C7 Corvette Updates/Info

[Kchrpm]

The metadata for the C7 Z06 reveal site (http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette-z06-supercar-reveal.html) leaked the engine output: 620 hp, 650 lbs*ft.

http://jalopnik.com/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-has-620-horses-650-pound-f-1496255058

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19btdou6d7xldjpg/original.jpg

I'm disappointed but not surprised that there isn't going to be a 500-550 hp, 7k rpm or higher redline naturally aspirated engine. The automotive world just isn't going that way.

Now to wait to see what other changes are being made, and wonder aloud if it will trickle down to a Grand Sport package in a few years.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, looks like this is kind of a half Z06, half ZR-1 successor. Makes you wonder if they will be doing a 700+hp version down the line or just stick to two main levels this gen.

[novicius]

What do you want your dream car to have or do, Keef? Power is power, it's still going to sound the business.

As you've said, if you want to stay ALL MOTOR, stick with the Stingray.

[Kchrpm]

I want an updated LS7. Direct injection 7 liter that revs to 7k rpm or more. I built one in Automation (http://automationgame.com/) based on the LT1 specs, it was glorious.

[KillerB]

Yeah, the LS7 is still the top dog naturally aspirated V8, IMO. The AMG 6.2L (they can call it a 6.3 all they want, it's not) made similar power from a bit less displacement, but a much larger form factor and higher weight. The Ford Coyote and and BMW M3 V8 aren't in the same league, and Ferrari flat-crank V8s are a completely different animal.

The LS376/480hp is a much better $/hp kind of engine, but I would bet you that the LS7 stands up to being used hard on a regular basis. It's basically the closest thing to a LeMans engine you can get in a street car these days, especially considering the price.

[Freude am Fahren]

Confirmation of SC?:
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19bwacvh6s7w4jpg/original.jpg

[Kchrpm]

Yeah, everything is lining up, from the pictures of the engine to the output to now that image. Not surprising at all.

[Kchrpm]

Raw video from the Corvette PDR system.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHTblZ7lu90p

[Nick T]

Judging by the pistons we've been making for...someone...there is definitely a forced induction motor on the way.

[Freude am Fahren]

So my dad revealed to me he's planning on buying a C7. :D I hope he really does. I can't wait to 'borrow' it

[novicius]

Baller! :up: :up:

[Freude am Fahren]

http://jalopnik.com/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-this-is-it-1499298030

Is this it? Looks pretty mental. Also appears to have an automated manual of some kinda based on the strange shifter, +/- paddles and "P" on the dash. Could just be an automatic option though.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19c85hj4aeqk9jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19c85y8wijrj5jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19c8628xx73ztjpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

[The359]

I don't like that splitter, and how it wraps around the front wheel arch in black, but the rear wheel arch is body color.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, I wonder if that would be another option, along with a lot of the rest of the black.

[Kchrpm]

Price and weight are my questions, because so far this thing reminds me more of a ZL1 (with an automatic) than a Z06 or ZR1.

Will be interesting to see if they make a Z28 equivalent, and what they would call it. I would probably prefer it. Either way, I'm sure this will do extremely well in comparison tests and magazine reviews.

[MR2 Fan]

I don't like that splitter, and how it wraps around the front wheel arch in black, but the rear wheel arch is body color.

maybe its supposed to look like the LM version or something?

[Kchrpm]

What do you want your dream car to have or do, Keef? Power is power, it's still going to sound the business.

As you've said, if you want to stay ALL MOTOR, stick with the Stingray.


I want an updated LS7. Direct injection 7 liter that revs to 7k rpm or more. I built one in Automation (http://automationgame.com/) based on the LT1 specs, it was glorious.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WeBYyLPOe34/UtHFh60khMI/AAAAAAADORc/Ten5XmE5vGM/w1251-h723-no/automationLT7.png

[novicius]

Crossplane? What is this, an all-American smallblock 'Powered by Ferrari'? :lol:

[Kchrpm]

No, Ferrari (and racing applications) use flat plane crankshafts. Crossplane is the more common road configuration.

[novicius]

Ah, my bad! ;)

[Kchrpm]

Fun facts I just learned: crossplane is used in most road-going applications because it can greatly reduce vibration. Flatplane is used in racing because it lets the crankshaft be much lighter, therefore less inertia therefore faster to rev up and down.

[LHutton]

Fun facts I just learned: crossplane is used in most road-going applications because it can greatly reduce vibration. Flatplane is used in racing because it lets the crankshaft be much lighter, therefore less inertia therefore faster to rev up and down.
It's also to do with evenly spread exhaust pulses with flat-plane cranks and the effect on tuning. The uneven firing of cross-plane cranks sounds better though IMO.;)

[The359]

maybe its supposed to look like the LM version or something?

