ZR-1 'ring times.

[79PonchoUK]

Corvette Chief Engineer



I know many people have been very interested in how fast the ZR1 would be at the Ring…

Most car enthusiasts are quite familiar with the Nürburgring. Built in the 1920’s near Cologne, Germany, “the Ring” is considered to be the toughest and most challenging race track in the world.

Over the last two weeks, we have been doing our final tuning and testing there before we start ZR1 production cars. This morning (Friday June 27), General Motors development engineer Jim Mero drove the Corvette ZR1 around the Nürburgring in a time of 7:26.4.

Jim commented after the lap that conditions were good except for a strong headwind down the main straight and that the lap was solid, but he felt there were a few places he could have gone faster.

The car was bone stock with the exception of the communications and safety equipment. The tires were production Michelin Pilot Sport 2’s. These tires have been developed specifically for the ZR1 and will have impressive wet traction and wear (tread wear rating = 220), in addition to excellent dry road holding. Chassis alignment and vehicle height were set to factory specs. Likewise, the engine calibrations were absolutely stock, emissions compliant and the car ran on pump (not racing) fuel. The vehicle was exactly like the cars that will be built in Bowling Green, Kentucky and sold around the world later this summer.

Despite posting one of the fastest times ever run by a production car, Nürburgring lap times were not an over-riding priority in the development of the ZR1. The truth is, if the only priority was speed at the ring, the car would not be very pleasant to drive on American roads. The ZR1 is an incredibly capable track machine, but unlike most ultra-high performance cars, it is very easy to live with on a daily basis.

The timed lap was run with a rolling start, a departure from our previous practice of standing starts. This is more aligned with current industry practice. The lap was electronically timed and confirmed with two hand-held stopwatches. An in-car video will be posted when the engineering team returns from Germany. Look for it the week of July 7!

http://blog.gmnext.com/?p=194

[formula]

good. That'll atleast hush the GT-R fans a little. Not shut them up, of course, but quiet them down a bit.

As a side note....Does anyone else feel like ferrari et all really need to step their game up? It seems like cars like the viper, GT40, vette, and GT-R are running around stomping all over them for significantly less money. Granted, one could defend this with an argument about the cachet or ownership experience, but I say the same thing about my car right after I get outrun.

[79PonchoUK]

good. That'll atleast hush the GT-R fans a little. Not shut them up, of course, but quiet them down a bit.

As a side note....Does anyone else feel like ferrari et all really need to step their game up? It seems like cars like the viper, GT40, vette, and GT-R are running around stomping all over them for significantly less money. Granted, one could defend this with an argument about the cachet or ownership experience, but I say the same thing about my car right after I get outrun.

I've said it for years, materials and common sense make a good car, not bhp/litre.

The LS7 was my favourite, one of the lightest, cheapest, smallest and most economical 505bhp you can get that doesn't need a rebuild every 30 miles. lol - and it's also one of the biggest displacement. I do believe it's the cheapest to buy too.

There's a lesson in it that ferrari etc will never learn though, having an rediculous highly strung running gear is 'an ownership experience'.
They don't even sound that nice.

[CraigMorrison]

They don't even sound that nice.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_UWVxT7YcFw

I would like to disagree.


It would be fun to take some PT cars over to the Nurburgring Nordschleife and see what could be done with a pro driver behind the wheel. Sabine Schmidt maybe?

[MrQuick]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_UWVxT7YcFw

I would like to disagree.


It would be fun to take some PT cars over to the Nurburgring Nordschleife and see what could be done with a pro driver behind the wheel. Sabine Schmidt maybe?

Yep, one passed me on 101 doin 60 and I got a chubby.

I agree but she is just a taxi driver! LOL that chika can drive.

[neki67]

It would be fun to take some PT cars over to the Nurburgring Nordschleife and see what could be done with a pro driver behind the wheel. Sabine Schmidt maybe?

Man, that would be nice! I know for sure my car won't make it into the sub 8's (or even the sub 9's I'm afraid) but it would be something to see some top end PT cars in action on the ring. The ring is just 6-7 hours away from me. If you need help to facilitate, I wouldn't mind helping you out!

[79PonchoUK]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_UWVxT7YcFw

I would like to disagree.


It would be fun to take some PT cars over to the Nurburgring Nordschleife and see what could be done with a pro driver behind the wheel. Sabine Schmidt maybe?

They're just noise. - 269,000 out of 270,000 people that were there at Le Mans would agree that best sounding car on the track is the Corvette. By far. lol

My friends spotted the ZR-1 testing at nurburgring last week....they didn't even realise until they saw this topic posted elsewhere after they got back.

