Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Chevrolet
LEAKED! Corvette ZR1 6.2L LS9 V8 sees light of day
by Drew Phillips on Nov 26th 2007 at 11:00PM 
We didn't think we would get a glimpse of it until January at the Detroit Auto Show, but Jalopnik has obtained official photographs of the LS9 V8 that will power the 2009 ZR1 Corvette. The images show that the LS9 is a supercharged version of the 6.2L LS3 V8 like we previously reported. One photo also illustrates in detail a unique integrated twin intercooler that sits atop the supercharger. While it may not have the official name, the blue accents on the engine cover hint at the "Blue Devil" moniker by which we referred the car for some time before switching to the official ZR1 name. While specifications haven't been released yet (we're guessing it will offer somewhere in the neighborhood of 650 HP), just seeing the images of the LS9 gets us even more excited for the ZR1's official debut in January.
[Source: Jalopnik, Digital Corvettes]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
amastadon 11:08PM (11/26/2007)
Wow! Looks pretty awesome!
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Paul P. 11:12PM (11/26/2007)
It's really a pretty boring looking engine, especially with that cover on there.
My '03 Cobra with it's blower mounted on top looks a lot better. However, I don't think a setup like that would fit under the hood of a vette.
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PandaBeat 12:22AM (11/27/2007)
Truthness.
Creeper 11:12PM (11/26/2007)
this motor makes me cry tears of joy.
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RobZ4 11:21PM (11/26/2007)
Very sweet...this will heat up the never ending battle between the Corvette and the Viper...stay tuned for more to come.
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Russell 11:24PM (11/26/2007)
Superchargers are not as good as turbos, but I guess its easier to package them and are cheaper.
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Paul P. 12:18AM (11/27/2007)
"not as good" depends on what you're trying to achieve. A blower is great for low end torque (making a F/I engine feel like a larger N/A engine), it's also a more compact setup for a V8, and usually cheaper to produce. There will surely be aftermarket Turbo setups, but for what chevy is trying to achieve the blower is perfect.
Mike 1:25AM (11/28/2007)
Matt,
Hate to piss on your soap but the Cobra R from 8 years ago made 385 under rated horsepower from an engine with 1.6 less liters of displacement than the current Z06.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:25PM (11/26/2007)
My only regret is it isn't all-motor.
Blowers are for Fords.
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Mark 11:30PM (11/26/2007)
Bottles are for Fords, real men get blown. ;)
Matt 1:57PM (11/27/2007)
"My only regret is it isn't all-motor.
Blowers are for Fords."
True, but GM already proved that they can make a 500+ motor without any help. I think the closest Ford gets is ~325hp.
Mike 1:28AM (11/28/2007)
My response about the Cobra R was in response to Matt's response and ended up in the wrong place.
meshies 11:31PM (11/26/2007)
Amazing. I love the integrated design of all the components.
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J.Crew 12:01AM (11/27/2007)
GM is on fire right now. I can't wait to see this car in January.
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Dustin 12:08AM (11/27/2007)
Well I have and do drive chevy LS# engines, and still...
I believe autoblog owes me a pair of pants for these photos
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TEM 12:25AM (11/27/2007)
Sweet, sweet, sweet....
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Max 12:28AM (11/27/2007)
That is an unusual intercooler. The small size, and ports on the back have me wondering if its a water-to-air intercooler. That would be pretty awesome if it was.
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Thetruck454 12:51AM (11/27/2007)
It is a air to water intercooler ;-)
why not the LS2LS7? 2:13AM (11/27/2007)
Technically, it's half of an air-water-air intercooler. Without the other air-water heat exchanger (the one that's usually mounted at the front of the car) it's not an intercooler at all!
chris 12:29AM (11/27/2007)
Why are they using a supercharger that'll get way too hot with track use and make the car useless instead of a couple turbochargers? It's not like this is like that Mustang GT500 that's only good for drag racing (and isn't even good at that) is it? There's a good reason why Ford GT owners are swapping the superchargers for turbos, and why the only other performance cars that use superchargers are the Exige S and Koenigseggs while everything from the Mini Cooper S to the 911 GT2 and Veyron use turbos.
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