Chevy Corvette ZR1 Review | Full Specification, Price, Engine

Overview

For over eight years, Corvette team used all that they had to create a solid successor to the C6 and the new C7 ZR1 is the result. The previous one from 2009 left quite a good impression with its 638 hp and we are all expecting more from the new one.

Revealed in Dubai, UAE, the new Chevy Corvette ZR1 is the fastest production car that General Motors has ever made. From commanding stance, a lot of carbon-fiber to muscular lines, they designed the ZR1 with one purpose in mind: Performance. 

The overall of the Chevy Corvette ZR1, especially the design, has been greatly updated to make the car looks angrier than ever. As the manufacturers say, this is a luxury sports car. Apart from the good looks, the performance of the car will be another reason why you will want one badly. Let's take a look at the specifications, shall we?

Specifications

Designs

The Chevy Corvette ZR1 is designed to have maximum downforce as possible while still making the car looks appealing to the eyes. This car is all about lightweight design. Starting with the fact that the engine on the front is out in the open. Yes, the engine is not covered with the hood cover. What General Motors refers to as the "halo hood". The carbon weave is perfectly aligned with the hood cover of the Chevy Corvette ZR1 but the intercooler cover will move around when the car is accelerating. There are also two openings in front of the engine to remove hot air from the engine bay. 

The lower front wing of the Chevy Corvette ZR1 gives the car an advantage over the standard Z06 in terms of increased downforce, thus enabling the car to reach its record-breaking top speed. Also, the ZR1 is one of the very first production car to has a front underwing, borrowed directly from race cars. This additional piece of carbon-fibre will turn its closeout panel into a downforce control surface. 

The massive rear carbon-fibre high wing makes about 60 percent more downforce than the previous generation C6. The Quattro exhaust system provides four sound modes namely Track, Sport, Tour and Stealth. So it's up to you to decide how loud you want your Chevy Corvette ZR1. Believe it or not, the sound that the exhaust system creates is very satisfying.

The Chevy Corvette ZR1 is equipped with standard high-performance Brembo carbon ceramic brakes which will provide ultimate stopping power. The car uses 19-inch wheels on the front and 20-inch at the back, all wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport.

The whole car weighs only 1615 kg (3560 lbs), bear in mind that the Chevy Corvette ZR1 has all the luxury you could imagine.

Interior

The interior of the Chevy Corvette ZR1 is not that much different from the Z06. Expect to see a lot of exposed carbon-fibre on the dashboard and in between the seats. The rest of the interior is mostly leather or Alcantara (depending on owner's choice). Once again, the Chevy Corvette ZR1 is a luxury sports car. The Corvette team focused on both luxury and performance and with the results, we can say they are successful. "The car has a comfortable and functional interior", says General Motors. 

Engine

What is under the hood might be the best thing about the whole car. The Chevy Corvette ZR1 has a 6.2L supercharged V8. The massive engine makes 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. The ZR1 can achieve a top speed of 212 mph, which is very impressive for a Corvette. The car has not yet been tested on track but it is expected that 0 to 60 mph will happen in approximately 2.7s. You can get your Chevy Corvette ZR1 with either a seven-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. 

Price

The Chevy Corvette ZR1 has a starting price of about $120,000, while to get the convertible version will set you some $124,000 without options. The car will be on sale by Spring 2018. Honestly, for that much power, the Chevy Corvette ZR1 is very cheap compared to other cars in the same category. 

ZTK Performance Package

A special package is available for those who want more from their Chevy Corvette ZR1. They developed the ZTK Performance Package to conquer the track in record time. This package comes with a high rear wing and carbon-fibre end caps to the front splitter for increased downforce. You will also get stiffer chassis compared to the normal ZR1 and specific Magnetic Ride Control tuning for optimized cornering grip. In addition, a set of Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres comes in the package. For the time being, we do not really know how much this package will cost but expect it to be around $3000.

The Chevy Corvette ZR1 has already become a favourite among many of us and it has already earned a place on my list of cars to get. From the beautifully crafted interior and exterior to the loud exhaust to the undeniable performance, General Motors has finally created a car to make an automotive enthusiast completely satisfied. Let's also not forget that this car is the cheapest in its category.

Μια Chevrolet Corvette Z06 έχει ένα πολύ άσχημο ατύχημα στη διάσημη πίστα του Nurburgring (video)

Μια Chevrolet Corvette Z06 έχει ένα πολύ άσχημο ατύχημα στην διάσημη πίστα του Nurburgring (video)

Και μην πάει το μυαλό σου ότι θα το καλύψει η ασφάλεια...

