C&D performs first instrumented testing of Corvette ZR1
Click above for our high-res ZR1 burnout gallery!
Car and Driver recently strapped its test gear to the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and, as expected, recorded some impressive numbers. All eyes have been on the supercar Vette as it enters the boxing ring to duke it out with the heavy-hitting Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR, Nissan GT-R and Porsche GT2 (among others), and it looks like the latest Corvette will more than hold its own. According to C&D's trusty electronic gear, the supercharged 638-hp beast knocked off a 0-60 mph time of just 3.4 seconds as it continued towards a blistering 7.6 second 0-100 mph run. The quarter mile was cracked in 11.5 seconds @ 128 mph (Chevrolet claims 11.3 seconds, but the guys at C&D didn't believe in "...that sort of drivetrain abuse" to get lower numbers). The top speed also remains unverified as the team "ran out of room" before they could hit the claimed 205 mph. Under braking, the ZR1 set a new C&D record as it hauled itself down from 70 mph in just 142 feet. Of course, we must mention the obligatory claimed Nürburgring lap time of 7:26 (at the hands of Chevrolet). So you don't have to Google the competition's best-claimed Ring times yourself, here they are: Porsche GT2 - 7:32, Nissan GT-R - 7:29, and the Dodge Viper ACR - 7:22. Of course, we'd like to see all four on the track under identical conditions, and with some digital timing gear!
Gallery: Covette ZR1 burnouts
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Corvette ZR1
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Christian de Saint Preux 2:35PM (10/09/2008)
Wao.... those numbers are lame...
140more hp and all C&D was able to get is just 3 mph more????? (about 95 more to the wheels)
Something is NOT right there. That car can easily do 131mph on the quarter.
Don't know.. i'll wait on motor trend to test it.
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:39PM (10/09/2008)
Unless they had a Z06 there under the same conditions with the same driver, its hard to say.
jcar302 5:37PM (10/09/2008)
The car is a beast, the quarter mile times are going to be all over the board. Some will appear to even be random.
Weather also plays a huge role in a supercharged cars performance.
I'll assume when people start to get them in their driveways, some will run 12's and some will even run 10's.
krasmo 2:38PM (10/09/2008)
it is car and driver
if it isn't a bmw, Csaba wont let them write anything good about it.
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Cardude 2:47PM (10/09/2008)
Car & Driver is so biased against American cars it is a joke for them to even test any. They are losers.
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Serge 2:48PM (10/09/2008)
I wonder if the M3 will win the comparison between the ZR1, GT2 and Viper ACR?
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Kevin 4:13PM (10/09/2008)
LOL! nicceee..
MONTE 5:21PM (10/09/2008)
That is a given, It's C&D. One thing you remember is that digital timing equipment doesn't allow rollout like drag strip timing lights do. Car tested equipment like this will always trap less because they aren't running the same 1/4 as on the track. In a 1/4 it won't make much difference at all but in the 0-60 it can. Hell with any other rags testing it, I want to see it rolling some ET Streets and pulling the front wheels.
BigMcLargeHuge 3:00PM (10/09/2008)
I agree that C&D is the least reliable of the car mags.
But if you're going to throw out any unfavorable results for GM, you might as well throw out the Lightning Lap as well. They gushed over GM cars in that one.
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why not the LS2LS7? 3:00PM (10/09/2008)
What? The ZR1 is faster around the N-Ring than the GT-R? Why didn't I hear anything about this before?
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Serge 3:03PM (10/09/2008)
I hope you're joking...
jv2k 10:55PM (10/09/2008)
I take it you just came out from under your rock.
Ian 3:17PM (10/09/2008)
Let's have all 4 manufacturer's at the ring together with drivers of their choice for an all out head-to-head race. THAT would be interesting!
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jmt0602 3:23PM (10/09/2008)
FWIW, those hating on C&D, regardless of what kind of car it is, they usually clock the fastest numbers of any of the mags, So don't hold your breath on having Motor Trend have faster numbers.
I'm surprised they made the "drivetrain abuse" comment though. The reason they usually have the fastest numbers is because they usually thrash on the cars more than everyone else.
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DCragtop 3:32PM (10/09/2008)
Still a hot car no matter who tests it. Besides, C&D has the lowest JD Power and Associates rating for any automotive magazine 4yrs running!
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Serge 3:40PM (10/09/2008)
JD Power and Associates has the lowest JD Power and Associates rating!!!
bill jackman 4:03PM (10/09/2008)
MT ran it in the 10/08 issue, but no official numbers. It was the standard MT B.S. of basically rewriting the company's press release, and throwing in the word "bows."
I'll wait for Automobile Mag and something actually worth reading.
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TKOsoccer03 4:18PM (10/09/2008)
The Z06 can run 11.5 all day at 126 mph with a good launch. When GM says this car can run 11.3, I believe them. Never before have their production numbers been incorrect.
Look .. It's C&D .. enough said.
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sheth 4:14PM (10/09/2008)
I didnt think 0-60 would get much better than the Z06's best times but the other numbers are pretty impressive. C&D seems to be having a little trouble getting the best numbers lately. They could only get 4.3secs from the CTS-V while R&T was able to get 3.9 (auto) and 4.1 (man) which is about what GM said the car could do. R&T has been putting out the fastest times of late. I bet they will get the best ZR1 times.
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Serge 4:52PM (10/09/2008)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the ZR1 has wider and stickier tires than the Z06. Combine that with better suspension tuning and gearing... I would think it could go a few tenths faster compared to a Z06. I would expect at least 3.3s 0-60! The car can reach that speed in 1st gear, so shifting is not the issue.
But C&D gets the weirdest 0-60 times... I still dont get how they were able to hit 60 in 5.1 seconds in a G35 sedan?