Nothing like that on the C7.R.

http://media.racer.com/images/2013/08/17/screen_shot_2013-08-17_at_3484_439169.png

[Freude am Fahren]

As an aside, I don't really get the point of putting the camo on a GT. There's not going to be a whole lot of crazy aero stuff going on due to rules, right? I get the dazzle job on the P1s, but not GT's. I liked the older testing looks of black with minor decals and/or special minimalist liveries. I'm kinda surprised we didn't see the dazzle paint on F1 like a decade ago though.

[Kchrpm]

Perhaps it's purely for attention grabbing? They are using a similar pattern on the sheet covering the C7 Z06 before its unveil tomorrow.

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/2014/011114_7.jpg

[The359]

Yeah, I'd imagine it's more to hide any of the styling cues from the Z06 that will make their way onto the C7.R.

[Freude am Fahren]

Cool. :up:

[The359]

Some more leaks:
* 620hp, 650lb-ft
* 7-speed manual or 8-speed auto
* Three aerodynamic trim levels on the Z06, with the top level being Z07
* Same wheel sizes as the ZR1

[Freude am Fahren]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoCp4cR0FCw
Live stream of Z06 & C7.R unveiling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoCp4cR0FCw if embed of live doesn't work.

[Kchrpm]

It's starting off with a camouflaged model being hauled around Detroit as part of a C7 Corvette caravan. Not really sure why they're doing this, other than to make the reveal longer. And now they're doing a slideshow of Z06 pictures through history.

Seriously, it's just a helicopter or camera car view of the Z06 driving around Detroit with cheesy rock music playing and a cheesy announcer. It's useless fluff.

Oh wait, now that they're on the highway there is other traffic...maybe they want people's pictures of this happening to become a social media thing. Still, a stretch. Whatever. I was hoping this would be over by my meeting at 10, more likely it won't even start until then.

Edit: ~30 seconds of camouflaged Z06 video, but only the first 10 or 15 seconds replaced the caravan, then it went PIP in a corner. More cars are joining the caravan, though, seems like it's up to 30-40, with a new Caprice police car and a C7 pace car leading the way. Probably pretty impressive to see in person.

[Freude am Fahren]

625hp, 630ft-lb. Targa with CF panel standard. The reveal didn't start until 10, all that other stuff was just filler I guess. And the reveal wasn't much, in terms of showing us the cars.

[Kchrpm]

And the numbers were given with an "at least" or "more than" in front of them.

Apparently the drive through Detroit is a thing that's been done before, someone in the Jalopnik comments pointed out the Cherokee that drove through a glass wall also drove through Detroit first. They probably stream that video on the screen in the reveal area while all the journos are filing in and getting situated.

Waiting for pictures to get released, but the Z06 looks like the leaks and the C7R has a very similar paintjob. The main differences, aside from typical race car stuff (sponsors, mirrors are different colors to differentiate the cars), is a grey area extending back and down from the side vents. It's...seemingly random.

Edit: Brett posted a link to a pic on Facebook, the black on the sides looks taller than the car that was revealed I think.

http://johndagys.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/c7r.jpg

[Kchrpm]

https://www.chevrolet.com/2015-corvette-stingray-z06-supercar.html

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Tools/2015_Corvette_Z06_Reveal/01_images/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-track-street-cnt-well-1-980x476.jpg

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Tools/2015_Corvette_Z06_Reveal/01_images/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-supercar-cnt-well-1-1480x551-1.jpg

The Z06 has a pretty serious spoiler, I wonder how bad the highway mileage is going to be on this thing. Not that it matters in this market, of course.

[Freude am Fahren]

In the video the gray area looked more silverish and metallic, so I was thinking it's a heat thing.

[Random]

It's got a Gurney flap, which is pretty efficient; the fuel economy hit probably won't be that severe. Assuming anyone cares about around-town fuel economy for this car, as noted. :lol:

[Random]

ps. Jake on the engine cover. :up:

[The359]

I cant quite tell, but is part of that gurney flap transparent?

[Freude am Fahren]

Looks like it, I guess for rearward visibility.

[novicius]

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Tools/2015_Corvette_Z06_Reveal/01_images/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-supercar-cnt-well-1-1480x551-1.jpg


Whenever I see the ass of a C7...

128

...it's terrifying! :lol: #didntlikeitontheLFAeither

[Kchrpm]

Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter is doing an AMA on Jalopnik: http://jalopnik.com/ask-corvette-z06-chief-engineer-tadge-juechter-anything-1500006288

Predictably the NA question came up:

I want to know how specifically you arrived at such high power targets. Its obvious that hitting them meant ditching the NA engine for supercharged which is little saddening for LS7 fans. Was it because this was meant to be, essentially, the Z06 and ZR1?

Our original intent was to do an NA engine, we were unable to achieve all of our performance, durability, and regulatory (emissions) goals with NA. We weren't even close. You couldn't just do DI, VVT, no cylinder deactivation, 7.0 liter motor with the increase we would have wanted. New regs could have led to a horsepower decrease.
Not surprising.

