Superperformance has long been regarded as one of the best in creating special replicas of legendary cars. Among their creations include such legendary vehicles like the Cobra, Daytona Coupe, and the GT40. While they hold special mention as being one of the best at what they do, their latest creation trumps anything they’ve ever done before. Anybody who’s ever heard of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport knows that the car is steeped in racing lore as one of those vehicles that almost never came to fruition.
Designed by legendary Corvette engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov, the 1963 Grand Sport was created out of secrecy after GM executives scoffed at the program for the original car – a car that was supposed to be purpose-built race car to win Sebring and Le Mans – and as a result, the whole program was forcibly scrapped – except for five prototypes that were already made at that time. Today, all five original cars are among the most sought-after vehicles among collectors all over the world.
The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving is located in sunny Phoenix, Arizona; however the team has picked up shop and moved to Las Vegas last week to give visitor to the SEMA Show a chance to experience what a skilled professional can do behind the wheel of a proper sports car, in this case a Z51 Chevrolet Corvette. While the Bondurant instructors traditionally hone their skills at the Firebird International Raceway, the back lot at the Las Vegas Convention center was more than sufficient for the teachers to show their passengers the finer points of car control with maneuvers like the Scandinavian flick and tire squealing tail slides.
We first saw this car when it made an appearance as Sideswipe in the hit movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and while we had an inkling as to what car would eventually be, it wasn’t until a few days ago when GM officially lifted the covers off to introduce its real name: the 50th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept.
Developed mainly to infuse and combine design elements from iconic Stingrays of the past to create a more cutting-edge version for the future, the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept is an eye-catcher in every sense of the word.
According to General Motors, the Corvette Stingray Concept was a project undertaken with the sole objective of taking the brand to newer heights, all while retaining its iconic legacy. So in an effort to puts some weight behind their goal, GM left no stones unturned in developing a concept that its predecessors can be proud of. Among the features found in the Corvette Stingray Concept is a clamshell hood, scissor doors, rear-view cameras with night vision enhancement, ergonomic seats, and of course, a high-performance hybrid. In addition to that, the car also comes with a state-of-the-art inertactive touch control system that allows drivers to manipulate the cars power and efficiency depending on their liking as well as use their settings to share with other people via the cars advanced telemetrics and in-car system.
With a brand that’s as esteemed as the Stingray, it would’ve been foolish for GM to not exert any and all efforts in creating a car that can live up to the legend of the iconic brand. Fortunately, GM knows better than most of us that preserving the status held by the Stingray in the annals of automotive lore is something that should never be taken lightly, and the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept is proof of that.
Announced earlier this year, the Corvette Grand Sport has received a new accessories package for the SEMA Show. The new Heritage Package will be available for order in early 2010.
The new Corvette is painted in a new Cyber Grey exterior color and comes with: mesh inserts for the front fender vents, ZR1-style front splitter and rear spoiler, ZR1-style rocker extensions and wheel spats, tinted dark chrome fender badges, “Tech” pattern engine cover with red lettering inserts and Grand Sport logo on the hood blanket and floor mats and leather console cover.
On the interior it add a “Tech” pattern interior trim kit, racing-style pedal covers and a PAL iPod connector.
Of course the Chevrolet Corvette could not get unnoticed at the SEMA Show. Specter Werkes will present the C6 GTR Corvette, based on the Z06 model. It will be painted in BASF Pearl Blue color and will feature HRE CF40 carbon fiber wheels complemented by a matte black rear fascia.
Under the hood there is a Lingenfelter based 7.0-liter LS7 twin-turbo engine that delivers an incredible 800 hp! There will also be a StopTech STR big-brake package and Corsa exhaust system with GTR-specific exhaust tips.
