Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Supercars, Chevrolet
Detroit 2008: Up close with the Corvette ZR1
click above for a gallery of gorgeous high-res Corvette ZR1 images
We've had a few looks now at the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. First we were introduced to GM's new supercar at the Michigan Design Center last week, then again at the GM Style event just before the show, and yesterday we observed its innards on the show floor. Most of us hadn't seen the car up close on the showroom floor, and so we paid the GM display a lengthy visit to explore the car up close. A few things caught our eye, including the massive carbon ceramic disc brakes both front and rear, as well as the beautiful carbon fiber front splitter, roof, and side skirts. We are still unsure what we think of the glass window covering the 6.2-liter supercharged V8, but we did enjoy the "Take No Prisoners" skull on the intake inspired by the Bad Boy Vettes C6R livery. We won't go too much into an analysis of the car - a search for the ZR1 on the site will bring up dozens of posts regarding almost every aspect of the vehicle - but we have posted several new photos live from the show floor for you to enjoy.
Gallery: Detroit 2008: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
photos ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tbss_in_the_D 3:29PM (1/15/2008)
The GTR is faster. There you have it. Trix are for kids.
Seriously: Now lets post something that has nothing to do with the GTR or Trix. Thanks.
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Jay 3:38PM (1/15/2008)
not with at least 70 less hp and around 500 and 600lbs more weight it isn't. Seriously you could at least attempt to make your trolling less obvious.
Jay 3:39PM (1/15/2008)
my bad misread the post
tbss_in_the_D 3:43PM (1/15/2008)
Not a problem. I just hate hearing about the GTR. I admit it is a fine car, but this is not about it. I just think the fan boys were so excited that there was nothing on the road even close to the GTR and now there will be again right around the same time you can buy them. With Dealer mark-ups they will cost close to the same.
DIRETTORE 9:09PM (1/15/2008)
*****
?? CAN ANYONE PLEASE FIND OUT IF THE ZR1 + CTS-V WILL BE AT GENEVA???
THANK YOU!!!
FrankTheCrank 10:06AM (1/16/2008)
The GT-R represents something fresh and new.
The ZR-1 is a rehash. GM being GM and not pushing the envelope but instead relying on an old namesake. We've seen this trick before. The C6 body isn't that much different than the C5. Where's the innovation? How did they push the watermark that much higher? Horsepower?
To some horsepower is everything. To other's it's just part of the equation. A Ferrari isn't adored because it's a hard core racer with a ton of horsepower. It's adored because it's fast and BEAUTIFUL.
The ZR-1 lacks in the looks department, which take away from the entire package. They should have saved this drivetrain for the C7. IMO.
Yayaja 3:34PM (1/15/2008)
wow, these car looks much better in this color scheme then the previous shots. Bright metallic blue doesn't do it for me and neither did the ghetto fab rims. But the painted aluminum and sleek gray (flint mica from the looks of it) really bring the curves together.
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iamhoff 4:14PM (1/16/2008)
I could not agree more. The gray looks fantastic, and combined with the chromed rims, brings to mind the similarly gray 599 GTB Fiorano that Car and Driver tested several months ago. Certainly fine company to be associated with.
Godzilla 3:36PM (1/15/2008)
Yep. GT-R is gonna kick Z crap out of ZR-1.
Ha ha. At least GT-R could be driven year round..."any where, anytime, and by anyone".
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hokiebird 4:39PM (1/15/2008)
"Ha ha. At least GT-R could be driven year round..."any where, anytime, and by anyone"."
So can a camry. What's your point?
Phillip 6:07PM (1/15/2008)
But really, as a driver yourself.
Do you want a car that drives you, or do you want to drive the car?
Sorry, but I wish not to be piloted by gizmos and computers to make a fast lap time. The ZR1 is brutally fast. The GTR won't touch it.
Mobius_1 8:16AM (1/16/2008)
Wow every one of your posts are about GT-R, not surprising seeing your name, but please does Nissan pay you or what?
And just for the record, ZR1 can hand the GT-R a beating any day, and looks better doing it too
PandaBeat 3:37PM (1/15/2008)
Probably a fantastic car, but all the aesthetical mods done to it are tacky and badly integrated... they make it look like a riced Z06.
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P B 6:49PM (1/15/2008)
I've got a feeling that all those "aesthetical mods" are all very functional and weren't just tacked on for looks.
..Ok maybe the hood window was for looks. I'll give you that one.
CentralParkWest99 5:43PM (1/15/2008)
There's nothing like paying all that money from people who built your car wearing t-shirts and shorts while smoking a cigarette.
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SteveRB 6:57PM (1/15/2008)
Just curious ... how many people actually buy an expensive high performance car (like the Corvette or GT-R) and actually go to a track and really drive it to its limits? Or do these car owners meet each week at Big Al's and race each other for milk shakes and hamburgers?
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HotRodzNKustoms 7:24PM (1/15/2008)
Fast street cars are for poseurs. It would take an idiot to track their expensive street car. Anyone with brains that actually wanted to go fast, like kick any supercar's @$$ fast, buy real race cars. So the only important thing when it comes to fast street cars is drag racing in all honesty.
In2uition 8:00PM (1/15/2008)
That are people out there that track expensive sports cars...however i don't think they would daily drive them (U.S. atleast...in my opinion).
I really like that ZR1. I wonder if someone will produce similar sideskirts and front splitter for the Z06.
Mobius_1 8:22AM (1/16/2008)
I think you are right, and don't forget those celebs who drive them like Camrys. But there are people who do drive their expensive supercars (ever seen the Enzo drifting video?)
JR 7:49PM (1/15/2008)
Yep. GT-R is gonna kick Z crap out of ZR-1.
Ha ha. At least GT-R could be driven year round..."any where, anytime, and by anyone".
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Interesting I have been driving my Corvettes all year long since 1974 including my 550 HP C5.
Glad you cleared that up for I wondered if I have been dreaming it all these years.
Ooh my town had a foot of snow and ice last week and my vette drove just fine
What you should say is dorks with the riceburners which have no weight are all over the road in bad weather.
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