Also he says that the reason the car has a torque converter automatic and not a DCT is because the "Torque converter is very important to enable cylinder deactivation, which is better than any DCT."

He later expands:

What customers really want is a very fast, very responsive transmission, and that's what we've provided. Our new internally designed 8 speed auto is far lighter than the previous 6 speed and any dct that could live behind this engine and we benchmarked the best DCTs in the world for shift speed and quality, and engineered this trans to match and better them.

[novicius]

The new GM 8L90 sure seems an awful lot like the ZF 8HP90 8-speed auto -- Chrysler has their own versions that they actually build and tune in the Kokomo, IN. plant so they could technically also say that "they build 'em".


Mr. Kirk said that the partnership with ZF had been mutually productive; while Chrysler owns the intellectual property of any changes they make to the transmissions, they do keep ZF informed. Chrysler can patent any of their changes and methods, including the software and controls, and has some internal motivation to improve the transmissions and their production methods to maintain balance with ZF.
No skin off my nose, of course. I just won't be surprised if eventually it came to light that GM switched over to ZF autos. I mean, GM did put an Aisin unit in the CTS after all, it's not exactly a new move.

[Kchrpm]

There's a sinkhole in the National Corvette Museum :-/

259

[thesameguy]

No skin off my nose, of course. I just won't be surprised if eventually it came to light that GM switched over to ZF autos. I mean, GM did put an Aisin unit in the CTS after all, it's not exactly a new move.

Indeed, and of course they have outsourced numerous manuals over time - eg the T5 and the Getrag/Muncie. No point reinventing the wheel.

[Kchrpm]

Autoblog podcast took a roadtrip in a non-Z51 C7, got 34 mpg highway average :o

And then 13 when they went in the mountains :lol:

[Drachen596]

what exactly does that mean in English?

[Kchrpm]

Oops, they got 13 mpg in the mountains. Brain fart. Just shows the difference between flat road in Eco mode at a constant speed, and when the car is working.

[Freude am Fahren]

Just got a text from my dad. White on Red convertable with Z51 and 7speed ordered, due around June 1st.


Also he wants to go do the Ron Fellows school out in Nevada. Being a new owner, he gets a two day package (lodging included) for only a grand. I'd have to pay full price, but I bet I can convince him to split the difference.

[Godson]

NOICE!!!!


Digging the retro color choice!

[Yw-slayer]

Sweet, bro. :up:

[Kchrpm]

:up:

[Freude am Fahren]

http://www.freudeamfoto.com/gtx/download_20140517_105926.jpeg

http://www.freudeamfoto.com/gtx/download_20140517_105930.jpeg

http://www.freudeamfoto.com/gtx/download_20140517_105932.jpeg

[Yw-slayer]

Is NAAIICE

[Kchrpm]

Aerial photos of the museum's track, looking great.

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10153899_704285949627882_1905616092655640718_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10273706_704287402961070_5102485666106241268_o.jpg

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10375960_704287389627738_1605529005853650418_o.jpg

[Kchrpm]

2015 option list is out, including CF badges and ground effects, and color swaps: Cyber Gray is replaced by Shark Gray, Lime Rock Green is replaced by Daytona Sunrise Orange.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/27/2015-corvette-stingray-options-colors-z51-look/

[Freude am Fahren]

Oo, I really like Lime Rock Green too. I'd snap one of those up if I could.

[Kchrpm]

Now with asphalt!

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t1.0-9/10413438_710917038964773_3943252112735889845_n.jpg

[thesameguy]

I say screw the C7. Let's talk C21.

http://www.callawaycars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_0919cropd.jpg

[Jason]

That's so sexy.

[thesameguy]

It could possibly pry my $80k away from Tesla.

[Kchrpm]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeO2dxH9tUI

Instead of detuning the engine like the C4 ZR1 did (and I believe I've heard some M5s do it, as well), the 2015 Stingray's Valet Mode locks internal storage, locks out the stereo and turns on the camera and data recorder. I wonder if it will be a deterrent for all of the mechanic joy rides as well, but dealers will likely have a way of getting around them.

[Freude am Fahren]

That's neat, and I hope that it's not stealthy. I wouldn't want to catch a valet being bad, I'd want to prevent it. A big notice on the screen that says video/audio recording in process or something would be good.

[Kchrpm]

The main display says that the car is in Valet Mode and has a keypad to enter the code to exit it.

An updated order guide is out, some new info is coming out, including that a new option for body-color exterior vents will be available.

http://www.corvetteonline.com/news/2015-z06-curb-weight-revealed-in-revised-order-guide/

[Kchrpm]

https://plus.google.com/114798960478398207095/posts/TnM1XR7peBE

Z06 Coupe = $78,995
Z06 Convertible = $83,995

[novicius]

It might as well cost x10 as much. Neat such hardware exists, tho'. :up:

[Kchrpm]

Hey, this is the Open Road, not The Garage ;)

[Biggdogg]

Ill never call an 80k car cheap, but when I first read this my jaw dropped. Given the supposed performance from this thing I cant believe how beyond reasonable that price is. At this price it might completely kill off the Viper.

[MR2 Fan]

I can't wait for the drag race, Challenger Hellcat vs Z06 Corvette

[Kchrpm]

Those comparison tests will be fun to watch, they're such different cars.

[2ndMoparMan]

Won't be able to watch 'em on /Drive, unless you pay for it now.

[novicius]

Hey, this is the Open Road, not The Garage ;)
Can't help it. I'm at the age where even my fantasies need to be affordable. :lol:

2015 Chevy Corvette Z06: $78,995 with 10% down @ 0.0% GM Financial for 72 months is $1,116 USD.

For the more well-heeled among us, the Z06 is probably a screaming bargain akin to their cable bill or monthly pizza fund. :assclown:

[Yw-slayer]

That's about USD100/month more than I pay for my BRZ, where the payments are spread over 5 years. FFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[novicius]

Yeah if I lived in Hong Kong, all I could afford would be lowered/stretched moped with a fartcan. :lol:

[Kchrpm]

Whatever, Carlo, you've been slobbering all over the Hellcats with nary a care in the world of their 4 figure monthly payments. :P

[novicius]

Never once have I posted their MSRP, Keith. :lol:

[Kchrpm]

But you knew what they were and slobbered anyway :P

[Kchrpm]

Also, LIES.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMadisonian/posts/10152218628936806

[novicius]

That post still ain't here, Keith. :lol:

[overpowered]

Also, LIES.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMadisonian/posts/10152218628936806


Er,


This content is currently unavailable
The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

[Freude am Fahren]

He said lies...

[Kchrpm]

op -
It's his Facebook page, not my fault if you aren't his friend!

Carlo -
You didn't say posted here, you said posted :P !

[novicius]

:lol:

[Godson]

I can see it...

[overpowered]

:finger:

[TheBenior]

:lol:

[speedpimp]

Valet Mode reminds me of the Valet Key on the ZR1.

[Kchrpm]

I got to ride in one being driven around a short but very dynamic loop at the National Corvette Museum's Motorsports Park today. The driver was Rob Fellows, brother of Corvette Racing icon Ron Fellows.

Wow. The sound, the feel, the track, it was a damn nice experience.

The car I rode in

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J4T9przycOs/VAJviANParI/AAAAAAAEKVk/82TwqqQQw1I/w1278-h719-no/DSC_0039.JPG

They also had a picture showing the new wheel options, and a hood in the new Daytona Sunrise Orange paint

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ofQZVdcpvTM/VAJvBuzdtfI/AAAAAAAEKUk/MNOkLOhpjaY/w1278-h719-no/DSC_0032.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-teSqVaxmwzI/VAJtLLeNafI/AAAAAAAEKTM/kWUaXfACb3o/w542-h723-no/DSC00865.JPG

Full gallery: https://plus.google.com/photos/116674493483634194038/albums/6053520229783213377

[XHawkeye]

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray vs. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C (http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/corvette-stingray/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-vs-2015-alfa-romeo-4c-performance-test.html)


2014 Chevy Corvette 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C
0-60 (sec) 4.2 4.2
0-60 w/rollout (sec) 4.0 4.1
1/4-mile (sec @ mph) 12.2 @ 116.3 12.7 @ 106.4
60-0 Braking (feet) 97 104
Skidpad (g) 1.03 0.98
Slalom (mph) 73.1 71.4
Weight (lbs) 3,428 2,456
Horsepower 460 237
Price $65,180 $69,945

[Godson]

Yeah. I'd take the Vette

[Yw-slayer]

As would I.

[KillerB]

If the Alfa could be had with stick, it'd be a tough choice. As it is, I will take the Corvette.

I am very interested to find out how much power the new Miata makes. At 2300 lbs, it's going to be lighter than the 4C. It won't have 240 hp, but if it makes close to 200 hp it might be close enough considering it'll cost less than half what the Alfa does.

[TheBenior]

If the Alfa could be had with stick, it'd be a tough choice. As it is, I will take the Corvette.

I am very interested to find out how much power the new Miata makes. At 2300 lbs, it's going to be lighter than the 4C. It won't have 240 hp, but if it makes close to 200 hp it might be close enough considering it'll cost less than half what the Alfa does.
+1

[overpowered]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/09/12/corvette-brakes-airbags-factory-dealership-halt/15503037/

:down:

[LHutton]

I say screw the C7. Let's talk C21.

http://www.callawaycars.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_0919cropd.jpg
Actually looks better than a Panamera.

[2ndMoparMan]

I will agree with that. Looks better than the FF, too.

[Kchrpm]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FY3JNkxQW6A/VBhJxWJ3TaI/AAAAAAAEMsY/xKv1mxMC7dE/w960-h540-no/2015_chevrolet_corvette_corvette.jpg

[novicius]

As a one-time owner of a 4th-gen Firebird Trans Am, it amazes me how much I like that old Batmobile design but am still turned off by all the scoops, scallops, vents, patches, etc. on the C7. :| #superpursuitmode

[Kchrpm]

The vents can be body color, and I actually optioned to have more black and aero stuff.

[thesameguy]

#rosecoloredglasses

;)

[novicius]

#aginglikefinewine ;)

[Freude am Fahren]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmrPPBrZZ7c

Z06 (Z07) 8AT around Road Atlanta. That fifth gear sure seems long considering there are three more gears.

[neanderthal]

The last few gears are all overdrives for fuel economy and EPA ratings. Even the Chrysler 8 speed does that.

[Freude am Fahren]

Interesting. I figured one, maybe two would be plenty.

When I was driving my dads C7 last weekend, I found that 7 gear was useless. In Eco mode, you actually get better mileage in 6th/V4 mode at highway speeds (up to 80 at least I saw). It can hardly even stay in V4 mode around 70 In 7th. If you're in a V8 only mode, 7th was a little better at those speeds, but again if you really want to save gas, put it in Eco and use 4 cylinders in 6th gear.

[thesameguy]

There is probably a specific time where everything is useful. With all the controls on modern drivetrains you really have the option of accounting for every possible scenario. Hammering on that rental Corolla last weekend I observed all sorts of seemingly pointless combinations of engine+transmission that I'm sure exist electronically for just one specific scenario - eg, cruising through Kansas at 75mph with a slight tailwind vs. cruising through Nebraska at 75mph with a slight headwind. ;) (The Corolla could do 85mph at 2000rpm on a flat surface, which I found stunning for a 1.8l)

[LHutton]

There is probably a specific time where everything is useful. With all the controls on modern drivetrains you really have the option of accounting for every possible scenario. Hammering on that rental Corolla last weekend I observed all sorts of seemingly pointless combinations of engine+transmission that I'm sure exist electronically for just one specific scenario - eg, cruising through Kansas at 75mph with a slight tailwind vs. cruising through Nebraska at 75mph with a slight headwind. ;) (The Corolla could do 85mph at 2000rpm on a flat surface, which I found stunning for a 1.8l)
Turbodiesels do that whilst still giving you a massive torque punch when you put your foot down, even the 2.0L ones.

[LHutton]

2 runs on baseline then 2 with tune + slightly smaller pulley + modified AFE cold air intake.

http://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/1650x1275/80-scan0042_page_001_15169f1136513a1f7710b4895da8d43f 95b41e55.jpg

[LHutton]

Has anyone been listening to this stuff about heat soak and the ECU pulling timing on the Z06?

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2015-corvette-z06-owners-report-heat-soak-power-loss-its-actually-a-conservative-ecu-setup-89790.html


Now that the 2016 Corvette Z06 has hit the streets, sucking our air through its blower, a few owners have complained about experiencing a power loss after back to back runs on the highway or multiple laps on the track. They rushed to point the heat soak finger at the LT4 motor in the Z06, but this doesn’t seem to be the culprit here.

Sure, as the Z06 uses a top-mounted charging hardware, you could expect it to be prone to heat soak issues. When this issue usually appears, after a few consecutive full throttle runs, the heat builds up in the engine compartment, resulting in the a temperature increase for the air charge. This dramatically reduces supercharging efficiency as hot air has reduced oxygen molecule density, allowing for less fuel to be burned.

Moreover, hot intake air charge also increases the risk of detonation. The computer measures the intake air temperature both before and after the charge and when the latter is too high, it starts pulling timing to protect the engine.

However, like we said, this isn’t an issue with the LT4 supercharged V8 in the 2015 Z06, or at least that’s what the tuning scene is reporting.

Aftermarket world explains this is all a conservative ECU setup

[LHutton]

Car and Driver results

505hp c6 z06 0-150mph 17.5 seconds
650hp c7 z06 0-150mph 17.8 seconds

???

[Freude am Fahren]

Pulling power? Track/WX Conditions? Gearing (maybe they used the 8AT with what I think is longer gearing)? One extra shift if manual? Roll-out vs. no roll out? Maybe they used launch control, which I think I heard actually sucks on the Vette? Certainly seems off.

I'd love to see the splits in that test, or better a graph, like R&T does with acceleration.

Where did you find that number? The only listing for 0-150 I could find was 14.4, listed here: http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2015/2036990/chevrolet_corvette_z06_coupe_7-speed.html , though I don't really trust that too much. Is the 0-100 really 6.5?

[Kchrpm]

http://www.caranddriver.com/chevrolet/corvette-z06

Car & Driver test that has 0-100 at 6.8 seconds, and 0-160 at 22.9 seconds.

