Corvette annouces certified power ratings for the new ZR1
Source: GM Europe
Apr 26, 2008 - 2:23:14 PM
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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 100 horsepower
for each of its 6.2 liters of displacement. GM Powertrain has completed SAE
certification of the ZR1’s supercharged LS9 V8 and the results exceed the
estimate: 647 horsepower (476 kW) and 819 Nm of torque.
The LS9’s output
is nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 horses for each of the
engine’s 376 cubic inches. It is unquestionably the most powerful automotive
production engine ever manufactured by General Motors and enables the Corvette
ZR1 to achieve a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).
"One of the most
amazing things about the Corvette ZR1 is the level of refinement that our
designers and engineers have attained. 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," said Chevrolet General Manager Ed Peper.
The
Corvette ZR1 goes on sale in Europe end of 2008. Its 647-hp supercharged engine
is complemented in the chassis by heavy-duty components not offered in any other
model, including 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 specially trained technicians at GM’s Performance Build Center in
Wixom, Michigan. It is a unique, small-volume engine production facility that
also builds the Corvette Z06’s LS7 engine and other high-performance GM
production engines.
“Developing the LS9 involved more than simply
striving for a great horsepower number. Endurance and reliability testing have
shown the engine to be robust and low-maintenance, just like other engines in
the small-block family,” said Sam Winegarden, executive director, engine
engineering for GM Powertrain. “That it is distinguished as the most powerful
engine ever from General Motors is a source of immense pride among everyone
involved with the LS9.”
Supercharged
aspiration
The key enabler of the LS9’s performance is the
industry’s first production application of a new, positive-displacement
Roots-type supercharger that has a unique four-lobe rotor design. Its design
promotes quieter and more efficient performance, while the large, 2.3-liter
displacement ensures adequate air volume at high rpm. Maximum boost pressure is
0.72 bar. It is teamed with an integrated charge cooling system that reduces
inlet air temperature for maximum performance.
“The combination of large
displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the
supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it
throughout the power band,” said Winegarden. “The low-end torque is tremendous
and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing.”
A
raised hood provides adequate clearance for the LS9, while a polycarbonate
window in the hood provides a view of the engine beneath it.
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