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You get to keep one of these Hot Wheels models. Which one will it be?

It is simple.  Each one of these commands a fair amount of attention.  Each one requires a little effort to acquire, sometimes in the form of gobs of dollars, sometimes by pure luck.

But you only get to keep one.

Which one will it be?

Post your answers here, or on Instagram (use the hashtag #onlyonehotwheels), or on our Facebook page.  It may seem simple, but we hope you answer.

Enjoy...

First Look: Hot Wheels '76 Greenwood Corvette Toys R Us Mail-in Exclusive...

Ok, I am feeling a little overwhelmed.  Here is what is on the docket for the blog:

• First Look: Hot Wheels Simpsons Family Car
• First Look: Matchbox BMW M5 Police
• First Look: Matchbox Ford Cargo
• First Look: Matchbox Dodge A100
• First Look: Matchbox Everett Marshall Charities Exclusives
• A look at all the upcoming 2015 and 2016 Matchbox models
• A look at all the preproduction models donated by Mattel to the Gathering Auction
• An interesting history on the donated prepro that I won at auction
• Larry Scaduto's final Matchbox Ambassador Report and Gathering roundup

That is a lot.  And I leave for vacation today.  Yikes.

But I will chug along and get all of this out to you.  There is too much interesting stuff to keep you waiting, especially those upcoming Matchbox model pics.

Looking at what I need to get to, I see a lot of orange, and that is to be expected, considering I just returned from the Gathering.  But blue deserves a bit of attention, and they have provided a beauty that is definitely worthy of a full post.

That model is the latest mail-in promo from Hot Wheels, the Toys R Us exclusive '76 Greenwood Corvette.  I don't pursue all the Hot Wheels mail-ins, but when I do, it is because it looks like the Greenwood.

The Greenwood is a special model, and happily Mattel knows it.  I could argue that amid a sea of Skylines, Porsches, and that infamous Datsun Wagon, Jun Imai's true design gem is the Greenwood.  Who knows if it was Jun or another designer who chose the Greenwood for the HW Racing line a few years ago, but whoever did made an inspired choice.  It is a loud, over-the-top racing model, with enormous - ENORMOUS! - flared wheel wells, a huge nose, and something resembling headlights.  The result is an unforgettable Hot Wheels Corvette, that no one can complain about because it is based on the real model.

And this summer it became extra special.  John Greenwood, the legendary racer behind the car, passed away earlier this month.  We certainly pass our condolences onto his family and friends, and can think of no better way to remember him by showing the fantastic casting based on one of his most iconic cars.

If you were to only have one Greenwood Vette in the collection, it would still be the Hot Wheels Racing version, which sports the actual racing livery.  But it makes more sense to have all, and considering the premium treatment this model continues to get, that can be hard.  You need the Racing, two basics, a Super TH, the 2015 Nationals Finale Car, and now this mail-in.  Hard to do, but totally worth it.  All are handsome models.

This one is no exception.  The red and grey of this year's exclusive suits it very well.  We will let the photos do the talking...

Hot Wheels '76 Greenwood Corvette (TRU Mail-in Exclusive):

There is a '54 Corvette in Cuba, how about that. There may be as many as 6 1950's Vettes on the island, though it's more a conversational interest than any collectible, as they are far from stock, and won't be sold

and there is also this 58

Auto journalist and former head of the Petersen Museum Ken Gross went to Cuba along with photographer Brenda Priddy and Vinnie Richichi

Photos from http://www.drivetime-radio.com/autoshowsevents/corvettesincuba.html

maybe the most remarkable thing you'll see today, the 1965 Chevrolet Corvette demonstration stand. It just traded hands for $715,000

The 1965 Corvette Sting Ray sitting atop this demonstration stand was not originally purpose-built for this use. It actually began its life as a road-ready early-production example that was finished in Le Mans Blue and had a white interior. When new, it was shipped to a specialty company that produced dramatic and attention-grabbing exhibits for commercial and industrial shows. There, the car was fully disassembled and rebuilt as this one-of-a-kind display stand for use by General Motors and Chevrolet on the auto show circuit.

In order to properly demonstrate all of the hidden mechanical components of the car, the body was mounted on elevating rams that would raise the exterior nearly two feet off of the chassis, leaving its internal running gear exposed. Careful and well-thought-out incisions were made into all of the major components to further illustrate its build quality and overall operation. The exterior of the engine, transmission, driveshaft, and other mechanical parts were finished in bright red to clearly contrast the body, and the casting of the four-speed manual gearbox was “cut-out” to showcase the clutch and flywheel. The heads received custom-made, transparent valve covers, with additional cut-out panels revealing the critical inner workings of the fuel-injection unit, exhaust, intake manifolds, and the block itself.