They also have a test sheet for a manual car that the tester felt was underperforming: http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-manual.pdf

Keep in mind, though, that the new Z06, especially in stage 3 trim, has much more aerodynamic downforce than the C6 Z06 and could therefore be much less slippery at high speeds.

Edit: those automobile-catalog times are just estimations based on their simulation software: http://www.automobile-catalog.com/simulation.php

[Freude am Fahren]

:up: I was thinking aero could be it, maybe too.

[Kchrpm]

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-Chevrolet-Corvette-Z06-FA-1600x1200.jpg

vs

http://image.automobilemag.com/f/79160708+w1280+h853+q100+re0+cr1+ar0/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-front-three-quarter.jpg

Dat spoiler.

[Freude am Fahren]

I really wonder if they could have done a better job aesthetically with the spoiler. I know it would have meant more molds or whatever, but having it be more integrated with the body would be a huge improvement. It looks too tacked on (though purposeful).

[LHutton]

Where did you find that number?
Posted on another forum. The aero is probably a big factor but there are some heat/ECU-related issues too. At the moment they don't really know whether is true heat soak from the smaller 1.7L blower or just that the ECU is overly conservative and pulls too much timing when IAT rises significantly.

[Kchrpm]

Chevrolet has come out and said it's the ECU being extremely conservative (for warranty and emissions reasons), and they fully expect the aftermarket to tweak it for the customers that want to track their cars.

http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-pulls-power-when-hot

[LHutton]

Chevrolet has come out and said it's the ECU being extremely conservative (for warranty and emissions reasons), and they fully expect the aftermarket to tweak it for the customers that want to track their cars.

http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-pulls-power-when-hot
A lot of people are extremely disappointed by that answer and don't really understand why the ECU needs to be so conservative unless there's a real heat issue. There's also a major problem with having to void your warranty to use the car's stated factory hp consistently.

[LHutton]

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/first-2015-chevy-corvette-z06-engine-destroyed-just-234536392.html


First 2015 Chevy Corvette Z06 Engine Destroyed With Just 891 Miles On The Clock

[Kchrpm]

One of the car magazines blew the engine in the Stingray they had for a long term test, too. It was deemed to have been caused by a bad oil filter, I believe, wonder if this is similar. Hopefully these kinds of things are incredibly rare, I'm assuming this new small block will see heavy use at General Motors.

[Freude am Fahren]

Failures that early in the life of an engine, I would think would typically be a manufacturing defect, rather than a design flaw. I doubt it will be anything to worry about.

[novicius]

Moving The C7 From Great To Genius (http://www.autoblog.com/2015/01/07/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-first-drive-review-video/?ncid=edlinkusauto00000016)

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/legacy_thumbnail/750x422/quality/95/http://www.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/324/827/3/S3248273/slug/l/01-2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-fd-1.jpg


Those that caught my writeup of the Stingray's new eight-speed automatic transmission this summer won't be surprised to read it, but the gem of the track day for me was a Z07-pack car with the autobox. No shit.

Here's the formula: select Track for drive mode, Race for traction management, and then slot the automatic's lever in straight D and ignore the shift paddles on the steering wheel. All of my fastest times turned that day were all with the configuration above. Thusly set, the Z06 does a kind of wonderful Nissan GT-R impression: shifting and gripping and going like a virtual racer straight from Forza, but with far more tactility and progressive handling up to the limit than I've ever felt behind the wheel of Godzilla.
:assclown:

[Kchrpm]

From the very next paragraph:


The eight-speed isn't nearly so satisfying when shifting in manual mode, and, honestly, I still preferred the rev-matching seven-speed hand-shaker despite it being slower to use. If it were my Corvette to build, and even if I planned to track it regularly, I'd opt into the sweet manual with its easy clutch and clean, short throws.

[novicius]

ENJOY 2ND PLACE, DINOSAUR. :cool: #machineshavewon

[thesameguy]

#itsaboutthejourney - #happiness in #manuallabor

[novicius]

#dontworry #mynextcarwillhaveaclutchpedal

[LHutton]

Viper is still faster, so C7 Z06 is 2nd place anyway. :lol:

[novicius]

Yes and a Boeing 777 is faster than both of them -- which makes about as much sense as your comment. :smh:

[LHutton]

Yes and a Boeing 777 is faster than both of them
Not really the same price category and Malaysian ones have been underperforming. Heh, Dodge-GM rivalry will always be there.;)


http://www.caranddriver.com/news/exclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news


EXCLUSIVE PROOF: The Mid-Engined Chevrolet Corvette Is Happening!

[21Kid]

:popcorn:

[KillerB]

Why do you all insist on feeding the troll?

[Kchrpm]

Carlo? Because he's just so darn adorable.

