Autoblog

VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Humor

Corvette C6 w/Nitrous Oxide - Click image to watch the video

Or at least a Z06. Now, we're all for drag racing - it's one of the purest forms of sport around - much like World's Strongest Man minus all the steroids. Or is that plus nine billion times the steroids? Either way, little is more adrenaline pumping than watching a nitrous-venting 1976 Chevrolet Camaro run the quarter in 8.5 seconds. Especially when you stop and think about how totally terrible Camaros were when Jimmy Carter took office. *Shudder.*

Anyhow, the reason you can get dirty old Camaros to run so quick are the mods. In fact, a constant, never-ending stream of modifications always makes that next hundredth of a second seem just within reach. Drag racing is the sport of the tinkerer - just ask Don Garlits. You can always shed weight, but then you reach a point where structural integrity becomes an issue.

More power is typically (if not always) the answer. To get there, you got your lumpy cams, bundle o' snakes headers, intake pipes the size of telephone poles, hot lifters, blowers, turbos and, of course, nitrous oxide (N2O). We say "of course" N2O because most drag races are over before you can count to ten. Besides, motors are cheap but Friday night glory at New Jersey's Island Dragway lasts forever, right? In this case, however, the ol' nitrous bottle might be more at home hooked up to another car - might we suggest a '76 Camaro? Find out why after the jump.

[Source: YouTube via Tampa Bay Examiner]

Continue reading VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1

VIDEO: Drag racing Chevy C6 Corvette owner shoulda bought a ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Double Oops: Wife plows into husband's new Chevy Corvette Z06... in her Hyundai Genesis

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Safety, GM, Hyundai

Hyundai Genesis crashes into Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - Click above for high-res gallery

We can only imagine how exciting a day it would be to bring home a brand spanking new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Genesis Owners forum member zedbuyers was feeling that love as he and his wife left a Massachusetts Chevy dealer with a spanking new Cyber Gray Metallic Z06. Zedbuyers was driving from the dealer in the rain with his wife following behind in the couples' nine-month-old Genesis Sedan when disaster struck.

As traffic slowed from 60 mph to 30 mph in the exit lane, zedbuyers applied the brakes, but his wife evidently didn't. The Genesis slammed into the hours-old Z06, thrusting the $80,000 supercar into the vehicle in front of it. Oddly, the Genesis took the brunt of the blow, and a local Hyundai dealer estimated the damage at $16,000, including nearly $2,000 for the HID headlamps alone. The Z06 damage was $10,000, including $2,000 for a carbon fiber bumper.

Luckily, nobody was seriously injured in the accident, but we're sure the owner is smarting none the less. We're guessing the insurance company is not going to react kindly to a combined $26,000 in damages only hours after the purchase of what is likely a very expensive vehicle to insure in the first place. Peruse the gallery below to check out the carnage, and click on the link below for zedbuyers' damage estimates.

Gallery: Genesis crashes into Corvette Z06

[Source: Genesis Owners via Jalopnik]

Double Oops: Wife plows into husband's new Chevy Corvette Z06... in her Hyundai Genesis originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charting the changes for Chevrolet's 2010 Corvette, including Grand Sport [w/VIDEOS]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet

During the annual C5/C6 Bash at the Corvette's Bowling Green Assembly Plant, numerous changes were outlined for the 2010 'Vette line. In addition to the Grand Sport and its scorching performance, the notable changes include, among other things, launch control as standard on all manual transmission models, Performance Traction Management on the ZR1, being able to order any Corvette in any color, and a cashmere interior package available on the Z06 and ZR1.

The event also featured presentations on the Grand Sport's technical aspects and the launch control, both of which you can view videos of after the jump. The launch control is practically brainless: put your Vette in competitive mode, depress the clutch, put the throttle pedal to the floor and it will hold a predetermined RPM depending on your particular engine. Then when you pop the clutch, it will monitor torque at 100 times per second to provide the best traction. All without voiding your warranty. Follow the jump to see the videos.