At the show, a series of electric motors would lift the body off its chassis by its elevating rams, and then it would operate all of the “cut-away” internal components. Rather than function in real time, the components were geared to work at just a few revolutions per minute, as this would allow for observers to fully digest and understand how the underlying mechanical components functioned. Just like any other engine, the turning cam pushed the corresponding intake or exhaust valve, while the crankshaft pushed each piston to and fro. Brightly plated U-joints, which were attached to the Positraction rear axle, drew onlookers’ eyes to where the wheels spun and moved, activating the rear suspension and thus demonstrating the Corvette’s road-holding abilities.

After it left the show circuit in 1965, the display stand’s history is largely unknown. It was discovered in South Africa in the mid-1990s, and from there, it was sent back to the United States with a new owner. Later, it became a centerpiece of the famed collection of Al Wiseman and was then purchased by the Andrews’ in 2007.

Under Mr. Wiseman’s ownership, the display stand received a sympathetic restoration, which returned it to the condition that it would have been seen in on the show circuit in 1965. All of the car’s original instrumentation, including the speedometer, tachometer, gauges, a teakwood steering wheel, and amusingly, even its AM/FM radio, are still intact, and the car is still fitted with its original wide sidewall Rayon cord tires. All of the car’s mechanical demonstrations remain in fully functional and working order, including the initial lifting of the body, which is accomplished by the simple push of a button, allowing for its ornate mechanical dance to be enjoyed by all who see it.

http://www.rmauctions.com/ac15/the-andrews-collection/lots/1965-chevrolet-corvette-demonstration-stand/1072502

The ZO6 scored a win in its inaugural race at Riverside in 1962.

Found on https://www.facebook.com/groups/505973489414476/

this meme about race cars deserves the follow up "he's right you know" with Morgan Freeman

Found on https://www.facebook.com/HCCCmagazine

The best Corvette sales man up to 1966, Bob Wingate, was rewarded with a Corvette by GM in 1967, a special one with 6 tail lights

Found on http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/2015/05/20/six-tail-lamps-on-a-corvette/

First Look: The highlights of Hot Wheels Batch K...

Alright enough talk about finding 72 Super Treasure Hunts.  It was fun, and we got A TON of comments, and it was obviously a topic that brought a lot of strong opinions out.  Hopefully we can all understand everyone's perspective.

But let's get back to ogling over some models.  With all the other things to post about (J Case Report coming tomorrow), the K Case models have been piling up.  So we are going to knock them out in one go.

Not that these are models to gloss over.  There are some disappointments (the NSX, which we have already featured, and the Aston, which has an upsloped chin that is worse than originally thought), but there are some gems as well.

But let's get that Aston Martin Vantage GT3 out of the way.  I sometimes read back at what I wrote about a model and think that I was a little harsh.  Models getting some modifications for more play-ability is not a terrible thing at all.

But this Aston.  It's a disaster.  I am shocked that Aston, after Hot Wheels and Matchbox have churned such good looking models, approved this one.  This "ready for the track" trend with Hot Wheels race-oriented models is something I have a lot of thoughts about, and once I organize them I will do a post about it.

But here is the Aston.  Look at your own risk:

Moving on...

Let's go from that thing to what, in my opinion, is the best-looking model of Batch K.   The absolutely stunning Corvette ZR1 in Gulf livery.  We will do a post showing all these models soon, but the Corvette deserves to be shown on its own:

Pretty eh?

Which leads to a couple of other logo cars, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Buick Riviera.  The Riviera is lovely in red, the Evo is just too busy, although the subtle Speedhunters logo you have to look closely to see is pretty cool:

Next, the flames.  Flames get a lot of grief from a lot of collectors, but they have been on big cars and little cars for a long time now, and Hot Wheels now reserves a subset for the flamed cars.  And many are worth getting.  In this batch, its the pickups.  The Chevy C10 finally makes a return, as does the (now called) the '78 Dodge:

And then there is the VW Caddy.  The Escort is great, the BMW M4 is growing on me, and the Acura NSX is, well, we've gone over that enough.  The Caddy?  Awesome choice, awesome execution, and while the orange is more of a signature color, the silver brings out the fantastic detail in the casting.  The Caddy is easily one of the best of 2015: