2009 Corvette ZR1: America’s Supercar is a fast, sexy dream ride

By Mike Blake, Carlisle Events

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

For 56 years, Chevrolet has been putting out America’s sports car, and now, that production vehicle has evolved into something even greater, as it has attained supercar status – America’s supercar.

Well before the first Corvette was presented for sale in 1953, Harley J. Earl, GM's chief designer, came up with the concept of designing an open sports car that sold for about what mainstream sedans cost. The original Corvette, code named, "Opel”, was created from off-the-shelf parts, but when the original Corvette went into production on June 30, 1953, in Flint, Michigan, it was a study in innovation, with a fiberglass body, responsive steering, a 150hp, 235ci engine and two-speed automatic Powerglide transmission.

Only 300 ’53 Corvettes were hand-built and they were virtually identical – white, with a red interior, black canvas top, heater and AM radio. They sold for $3498 (the heater added $91.40) and were marketed to VIPs, government officials, business leaders and celebrities – John Wayne got Corvette No. 51.

In the ensuing 56 years, Corvette has moved on to the 6th generation (C6) and has inspired movies (including “Corvette Summer”), TV shows (including “Route 66”), toys (“Barbie” had one and GM sells more Corvette toys than any other vehicle) and car shows (including “Corvettes at Carlisle”, now in its 28th year at the Carlisle Fairgrounds).

Now built at GM’s assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvette has come a long way. The one-model approach in 1953 is now three distinct versions with various options – the basic Corvette C6 coupe or hard-top convertible, Z06 and ZR1, with the 2010 Grand Sport on its way. The C6 convertible or coupe in 1LT trim and 430hp sells for under $50,000; the Z06 with its 7.0-liter engine and 505hp goes for under $80,000; and my test ride, the supercar ZR1 and all of its 638 stampeding horses is a six-figure vehicle, with the model I tested coming in at $117,153.

Starting with its incredibly fluid lines the exterior is classic Corvette. My test vehicle was bathed in Black paint and accented by an Ebony custom leather interior … there is arguably nothing automotively sexier than a high-gloss black Corvette, but Blade Silver Metallic, Cyber Gray Metallic, Atomic Orange Metallic, Velocity Yellow and Jetstream Blue all have their fans.
The ZR1 measures a lithe and low 176.2 inches long, 75.9 inches wide and 49 inches high on a 105.7-inch wheelbase. The rear-wheel drive 2-door hatchback coupe comes with a fixed roof and it weighs in at 3324 lbs., saving bulk with composite and carbon-fiber body panels and hydroformed aluminum frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis components. Perhaps the most striking exterior attribute is the raised, all-carbon-fiber hood that incorporates a clear, polycarbonate window to allow onlookers to see the top of the engine’s intercooler, embossed with “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” on its sides.
Under hood is muscle like no other American production car. The hand-built, supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine explodes out 638hp and an astounding 604 lbs.-ft. of torque. The torque curve effortlessly allows power in all ranges to get to the 19-inch front wheels and 10-inch rear wheels covered in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires developed specifically for the ZR1. There is no hesitation on the road or the highway, except that you have to gently ease on the pedal in town traffic, but you can let it all hang out in passing gear. The set-up is EPA rated at 14/20, and there is a gas guzzling tax because of it. I averaged about 18mpg during a highway-heavy week of tests from Central Pennsylvania to the New Jersey border, but the sheer power, the incredible feeling of well-being behind the wheel, the thumbs ups and Corvette waves from fellow drivers vastly outweighed any fuel economics.
The ride is velvety, confident, road-gripping and stable, hugging the road and smoothing out irregularities with Standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control with track-level suspension.
Those first Corvettes, the C1 generation, managed to plod from zero to 60mph in 11.5 seconds and 14.5 for the quarter-mile. By comparison, the 2009 C6 coupe has been tested at zero to 60 in 4.1 seconds, the Z06 has been stop-watched in 3.7 seconds and the ZR1 has been factory clocked at 3.4 seconds – but these are under ideal conditions and multiple test runs. My own track tests, with the vehicle tuned as you would drive it off the car lot, without waiting for perfect atmospheric conditions or a glass-flat track, and with full air in the tires and nothing jettisoned for weight, blistered the zero-to-60 run in 3.95 seconds en route to a blazing quarter-mile of 12 seconds flat. Perhaps I smoked the tires too much, so I tried again, and several tests later, I was able to make “my optimal run” and charged from zero to 60 in 3.75 seconds while checker-flagging the quarter-mile in 11.65 seconds.

Safety abounds with race-car grade Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, seven air bags and curtains, anti-theft devices and side guard door beams.

Corvette’s interior pays homage to the car’s dual-cockpit heritage. Leather, embroidery, electronics, navigation radio and luxury fit and finish make this a body-hugging cockpit for two.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 has a base price of $115,670 including gas guzzling tax. The Underhood liner added $225, floor mats were $119, personal audio link added $189 and destination and freight charges were $950, for a price as tested of $117,153, maybe one-third of what European supercars cost.

Going stronger than ever at age 56, Corvette is simply super.


Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

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