2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

When we first tested the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 last fall, we came away gushing with praise. And why not?  638-horsepower, adjustable suspension, and Brembo brakes, all carefully tuned so that all previous Corvettes seem crude. We thought it was as close to a street legal Corvette race car as you can get - and now we’ve come to a race track to prove it.

We’ve got to hand it to Chevy’s engineers.  Whenever we feel they’ve created the ultimate production Corvette, they go and top themselves.  We said it about the ZR1 in 1990 and 95, about the 1996 Grand Sport, and about the Z06 - twice!  Now, here we go again.  Say it with me:  “The 2009 ZR1 is the ultimate production Corvette.”

And a big part of what makes it so, lies under the carbon fiber hood.  Peeking through the “engine window” will give you a hint, but this car isn’t about being coy.  Go ahead, throw ‘er open and take a good look. What you’ll see is 6.2 liters of supercharged American V8, muscled up to the tune of 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque.  The roots-type supercharger has a new 4-lobe rotor design and integrated intercooler to keep output stable even at peak RPMs.  The engine is coupled to a high-capacity dual disc clutch and a close-ratio, race-ready, six-speed manual-only transmission.

When we did our preview test of the ZR1 at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds last fall, we had to take their word for acceleration times. But, GM didn’t lie. Even on this freezing Georgia morning, launching the ZR1 through our acceleration test is what we imagine riding a Navy catapult must feel like.  Release the clutch at just above idle, feed in power as the massive rear tires fight for grip, and try to hang on as you slingshot to 60 in a scant 3.5 seconds and rip through the quarter-mile in 11.3 seconds at 130 miles-per- hour.  That’s brute force that even John Force can appreciate!!

When the road gets twisty, Mr. Force may lose interest, but the ZR1 certainly grabbed our attention - more like demanded it - navigating the two miles and nine turns of Roebling Road Raceway in what was to be MotorWeek record times, faster than any Porsche, BMW or Ferrari, including the mighty Enzo, that we’ve tested here in the last two decades.

The ZR1 shares its aluminum-intensive chassis with the Z06, but Corvette engineers modified the short-long arm suspension to better handle the extra-wide rubber and 20-spoke alloy wheels.  Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires are designed just for this car: 285/30ZR19’s up front and a pair of 335/25ZR20’s at the rear.

We’ve said this before too, and it’s even more so for the ZR1:  This Corvette is the easiest-to-drive high performance car built today, bar none. But, the solid feel of the ZR1 will surprise even the most ardent Corvette fans. Steering feedback, feel for the road and throttle response are telepathic in their reactions.  GM’s Magnetic Selective Ride Control delivers near-instant damping adjustments and a ride that is supple, never harsh, and all in a car capable of pulling more than 1g in the corners. And the driver never feels out of control, so long as he does his part to maintain control, and believe me you do have to pay attention at these speeds!

Hauling the ZR1 down from triple digits is handled by Brembo multi-piston calipers clamping onto carbon-ceramic drilled rotors: a massive 15.5 inches up front and 15 in the rear.  Panic stops from 60 took only 112 feet, and all in a very ho-hum manner. Around town driving can be as docile as a Malibu, but evidence of the ZR1 beast within is just a slip of the right foot away.

One knock on the ‘90s ZR1 was its lack of visual distinction from lesser models. Well, lesson learned and problem solved here. The 2009 ZR1 wears specific carbon-fiber dual-port front fenders, the obvious power dome window hood, and a full-width body color spoiler across the rear.  It’s hard to miss it whether you’re a Corvette fan or not.

Inside, the driver sits in familiar Corvette surroundings, but faces a ZR1-only gauge cluster with a boost readout and 220 miles-per-hour speedometer. The cabin is trimmed with ZR1 logos on the door sills and headrests.

Fully living up to its super car image, the Corvette ZR1 has Government Fuel Economy Ratings of 14 city and 20 highway on premium gas.

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 stickers at $103,970, including a $1,700 gas guzzler tax.  While that’s a big leap over the Z06, there’s no denying the ZR1’s performance and prestige gains either.

The ZR1 has once again put the bowtie brigade back on top, not just of the American performance car pile, but ready to take on the super car world too!