corvette rules! When is the last time you saw any model be so prolific as to go on for 54 years! All that foreign crap is a flash in the pan! Buy American!
Rea @ Feb 18th 2007 8:50AM
Yeh, keep buying foreign and do away with the middle class, what's left of it. Our auto's are about the only thing left of the middle class. No more carpet, shoe or steel industries. And don't argue. I know the USA is nothing but consumed with sports and entertainment and nobody wants to work, but it's still the greatest place to live. Don't agree...MOVE to another country....maybe Mexico.