VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 being built from start to finish
Click above to view video after the jump
This morning General Motors released all the official numbers for the 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1 including its price ($103,000), 0-60 mph time (3.4 sec), quarter-mile (11.3 sec at 131 mph) and top speed (205 mph). It's the fastest, most powerful and most expensive vehicle GM has ever built. So how does it get built? Why, at the Corvette's Bowling Green production facility in Kentucky. Put together by the same people who lovingly assemble your garden variety Vettes, the ZR1 is nevertheless a very difficult vehicle than the bang-for-the-buck coupe on which it's based. Watch the video after the jump to see a ZR1 go from a frame to full-fledged supercar in about four and a half minutes of time lapsed video interspersed with interviews of the plant workers who have the privilege of assembling this King of Corvettes.
Gallery: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Goat Law 4:02PM (6/17/2008)
That should be 'different vehicle' not 'difficult vehicle'
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meshies 4:05PM (6/17/2008)
03:22... THE BRAKES ARE HUGE! IM drooling.
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tuna 4:07PM (6/17/2008)
So, GM, where are those 'ring times that's suppose to trounce the GT-R's? It's been months hasn't it? Were you hoping that we'd all forget?
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Blake 4:53PM (6/17/2008)
That was such an amazingly relevant comment, I don't even know where to begin to compliment you on your skills of relevant comment making.
*Cough*
tuna 6:00PM (6/17/2008)
If you don't like it, don't read it. Simple enough even for you.
BigMcLargeHuge 7:43PM (6/17/2008)
Its a relavent question considering it starts out above with 'all the official numbers' for this car. What followed, unfortunately did not include that one number some of us are waiting for with great anticipation.
But then again, 'Ring times are not official, so we can't hold GM to it here.
ZetoSanNi 7:56PM (6/17/2008)
You're right, but you don't have to be such a fanboy about it. lol. In my opinion, both are still awesome/amazing cars.
[Read: Porsche Killers].
I'd still love to see a comparison between the two along with other cars in their class or cars with similar performance numbers [vs price tag].
tuna 8:08PM (6/17/2008)
Exqueeze me? Fanboy?
Did I ever say "I
tuna 8:12PM (6/17/2008)
Fanboy?
Did I ever say "I love GT-R" in my initial comment? Whatever you read is your own interpretation.
GM dished some talk, and they have yet to back it up. Since their declaration of sorts, they have yet to produce any results. If you were an impartial potential buyer for either car, would you not want to know the results since the gauntlets been thrown?
Considering the reaction... perhaps it is you who is the fanboy.
meshies 4:08PM (6/17/2008)
The chrome on the grey at the end is PERFECT.
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MJK 4:10PM (6/17/2008)
It appears the chin gets installed at the dealer upon delivery? It's probably a good thing since it would get beat to hell by the transport process. Not to mention it probably wouldn't even load onto a truck with it.
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donkey punch 4:11PM (6/17/2008)
they should have the workers in uniforms for the video. Looks more professional. Look at the german and Japaneese factories, all the employees look more professional. Not that it really means anything just an observation. I bet the UAW has outlawed the uniforms in favor of street cloths.
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Matt 4:15PM (6/17/2008)
Of all the things to comment on...honestly bro, get a life.
tuna 4:19PM (6/17/2008)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech
Pacman 4:24PM (6/17/2008)
I dont know, a video showing a bunch of assembly line workers making a 100K car - I dont see what is wrong with commenting on how the workers look or perform. A few weeks ago there was an article about the Audi factory and everyone commented on how clean and high tech it looked. This is just the opposite. The workers do look less professional. That does not mean they are, just the appearance.
Chris 4:30PM (6/17/2008)
Tuna,
Freedom of Speech is protection versus the government, not private entities. That being said they look sloppy and very much like a good old boy club. That has a some appeal to those buying a true American icon
Spicky Dildo 4:35PM (6/17/2008)
for home much those workers get paid they should look more profesional.
RAMONTEZ 7:52PM (6/17/2008)
Donkey Punch is absolutely right with his comment. I can go to the Jelly Belly factory in Vacaville, CA and see guys who make my $3 bag of jelly beans WEARING UNIFORMS! If I were going to spend 100K plus on a car, I would probably think twice about buying one that was built by a guy wearing a Big Johnson T-Shirt and Jack Daniels ball cap (exaggeration, but you get the point). Christ, when will the "Big 3" get their collective $h!t together?!?! With 100k mile warranties and cars that are lasting way longer than ever before, it's the small touches that are going to put you over the top these days. Like having a work force that looks like they take pride in what they do. If the Unions are "Protecting" the workers from being "Subjected" to having to wear a uniform... Well, that says a lot about how screwed up our priorities in this country are then, huh? "Sorry guys, can't get you that dental plan you wanted but, hey, you don't have to wear a uniform any more!"
Chaparral 8:51PM (6/17/2008)
I have spent lots of time in manufacturing areas and toured manufacturing areas that make products way more expensive than a 100k sports car and nobody wheres a uniform, except in clean rooms and paint rooms. Not only that but the quality that is required and expected of these workers is higher than that of an automobile line. You think people assembling 200 million dollar commercial aircraft are wearing uniforms?
@ RAMONTEZ : Of course Jelly Belly employees need to wear uniforms, the regulations for food products will require them to wear certain clothing.
RAMONTEZ 8:13PM (6/18/2008)
Well, at least you didn't point out the fact that a bag of Jelly Bellies actually costs $3.29... Regarding CONSUMER products (not 200 million dollar aircraft) I would be more apt to be drawn to a company who's employees look like they take a little pride in what they do. The whole "Grass Roots" "I want people just like me puttin' my Corvette together 'cause I'm simple" approach doesn't cut it with me. If I'm going to buy a car THAT expensive, I would at least like the PERCEPTION that the person putting it together cares about something beyond what position Dale Jr. is going to start in on Sunday. I was expressing my personal opinion, not trying to establish some sort of doctrine for aircraft manufacturers to buy into.