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

C&D performs first instrumented testing of Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In most cases, it takes ideal conditions - including a professional driver - to hit sixty in the time specified. As a result, some manufacturers quote conservative figures so as not to disappoint customers who can't manage the quoted time. Further confusing the situation, some automakers prefer to quote acceleration time in kilometers, but while the 0-100 km/h (62mph) standard might be very close to the mark, in acceleration times every millisecond counts.

It may be the gold standard, but even gold has its imperfections.

[Source: Forbes Autos]

Forbes takes on the 0-60 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 22:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There could hardly be two more different approaches to the exotic supercar than the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Porsche Carrera GT. One's a production Italian gran tourismo with a front-mounted V12, and the other's a rare German targa with a mid-mounted V10. The Ferrari was designed and executed to be easy to drive, while the Porsche is reportedly twitchier than a monkey drinking coffee. As far as exotic sportscars go, they're like apples and oranges.

The question is, which one is faster? The video after the jump has your answer. The two supercars make two runs from a rolling start. One pulls ahead but by the end of the drag strip the second is ahead by a couple car-lengths. Follow the jump to find out which took the checkered flag.

(If you're thinking the Enzo would be a more fitting adversary for the Carrera GT, you're not the only one.)

[Source: German Car Blog]

Continue reading VIDEO: Ferrari 599 GTB vs. Porche Carrera GT

VIDEO: Ferrari 599 GTB vs. Porche Carrera GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Ford's Accelerated Way Forward Plan details announced

Ford's Accelerated Way Forward Plan details announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As part of Ford Motor Company's Way Forward plan, the automaker has transformed its Dearborn Proving Grounds facility into the new Dearborn Development Center - a $43M renovation that allows for thorough physical testing of a vehicle's performance and durability.

To test a vehicle's performance, the company has installed a 43-acre "vehicle dynamics area", a 12-acre wet pad, a 2.5-mile steering and handling course, and a 4000-ft straightaway. Sign us up for a session with the Shelby GT500, please. The "World Road" area samples driving surfaces from around the world, and rest assured that the majority of it is not simulating the super-smooth Autobahn. Bring your own kidney belt to this one, and check your fillings afterwards for any looseness. Traffic around the sprawling complex is coordinated via a centrally-mounted control tower with a 360 degree view of its surroundings.

The site, which previously was employed only for limited fuel-economy testing, sits next to Ford's $65M Safety Innovation Center.

Eighty-some years ago, the Dearborn Development Center started its life as a commercial landing strip, and Ford Air Transportation Service provided the first regularly-schedule airline service with flights between Detroit and Chicago.

[Source: Ford Motor Company; the complete press release is located after the jump]

Continue reading Ford opens the Dearborn Development Center

Ford opens the Dearborn Development Center originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.