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Continue reading Charting the changes for Chevrolet's 2010 Corvette, including Grand Sport [w/VIDEOS]

Charting the changes for Chevrolet's 2010 Corvette, including Grand Sport [w/VIDEOS] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With GM on the brink, what will happen to the Corvette?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:18:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet, GM

Click above for our high-res ZR-1 burnout gallery

Some Corvette fans and avid forum members over at GM Inside News have already asked the unfathomable question of what automaker should take over the reigns of America's longest-running sports car if its parent company were to lose custody. Their answer, rather shockingly, was Toyota. We sure hope it doesn't come to that. Still, tough questions deserve thoughtful answers, and Motor Trend is asking away. Even if The General survives, what does the future hold for Team Corvette, which has seen its ranks diminished in the past few weeks with the loss of key players including Vehicle Line Executive Tom Wallace and John Heinricy, test-driver extraordinaire and director of the performance division?

With such important personalities retiring from the 'Vette project, one might wonder if GM's iconic performance car will lose out on planned development. That seems like a real possibility, but we need to realize that R&D funds may be better spent keeping the leaky company afloat, something that the Corvette isn't a major part of. At least there's an excellent, proven platform for the new team to build from.

Gallery: Covette ZR1 burnouts

[Source: Motor Trend]

With GM on the brink, what will happen to the Corvette? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Chris Shunk — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Chevrolet, GM

2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 - Click above for high-res image gallery

I received an Indy 500 poster on my birthday in 1986 that featured a Yellow C4 Corvette pace car leading the pack. My dad hung the poster above my bed, and I can honestly say that I stared at it every night for years. The Corvette was my dream car for my entire childhood, but as an adult I turned my attention to European rides like the Porsche 911 and the Ferrari 360 Modena.

When the C6 Corvette hit the scene for the 2005 model year, the Bow Tie brand's halo vehicle again had me pining for some General Motors muscle. GM gave the base Vette the same 400 horsepower as the C5 Z06, and I figured it was all the power I could ever want. That is, until the 2006 Z06 came along. The Z06 was kicking ass on the track and in enthusiast magazines, and it was toppling competition that far exceeded the Corvette's $70,000 price of entry. We never had the Z06 in the Autoblog Garage, so we were more than happy to take it off Chevy's hands for a week. Hit the jump to see if the Z06 met our lofty expectations from childhood.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Continue reading Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06

Review: 2008 Chevy Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Katech Corvette Z06 ClubSport

Drew Phillips — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Performance, Chevrolet

Click above for high-res gallery of the Katech Corvette Z06 ClubSport

We loved the look and concept of Katech's Corvette Z06 ClubSport that we showed you last month, as did many of our readers. The emphasis on light weight components and track-ready components make it suitable for both street and racing duties, plus it's one of the most beautiful renditions of the Corvette we've seen to date. Our only complaint was that Katech provided just one photo to drool over. Fortunately, they remedied the situation by sending us a set of beautiful high-resolution photos, which we've added to the gallery below. You can also view more info on the car in the press release after the jump in case you missed it the first time around.

Gallery: Katech Corvette Z06 ClubSport

[Source: Katech]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: Katech Corvette Z06 ClubSport

Pics Aplenty: Katech Corvette Z06 ClubSport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deal of the Day: Employee Pricing means $10,000 off on 2008 Corvette Z06

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn

Wow, there are some great deals to be had at the moment from General Motors. Not the least of which is on the Corvette, specifically the Z06 model, which we've had nothing but good things to say about, even at its $72K asking price. Now that GM is offering all of its models at employee prices, that cost drops by about ten grand! A Z06 for $62,653? Yes please... if only our meager blogging budgets would allow it. Similarly, a Caddy XLR-V can be had for $84,771.80 -- about a $15,000 discount.

