Motor Trend has ben given top clearance to put the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 up against an F/A-18 Hornet being flown by a seasoned Blue Angels pilot. Both driver and airman get a feel for each other’s machines before putting them to the final test. Who won? Check the video to find out.
For all of the hot water GM has been embroiled in these days, the company can take comfort in knowing that its Corvette franchise is doing pretty well. It comes as no surprise then that GM is taking advantage of this situation by increasing the price of the 2010 Corvette ZR1 to $109,530 – a price hike of over $2,910 from the 2009 version.
While GM understands that the price hike might turn off some people from purchasing the 2010 ZR1, a price hike of a little less than $3K isn’t that much considering you’ll be spending over $100K anyway. Besides, we’ve heard from a number of people – most specifically, Corvette Blogger – that dealers have already pre-empted Corvette’s move in jacking up the price of the 2009 Corvette by over $10,000. So it’s not like GM is doing anything out of the ordinary and when you’re a manufacturer that was this close to dropping your production curtains, you’ll take any form of added income any way you can get it.
Chevrolet has just revealed an all-new image gallery featuring their latest edition of America’s favorite sports car, something that is evident by the vehicle’s 1.5 Million unit production run, the Corvette. General Motors has just announced that the Corvette Grand Sport will be priced starting at $55,720 for a hardtop and $59,530 for the convertible.
The Grand Sport is powered by the familiar LS3 6.2 Liter V8 making 430 HP. What differentiates the GS from the standard model is an upgraded suspension, wider fenders that house the wider tires and larger brakes for when bringing everything to a halt becomes priority number 1. Check out the image gallery below.
This American racing icon was one of the first in a series of innovative racecars created by the great Corvette racer John Greenwood back in the early 1970s. This particular Corvette is distinct from any other fiberglass bodied sports car you would have seen at the time, due to its wide body. The design worked so well that the “slab sides” were later copied by the Porsches and BMWs running in the same IMSA series, the ultimate form of flattery on the racetrack.
Typical for racing, every form follows a function, and the wider rear section not only allowed for wider rubber, but also the addition of a set of coil-overs to do most of the suspension work, while a single factory leaf spring was left in place to pass tech inspection. The openings in the back were very good at venting hot air while the forward facing sides were designed to create down force. The engine is an all-aluminum big blocks with cross-ram intakes and Kinsler fuel injection. The V8 measures 427 cubic inches and makes 715 HP.
This legendary Corvette will be auctioned off at the 9th Annual Russo and Steele ’Sports and Muscle at the Marriot" auction. It was designed by John Greenwood of Troy, Michigan, the Greenwood Corvette is one of the most significant cars ever built by Chevrolet. Initially called the Batmobile by the automotive press, the car first turned a wheel in competition at the 1974 IMSA Road Atlanta where it was driven by John Greenwood and Mike Brockman.
Today marks a momentous occasion for bow tie fans around the world. Despite GM’s current economic situation, and the automotive market’s turn towards more compact fuel efficient vehicles, America’s favorite sports car is still going strong. For over 60 years Chevrolet has been producing the Corvette using the latest in high performance technology and then selling them at a price that any hard working American looking for a fun ride can afford. It was on May 28th when the 1,500,000th composite bodied sports car rolled off the assembly line.
What was interesting, is that this white Corvette had a red interior and a black convertible top, just like the original Blue-flame six powered car back in 1953; the 500,000th model built in 1977 also featured a white on red combination, just like the millionth Corvette made back in 1992.
What is more impressive is that considering the Corvette’s only domestic competition comes from the Dodge Viper. Chevrolet is cleaning house, especially when you consider that to make 1.5 million vehicles in 60 years, which means an average of 25,000 units per year. Chrysler on the other hand, has only sold about 25,000 Vipers since they began retailing the car back in 1992.
