Corvette pumps power

The American badge’s latest offering — the ZR1 — has power to burn.

America's latest muscle car must have been fed a spinach diet, because the 330km/h Corvette ZR1 will pump out 476kW of power.

When it was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the 2009 Corvette ZR1's power was estimated at 100bhp for each of its 6.2 litres (462kW in our terms).

GM Powertrain has now completed SAE certification of the ZR1's supercharged LS9 6.2-litre V8 and the results exceed the estimate: 647 brake horsepower (476kW) and 819Nm of torque.

The LS9's output is nearly 103bhp/litre, or just about 1.7bhp for each of the engine's 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive production engine manufactured by General Motors.

“One of the most amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our designers and engineers have attained,” Chevrolet's US general manager Ed Peper said.

“Even with all that power, this car has road manners that will allow our customers to enjoy it on the streets as a daily driver, and on the track."

The 'Vette could be available in Australia.

GM Holden this year will reintroduce another of its American brands, the Cadillac, but there has been no comment about bringing in Chevrolet or the ZR1.

However, GM Holden media relations manager John Lindsay advised carsguide of the ZR1 power output figures, so we asked if this meant anything.

“Afraid it doesn't mean anything other than I thought you might be interested in the figures given the car got a fair bit of interest at the Detroit show when it was unveiled,” he said.

If Holden doesn't import the vehicle, Queensland company Performax International could import them and convert them to right-hand-drive.

The Gympie company, formerly Corvette Queensland, already converts Corvettes to right-hand-drive, along with the Hummer H2 and several American pick-ups.

The 'Vette supercar has been rumoured to be called Blue Devil, SS, Stingray or Z07, following on from the 377kW V8 Corvette Z06 that Performax presently converts and sells for $230,000.

While the Z06 used red as a highlight colour, the ZR1 uses blue, giving rise to the tipped Blue Devil moniker.

The ZR1 also features a six-speed manual transmission with race-hardened gears and dual-disc clutch technology that delivers exceptional clamping power and lower inertia, as well as strengthened axle components.

Fuel economy testing has not been completed, but engineers are confident the ZR1 will be the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market.

The LS9 engine is hand-built by technicians at GM's Performance Build Centre in Wixom, Michigan, a small-volume engine production facility that also builds the Corvette Z06's LS7 engine and other high-performance GM production engines.

The LS9 also features the industry's first production application of a new, positive-displacement Roots-type supercharger with a four-lobe rotor design, promoting quieter and more efficient performance.

The large 2.3-litre displacement provides adequate air volume at high rpm.

Maximum boost pressure is .72 bar (10.2psi).

It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces inlet air temperature for maximum performance.

A raised bonnet provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate window in the bonnet provides a view of the engine beneath it. 

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