Need an SUV? May we suggest a Hummer H3 for about $23K? Those in the market for a luxury sedan could certainly do worse than a Cadillac STS-V for $66,640.88 after some $14K in savings. Of course, practical shoppers can take five-grand off their Saturn Aura XR sedan and end up paying just $21,634.28 for the privilege. We're having way too much fun with this and there is plenty of other news we need to cover, so visit this site, find your best deal and leave it in the comments. Update: fixed spelling mistake in the title, thanks guys!

[Sources: Kicking Tires, GM]

Deal of the Day: Employee Pricing means $10,000 off on 2008 Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: 2009 Corvette Z06 gets new color and wheels

John Neff — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Corvette Z06

Yes, it's a slow news day, as many Fridays are. But who's going to complain about looking at new high-res photos of the 2009 Chevy Corvette Z06? Sure, it's not the ZR1, but it's still a damn fine car and for 2009 is getting a few tweaks that might be noteworthy to some. The first that's immediately evident is the Cyber Gray Metallic paint color, which is also joined by Blade Silver Metallic. With the deletion of Machine Sliver Metallic, the Z06 exterior color palette now stands at nine colors. Also new are 'spider'-design 10-spoke wheels exclusive to the Z06, and they look damn good framing those large rotors and red calipers. Less exciting is the new bright surround around the Corvette logo on the hood and redesigned Z06 sill plates, though owners of the '09 model will get a standard power hatch pull-down, Bluetooth as an option and the 10.5-quart dry sump oil system from the ZR1. There's some more new stuff in GM's own words after the jump, but we're too busy looking at the pics to tell you what they are.

Gallery: 2009 Chevy Corvette Z06

[Source: GM]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty: 2009 Corvette Z06 gets new color and wheels

Pics Aplenty: 2009 Corvette Z06 gets new color and wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Porn: Supercarmovies.com honors the Corvette Z06

John Neff — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Supercars, Chevrolet

Click above for high-res gallery of the Corvette Z06 in Europe

How do you follow up filming the ultra rare Lamborghini LP 640 and Wiesmann GT? If you're Supercarmovies.com, you pay homage to the best supercar value this side of the Atlantic: the Corvette Z06. Our pals over at Supercarmovies.com continue to amaze (and embarrass) us by making auto-centric cinematic masterpieces with production values that put everything else on the internet to shame. What we're trying to say is that these aren't your brother's YouTube vids.

Available to view in standard def or High Definition, the newest video lacks a plot like the memorable LP 640 film, but stars the Z06 tackling twisty roads somewhere in Europe. With that raucous V8 bouncing off the Old World's topography like a little kid in a library, you half expect the American icon to punt a MINI Cooper right off the mountain. But this is a movie, and the Z06 has no other traffic with which to contend, so it accelerates and brakes at leisure just like any American would on vacation. Click the gallery below courtesy of Supercarmovies.com for some excellent eye candy and hit the Source link to view the film itself.

Gallery: Corvette Z06 - Supercarmovies.com

[Source: Supercarmovies.com]

Car Porn: Supercarmovies.com honors the Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 May 2008 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Tim Allen's 2006 Corvette Z06

Alex Nunez — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:07:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet, Celebrities

Tim Allen appears to be thinning the herd a little as far as his personal auto fleet's concerned. As a result, you now have the opportunity to own a lightly-used 2006 Corvette Z06 with a legit celebrity connection for what amounts to fair market value. The car's basically stock save for its powder-coated wheels and has a "Buy It Now" option set at $60K. More interesting than the Z06, however, are some of the other cars in Tim's garage, as you can see above. The old Bronco's cool for sure. Ditto the Road Runner and the matte black Nova next to it. In one of the shots, it looks like he's got a GT350H in his stash, along with a couple of Ferraris of diverse vintage, too. But the one that's got us really interested is that white RS200. That'd make in-person pickup of the Vette (or the A8 W12 Tim's also selling) a must if we were the auction winners. Heck, we'd pay a little extra on the Vette just for a ride in the super-rare Ford.

Thanks for the tip, Ryan!