I think the trans am will be going to nurburgring next year - I just need to sort out the oil surge issues :(
I'll be happy to meet up with a few of you??

[CraigMorrison]

They're just noise. - 269,000 out of 270,000 people that were there at Le Mans would agree that best sounding car on the track is the Corvette. By far. lol

My friends spotted the ZR-1 testing at nurburgring last week....they didn't even realise until they saw this topic posted elsewhere after they got back.

I think the trans am will be going to nurburgring next year - I just need to sort out the oil surge issues :(
I'll be happy to meet up with a few of you??

I really like both actually- the large bore American V8 roar and the small bore V8/V10/V12 howl. High performance is a great sound regardless of the configuration.

Some friends were at the Ring in March and saw the GT-R in testing- The car then left because it had to go back to London for the GranTurismo5 Prologue launch party ~ which we were supposed to have the Vette at if it wasn't for the scary expensive shipping charges.....

[79PonchoUK]

One more thing....how fast was the Z06 if it ran the ring on a standing start?

Thats a serious performance bargain now those details have been confirmed by GM.

It's probably not really far off the GTR at all......whose numbers seem all over the place in a suspicious fashion.

[BRIAN]

GM should be praised for developing an engine that keeps up with anything and is the simplest design out there. No tons of electronic gimmics. Can still be rebuilt in an educated backyard garage. Try that with the Nissan.

[sik68]

Wikipedia's got the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap times:

Nissan R35 GT-R 7:29.03 (Much suspicion about car setup, but video exists)
Covette C6 Z06 7:42.9 (Article above suggests a standing start)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_lap_times

[BA.]

Craig, I completely agree with you. V12's sound absolutely bada$$.

great sounding YouTube there.....

[Memphis]

Craig, I completely agree with you. V12's sound absolutely bada$$.

great sounding YouTube there.....

Thats a V8 now here is a B.A. V12
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VPhPTE0MIwM

[CraigMorrison]

Thats a V8 now here is a B.A. V12
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VPhPTE0MIwM

Straight pipes on an F50

[jeff s]

Ultima is there in Germany now with their Factory Demo GTR.
They do build complete turn key cars for the Euro market.
Their goal is to post the quickest production car record.
Looking to smoke the ZR1 time, we'll see, should be done by the time everyone here wakes up.

[JEFFTATE]

Ultima is there in Germany now with their Factory Demo GTR.
They do build complete turn key cars for the Euro market.
Their goal is to post the quickest production car record.
Looking to smoke the ZR1 time, we'll see, should be done by the time everyone here wakes up.

Wow , my two favorite cars !
The ZR1 and the Ultima !
I still wanna build an Ultima one day .

[neki67]

http://dvnews.news-letter.nl/content...&contentid=770

[RudeJester.s10]

The f40 isnt v12..its an ihi-twin turbo v8. The f50 however is...both make my pants tight in the front. Back in the day when I still managed Interparts of Tulsa, one of the owners buddy's came every Friday, and always brought some exotic collector. Out of all them (and there were many) my favorite sound was the Lamborghini Espada..its absolutely amazing to hear a v12 with six weber carbs at full tilt...and yes I drove the Countach as well....even revved it between shifts...just like in Cannonball run movies...

[bigvegan]

The MSRP on the ZR-1 is going to be $103,300 (http://sportscarsfans.blogspot.com/2...at-103300.html).

The MSRP on the GT-R is $69,850 (http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/gtr/2009/review.html).

The ZR-1's a nice car, no doubt, but in the "bang for the buck" competition, considering the technology Nissan's including (all wheel drive, twin turbo, electronically adjustable suspension, etc.) I think Nissan wins this round.

[79PonchoUK]

I'm not so sure the GT-R beats the Z06 for bang for buck.

OK, it's possible it's quicker around the ring (assuming everything is kosher in that respect) but the performance differences are marginal in general, plus the Z06 is certainly going to be more of a 'drivers' car....not to mention more fun at upgrade time.

Also, twin turbo isn't an advantage.....it's just a means. (not the greatest one either IMO)


The ZR1 might not be quite such a great bargain in that respect, but then none of us have driven one to establish it's improvements over the two.


Really though, there are millions of these arguments over the internet. Some by the smart, some by the stupid. I'd like to think GM still need praising for developing a car thats so very fast on what the rest of the world consider antiquated practices. OHV, 2 valves per cylinder and the use of leaf springs, which i've hear a number of well recognised engineers laugh at, whole heartedly.

To them......in your face.