[novicius]

Lulz. :sadbanana:

[LHutton]

http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr29/ynotdv8/2014%20Viper%20TA/Dyno%20Testing/DSC00562.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr29/ynotdv8/2014%20Viper%20TA/Dyno%20Testing/DSC00563.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr29/ynotdv8/2014%20Viper%20TA/Dyno%20Testing/DSC00472.jpg
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr29/ynotdv8/2014%20Viper%20TA/Dyno%20Testing/DSC00518.jpg


After we unveiled the first video, showing the races between the 2015 Z06 and the 2014 Viper, people requested that we get both cars to a Dyno. We arranged this long testing session through KP Racing, in Houston TX ( http://www.kpracing.com ), and used their load-based Mustang Dyno. All results are being compared with SAE correction factor, which is labeled with “WCF” for “with correction factor”, on the images. We were able to log data on two of the main vehicles, and also collected data from another C7Z06 that dynoed last week. For good measure, we also brought along a 2nd stock 2013 Viper GTS. So, we had these vehicles to compare from:

-2013 Viper GTS (100% stock) 7,000 miles
-2014 Viper TA (100% stock) 2,300 miles
-2015 Corvette Z06 (100% stock) 1,200 miles
-2015 Corvette Z06/Z07 (100% stock) 100 miles (previously dyno tested, last week)

We were primarily testing the two vehicles that raced in the video last week, and using the other two vehicles as back-up for data comparisons. Temperature data was recorded for the white Viper TA, and the black C7Z06, before and after runs. Neither car had a complete cool-down period, both were tested at normal operating temperatures, with ambient temperatures in the mid-50F range. These are the results that matter, as cars at operating temp are what would match up with each other on the track or highway. The Viper TA did one warm-up dyno to reach operating temp, as we’ve seen previous cars pick up power once they get hot. This proved to be true, as the cool Viper TA was also the worst dyno result posted.

Each car was then tested with a barrage of 4 back-to-back dyno pulls. We monitored Intake Air Temp (IAT) before and after runs. We also monitored all sorts of parameters on the C7Z06, via HP Tuners logging software. These 4 consecutive dyno pulls were done without turning the engine off, with approx 1 minute of idling prior to making the next consecutive pull. We wanted to see if heat soak affected either car, by doing so. We also shot various parts of the engine bay with a laser temperature scanner, to monitor external temps on both cars.

We found that neither car appeared to be affected by heat, even after 4 consecutive pulls. Both cars produced more than their factory rated hp (640 Viper, 650 Z06) even when at full operating temperature, and after the 4th dyno run. The Viper TA produced its best results on the 3rd consecutive dyno pull, 540 rwhp & 512 ft-lbs torque (SAE corrected). It only lost 0.5 hp on the final consecutive pull. The C7Z06 produced its highest dyno on the 2nd consecutive pull, 563 rwhp & 562 ft-lbs torque (SAE corrected). The C7Z06 only lost 4 rwhp by the time its final pull was completed. Negligible loss, for both cars.

This data was then compared with each vehicle, as well as with the other two test sample vehicles (Viper GTS, and other C7Z06 from a week earlier). We found these comparisons:

1. Both C7Z06’s produced nearly identical results, at operating temp. Within 1 rwhp.
2. The Viper TA at operating temp, is a close comparison with the C7Z06 at operating temp.
3. C7Z06 produces about 15-20 rwhp more than the Viper TA, when both are at operating temp.
4. Torque output on the C7Z06 is outstanding. But, at the lower rpm range, it has no effect on racing. Driving around however, it should feel very responsive and fun. This will make the car “feel” faster to most, as reported by many.
5. The Viper GTS with 7000 miles produced a slightly stronger (7 rwhp) result than the Viper TA with 2300 miles.

Since it was cool outside, both cars showed interesting temperatures at the intake manifold, after the four runs. The Viper intake manifold actually got colder by 12F after the pulls. The Z06 was still impressive though, the supercharger housing (intake manifold) only increased 1 degree, after 4 consecutive pulls. Both good, in that regard. The IAT values were another story. The Viper increased in measured Air Intake Temp by 13F. The Z06 did much better, with both IAT1 (pre-blower) and IAT2 (post-blower) both reducing after the 4 consecutive runs. GM did a great job on the cooling efficiency on this blower. But, the true test will be seeing how they perform when it is hot outside.

Coolant and engine temps were also interesting to compare. The Viper only picked up 1 degree on the coolant temperature. The Z06 picked up 19 degrees, still respectable. This could translate to lap times on long sessions, as it seems the Viper cooling system is super efficient. Oil temps for both cars were similar gains, 20 Viper and 25 Z06.