[Source: eBay via Celebrity Cars Blog]

Gallery: Tim Allen's 2006 Corvette Z06

eBay Find of the Day: Tim Allen's 2006 Corvette Z06 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Texas you can "Drive Your Dream"

Scott Davis — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Supercars, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Scion, Ferrari

How cool would it be to drive five of the world's greatest cars all in one day? Nameplates like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche are all just a short jaunt away for less than the price of a single month's lease payment on any one of them.

DFW Elite Auto in Dallas, TX has put together several opportunities that will allow you to do just that. The 'DFW Drive Your Dream' program has several different levels of fun, starting with the 'Every Mile a Memory' Tour priced at just $489 that puts drivers on the road in five great cars -- the Porsche Boxster Convertible, the 1965 Corvette, the Mercedes SLK 55, the Lotus Elise and the Mercedes SL 500. Packages and vehicles vary up to $989 a day for the '2000 Horses Tour', that puts you behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430, Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche Twin-Turbo 911, and a Corvette Z06.

Christmas is fast approaching and this would be a great gift for the car enthusiast in your life. Short of giving someone one of these cars, the present would definitely qualify you for Best Gift bragging rights indefinitely.

[Source: PR Newswire]

In Texas you can "Drive Your Dream" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 911 best performance car

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Cadillac, Dodge, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche

A while back, we had heard that there are a few dedicated car guys within the hallowed halls of Consumer Reports. At the time, we were a bit surprised, but now that they've rated the Porsche 911 as the "Top Ultra-Performance Car," their gear-head cred may have just been confirmed.

The vehicles tested in the performance arena included the Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper and the aforementioned 911. Those coupes, along with a BMW 650i, Cadillac XLR, Jaguar XK, Lexus SC430 and an M-B SL550, made up the magazine's first foray into the world of luxury sports cars.

This inaugural exam of high-end motoring proved to be the most expensive yet for the magazine. As we're sure you're aware, C.R. doesn't accept any press vehicles for evaluation, so they purchase their test subjects on the open market, just as any other car buyer would. The total for all vehicles came in at over $650,000.

The 911 was rated by C.R.'s wonks as "excellent" overall, just barely nudging out the Z06, which also received an "excellent" score. The Viper, brought up the rear with a "very good" rating, although it had the distinction of being the fastest vehicle to sprint to 60 MPH in Consumer Reports' history (4.2 seconds, if you didn't already have it firmly implanted in your cortex).

Interestingly, of all the vehicles rated in the test, only the Lexus SC430 received the 'recommended" designation, due to a lack of reliability information on the rest of the models.

Follow the 'read' link for a synopsis or wait until September 5th, when Consumer Reports hits newsstands everywhere.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 911 best performance car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren captures London Land Speed Record

John Neff — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Supercars, Mercedes-Benz

Weekly British automotive mag Autocar recently shut down the London City Airport because they wanted to find out what car was the fastest in London. Amidst a field that included hometown hero Bentley's Continental Flying Spur, as well as a Ford GT (it lost to the British-built SLR by nary 1.4 mph, fix!), Corvette Z06, Shelby Daytona Cobra, Porsche 911 Turbo, BMW M6, Alpina B5, and Vauxhall Maloo, the SLR McLaren was able to post the fastest time of 175.7 mph on the one-mile long airport runway. No word on how fast the bike in picture went, though.

The record attempt marks the fastest a car has ever been driven legally in London and will be submitted to the Guiness Book of World Records. Here are the final trap speeds of the other contestants.

Mercedes McLaren SLR - 175.7 mph
Ford GT - 174.3 mph
Corvette Z06 - 167.0 mph
Porsche Turbo - 162.6 mph
BMW M6 - 162.5 mph
Shelby Daytona Cobra - 159.7 mph
Alpina B5 - 155.4 mph
Bentley Flying Spur - 157.4 mph
Vauxhall Maloo - 160.8 mph

Later tonight, I will be attempting the Cleveland, Ohio Land Speed Record in my 1999 Oldsmobile Alero on I-90 between mile markers 150 and 151. Wish me luck!

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren captures London Land Speed Record originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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