VIDEO: Corvette ZR1 doing 195 mph on the Autobahn
Click above to watch video after the jump
We recently brought you video of the Corvette ZR1 being manhandled around General Motors' Milford Proving Grounds by our own Sam Abuelsamid. House rules that day made the car a 4-on-the-floor, since invitees weren't allowed to explore any gear beyond fourth. Car junkies over in Europe, however, recently got a chance to ride in the first pre-production ZR1 on The Continent while it was shaken down and then flogged on the Autobahn before heading to Nardo. If you believe the speedometer, the yellow scorcher runs to 315 kph (195.73 mph) before it ran out of clear highway, not out of speed. Looks like we'll have to change the phrase from "blue" to "Fast as yellow blazes..." Follow the jump to check out the full video. Thanks for the tip, Thomas!
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1
[Source: Autoblog Netherlands (no relation)]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
AIL 1:04PM (9/11/2008)
believe the speedo? not a chance.
some of the tweaked vettes, vipers that really can top 200mph will show 230-250mph on the in-car speedo. consumer-grade speedometers are fairly inaccurate at anything over 80mph.
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Tristan 1:22PM (9/11/2008)
nice one slick. considering the speedo only goes up to 220. and i be the zr1 can and will do over 200 mph. so how about u just go back to worshiping the emotionless GTR and dream that it could even come close to the top speed of the zr1
Franz 1:28PM (9/11/2008)
*Sigh* One ignorant comment and a fanboy retort...
@ AIL: Do your research before you come here making an ass of yourself.
@ Tristan: Grow up and quit trying to start a flame war.
Hardy 1:42PM (9/11/2008)
I'm not sure there's much 'consumer grade' about the ZR1 chief.
Lou 1:43PM (9/11/2008)
Not sure about car speedo accuracy, but in the land of motorcycles, speedos are way off on the optimistic side. That being said, an unrestricted Hyabusa, would smoke the ZR1 anyway.
AIL 1:11PM (1/15/2009)
Yeah, "230-250mph". Those of us with more advanced minds than some of you here can look at a needle, see how far past the last ticks and numbers it is, and extrapolate.
@Franz - This is a fact. Calling me ignorant makes you wrong and makes you sound like an ass. "LMOA" all you want, I am unimpressed.
@Tristan - I have absolutely no idea why you are saying anything about the GTR. It is irrelevant in this conversation. All consumer cars have inaccurate speedometers at their high end.
@Aaron - it is called "cost". Why should mfgr's care? You are not supposed to be going that fast anyway.
Aaron 2:37PM (9/11/2008)
have you even looked at the speedo on a car other than your 89 civic?
they dont go beyond the last number
look at any speedo on a corvette from 1997 to now
they stop right after the last number, you MUST have a GPS to read anything higher
Franz 3:02PM (9/11/2008)
"more advanced minds"... LMAO. You might not be impressed, but you still FAIL.
Paul 3:23PM (9/11/2008)
Ail = King of Fail
SimbaDogg 4:07PM (9/11/2008)
i dunno about you, but i hardly think a c6 zr1 is. This isn't a daihatsu we're talking about
Torrent 6:30PM (9/11/2008)
Tristan- You were fine until the GT-R comment. I don't necessarily care for the GT-R, but Nissan Tried to hard to make a great car- and succeeded. Give them the credit.
AIL- Just add an 'F' at the beginning of your name.
arturo 6:45PM (9/11/2008)
I would not be surprise if I see this car doing 220 mph.
wumpus 8:01PM (9/11/2008)
@aaron - not only has he not looked at a speedometer on a fast car, he hasn't looked at a tach on anything not connected to a (lockup-free) slushbox.
@Lou - this works with motorcycles, to (except for optimistic R6 tachs:)
tankd0g 7:58PM (9/11/2008)
Ah Tristan, you're not exactly helping you case. A speedo that goes up to 250 would have been more accurate than one that only goes to 220.
montoym 9:06PM (9/11/2008)
LOL, exaggerate much? 30-50mph off on the speedo? Maybe 20yrs ago or more. With the onset of better electronics and GPS verification, speedometers have become far more accurate than in the past.
Some of the major magazines used to include(might still) an "indicated" part next to the verified top speed to show the speedo error during their high speed tests. Never once did I see a car anywhere close to 30mph off. Some might have been off over 10mph, but nothing near 30, not to mention 50.
Golferal 1:10PM (9/11/2008)
Nice to see some genuine Euro respect for the 'Vette!
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Aaron 1:12PM (9/11/2008)
you really dont think that we are to the point where we have the technology to have a fairly accurate speedometer?
the speedo in my old-ass C5 was only a few mph off at 120mph (gps confirmed)
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Aaron 1:19PM (9/11/2008)
that and the C5 and C5 speedos only got up to 200
the ZR1 and Vipers only go to 220
so i'm going to call bs on "230-250mph on the in-car speedo"
Franz 1:23PM (9/11/2008)
LMAO. 230-250mph... Nice one.
tankd0g 7:58PM (9/11/2008)
So when my redneck buddy "buries the needle" on his WS6 I'm expected to believe he's topping 200mph?