America’s favorite sports car was well represented at the 2009 Miami Auto Show, aside from the Stingray concept car, Chevrolet had plenty of Corvettes on display. There were a pair of the new Grand Sport models with their wide body stance, gills in the front fenders and bespoke rolling stock; giving Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the finer points of the lineup at a fraction of the price. The 505 HP Z06 model was also on hand, wearing a new set of ten spoke rims for this year to go along with the 427 cubic inch fuel injected LS7. The only thing better than a 7.0 Liter Corvette C6 with its carbon fiber body work and hyrdro formed chassis according to GM’s design department is even more carbon fiber and an acrylic window in the hood. The window lets onlookers admire the ZR-1’s intercooler that sits on top of the supercharged 6.2 Liter LS9 small block that delivers a maximum output of 620 HP and 595 lb-ft of torque and 200+ MPH.
You might have seen this sleek C6 based concept in the big screen blockbuster Transformers 2 and was previously known as the Corvette Centennial Concept, however now we can call the Stingray by its true name. Full of cues from a bygone era like the split rear window that dates back to the original 1963 StingrayCorvette. The concept made its debut earlier this year in Chicago, but it looked as good as ever sitting in South Beach. This concept came in a close second for concept vehicle of the show, but was only edged out slightly by its Cadillac cousin’s roof mounted solar panel. However the Stingray is absolutely stunning and the word is that the next generation Corvette will draw its inspiration from this concept.
The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is hands down one of the best performance machines to come out of any American manufacturing workshop. With its lightweight fiberglass body, powerful small block V8 engine and affordable price tag the Corvette has become an American performance icon and will remain that way well on into the future. So what would make this 505 HP chunk of Detroit iron any better at 199 MPH, how about a set of new shoes?
As it comes from the factory, the Z06 is already a very sporty looking machine filled with lots of high tech go fast goodies, but with the help of the German tuners at Cargraphic the hot rod C6 Corvette can look even better. The new rollers measure 19 inches in diameter up front and 20 inches in the rear. The aftermarket racing wheels are made from forged aluminum so they will not only hold up at nearly 200 MPH, but despite their size the oversized rims weigh less than the stock units so they will actually improve the Z06’s handling. These particular Cargraphic rims are finished with a glossy black center section and feature a very tasteful polished lip, however the sky is the limit as far as color choices are concerned because Cargraphic is ready to customize their products with any shade imaginable.
Remember those Corvette ZHZs – all 500 of them - that Hertz decided to add to their rental fleet a while back?
Well, that number is down to 498.
We don’t know the entire details surrounding this one but it looks like the driver of the Corvette ZHZ was going a little too fast with his rented ride and ended up losing control of it, resulting in the Vette crashing into and over a rock wall where it ended up nose first on the other side. This, of course, comes two months after the first Hertz Corvette ZHZ made an unexpected pit stop inside a local Dallas restaurant.
It has to be comforting for Hertz to know that one of their premium rentals are being crashed one after the other. Then again, maybe this will be a nice lesson for the car rental agency. If you ever decide to bring in a 430 HP rear-wheel-drive sports car to have rented, then maybe you ought to expect one too many eager – and reckless - drivers dropping by and renting them out.
The Corvette ZR-1 is an interesting choice to finish off our trio of over the top German tuner cars, but even in Germany, those Autobahn crazed automotive enthusiasts can’t deny the power of good old Detroit Iron. If you happen to be in the market for a late model General Motors sports car in Germany, look no further than Geiger Cars, a vehicle importer that previously offered the very hot Chevrolet Camaro to the European market now introduces the Corvette ZR-1.
However, Geiger Cars doesn’t just offer the ZR-1 as it comes with the blown 647 HP LS9 6.2 Liter V8. Something we will see when the German automotive experts take the cover at the new Geiger GTS at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. A little bit of work to the engine has raised output to an earth shattering 710 HP and torque is up from 607 lb-ft to 677 lb-ft of twist which will make the
modified ZR-1 run from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.6 seconds and reach an improved top speed of 212 MPH, perfect for the unrestricted zones of the A24.
Geiger Cars has dressed up the Geiger GTS with a set of staggered lightweight O.Z. Superleggera 19 and 20 inch wheels measuring a solid 12 inches in the back shod with sticky high performance tires. A set of sleek LED taillights look sweet inside the blacked out deck lid with a set of carbon fiber seats on the interior.
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