Chevrolet revealed their Corvette Grand Sport model back in April. It was then that American automaker let the car buying public in on all the features that would set the Grand Sport apart from all other Corvette models. Things like the wider fenders, Z06 style splitter and rear wing, staggered wheel setup with unique 18 inch rollers up front and 19 inch rims in the back wearing 325 series rubber, housing 6 and 4 piston calipers respectively. The only thing that General Motors didn’t let us in on was the price.
It has just been announced that the Corvette Grand Sport coupe will retail for $55,720 while the drop top will set you back a couple thousand more at $59,530. The 2010 Grand Sport can be ordered with a host of trim packages, ranging from 1LT to 4LT and will be available in four different exterior colors and all will include two tone seats with special Grand Sport embroidery. The standard LS3 is untouched from the base model, the Grand Sport is powered by the familiar 6.2 Liter V8 making 430 HP (436 HP with two-mode exhaust). What differentiates the GS from the standard ride is an upgraded suspension, wider fenders to house the wider tires and larger brakes to bring everything to a halt.
The Corvette Grand Sport should become an instant collector’s item for bowtie fans around the world. Hopefully there will be even more special editions of America’s favorite sports car in the future if GM can get through their current Chapter 11 hearings. Luckily Chevrolet is one of the core brands being spared in the bankruptcy so the Corvette should live on; at least until the CAFÉ standards take effect in 2012.
Chevrolet’s latest super car, the Corvette ZR-1 comes equipped with a supercharged V8 produces 650 HP, a lightweight carbon fiber body that allows it to reach 200 MPH and a set of ceramic brakes to bring it back down to zero makes this a Corvette fit for a King, or at least a future one, that is if Germany still had a monarchy.
Chevrolet has just made delivery of one of their factory tuned Corvettes to Prince Albert of Germany. Officially known as Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis, he is a successful racing driver, so for him the hot rod Corvette is a must. Aside from being named the world’s youngest billionaire at age 8, he has also been crowned a European Lamborghini Cup Champion and as well as Champion of the German ADAC GT Masters. Prince Albert is currently competing in the FIA GT European Championship in the orange and black Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT.
Chevrolet will produce 2000 Corvette ZR-1s a year, meaning that thousands of people will be fortunate enough to own the fastest factory Corvette ever made. But if standing out from the crowd is what you are after, this is your chance. Just like Highlander, there can be only one. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Hero Edition is a special edition, 1 of 1, featuring a pair of red stripes running the length of the vehicle, but my favorite feature is the Hero Edition badge. So how much of a premium will this one of a kind supercar go for? Actually this Hero ZR-1 can be yours for only $3. The car is part of the Corvette Dream Giveaway put on by the Kids Wish Network. If you win, not only will you be able to drive home this modern Chevy supercar, but also a matching 1967 427 big block version as well. Check out the link to find out more.
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of the most beloved models in GM’s line-up. It is the car that put America on the map as far at GT racing is concerned and even today offers the best bang for the buck of any sports car in the world. So with the current economic situation of General Motors, the question we are all asking is what will become of America’s favorite composite bodied GT machine? Will there be a C7?
Thanks to General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson, we will all be able to sleep tonight, because he has just assured the car buying public that the future of Chevrolet Corvette is secure. According to Henderson "Corvette pays its rent," and the future seventh-generation car, dubbed the C7, is still on track, although; the GM CEO was not specific about when the next generation Corvette will be going into production.
Top Speed reported that the C7 was delayed until 2014 last October. But Henderson didn’t deny or confirm it. No matter when we see it, it is good to know that the car is still on track and will be a further improvement of the C6, we might even get to see a little Stingray Concept when it eventually goes on sale.
Revealed at the beginning of 2009, the Corvette ZR750 built by American tuners Hennessey Performance Engineering, is the most powerful Corvette ZR-1. It’s supercharged 6.2 Liter V8 is boosted to 15 psi and produces a whopping 755 HP. And for your viewing pleasure, here is the beast in its natural habitat, the racetrack.
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