2014 Viper TA
Initial Temps:
Intake Mani Temp 115F
IAT 69F
Oil 174F
Coolant 185F

Run 1
HP 531
TQ 495

Run 2
HP 538 (+7)
TQ 511 (+16)

Run 3
HP 540 (+2)
TQ 512 (+1)

Run 4
HP 540 (+0)
TQ 517 (+5)

Final Temps:
Intake Mani Temp 103F (-12)
IAT 82F (+13)
Oil 194F (+20)
Coolant 186F (+1)

2015 Corvette Z06
Initial Temps:
Intake Mani Temp 133F
IAT1 66F
IAT2 90F
Oil 176F
Coolant 189F

Run 1
HP 552
TQ 560

Run 2
HP 563 (+11)
TQ 562 (+2)

Run 3
HP 563 (+0)
TQ 563 (+1)

Run 4
HP 559 (-4)
TQ 566 (+3)

Final Temps:
Intake Mani Temp 134F (+1)
IAT1 64F (-2)
IAT2 73F (-17)
Oil 201F (+25)
Coolant 208F (+19)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Eeoh_yaid9g

[LHutton]

-2015 Corvette Z06 w/Z07 (white) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 – “cdubb”
-2015 Corvette Z06 w/Z07 (red) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 – “zhopper05″
-2015 Corvette Z06 Stage 1 (silver) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Super Sport – “robe38″
-2010 Corvette ZR1 (black) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Sport Cup – “Mark B”
-2014 Viper TA (orange) – Manual – Pirelli Pzero Corsa – “Sassy”
-2014 Viper TA (white) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Sport Cup – “Nine Ball”
-2014 Viper SRT base model (black) – Manual – Michelin Pilot Sport Cup – “Shooter”
-2015 Challenger Hellcat (black) – Automatic – Pirelli PZero – “Jerrod T”

Bonus vehicles, equipped with drag radial tires (vehicles still 100% stock otherwise)

-2015 Corvette Z06 Stage 1 (silver) – Manual – 18″ Hoosier drag radial – “robe38″
-2015 Corvette Z06 w/Z07 (gray) – Manual – 19″ Nitto NT05R drag radial – “lethal z06″

Quickest ET List (street tires)

11.65 @ 131.04 mph (2.16 60′) – Viper TA “Nine Ball”
11.68 @ 131.27 mph (2.18 60′) – Viper TA “Sassy”
11.76 @ 127.91 mph (2.18 60′) – C6 ZR1 “Mark B”
11.77 @ 127.05 mph (2.06 60′) – C7 Z06 “robe38″
11.87 @ 127.95 mph (2.38 60′) – C7 Z06 “cdubb”
12.04 @ 134.65 mph (2.37 60′) – Viper SRT “Shooter”
12.11 @ 126.30 mph (2.17 60′) – Challenger Hellcat “Jerrod T”
DNF – Traction Issues – C7Z06 “zhopper05″

Fastest Trap Speed List (street tires)

134.65 (12.04 ET 2.37 60′) – Viper SRT “Shooter” – Also ran 132.24 – Gen 5 Viper record!
131.27 (11.68 ET 2.18 60′) – Viper TA “Sassy” – Also ran 129.91
131.04 (11.65 ET 2.16 60′) – Viper TA “Nine Ball” – Also ran 129.98
129.20 (12.04 ET 2.59 60′) – C7 Z06 “cdubb” – Also ran 127.95
127.91 (11.76 ET, 2.18 60′) – C6 ZR1 “Mark B” – Also ran 127.80
127.05 (11.77 ET, 2.06 60′) – C7 Z06 “robe38″ – Also ran 126.37
126.90 (12.39 ET, 2.40 60′) – Challenger Hellcat “Jerrod T” – Also ran 126.69

Quickest ET and Fastest Speed List (drag radials)

10.93 @ 128.94 (1.77 60′) – C7 Z06 “robe38″ – 1st privately owned 10-second C7 Z06!
11.16 @ 128.31 (1.93 60′) – C7 Z06 “lethal z06″


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZUOZ9xDWFX8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3j6HmNS9WSo

[Kchrpm]

The people that truly care exactly how fast a car is are the same people who are least likely to keep it stock, so I'm amused by all the detail given in these tests. I guess they're useful for when future owners do mods, they'll have baselines.

[LHutton]

The people that truly care exactly how fast a car is are the same people who are least likely to keep it stock, so I'm amused by all the detail given in these tests. I guess they're useful for when future owners do mods, they'll have baselines.
True. I think it's more a case of people trying to straighten out the stories of heat-soak and figure out why the Viper is slightly faster over the quarter despite having less power and torque but the results don't really answer that. It's also interesting to see that the lighter C6 ZR1 is still faster and maybe the next ZR1 will be mid-engined!! I note there's already 1500hp kits out for the C7 Z06.:D

Out of all of them I'd probably take the Hellcat even though it's the slowest and I can't even explain why.

[LHutton]

http://blog-admin.cddev.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2017-Chevrolet-Corvette-artists-rendering-201.jpg
http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2017-Chevrolet-Corvette-artists-rendering-301-876x535.jpg

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/exclusive-mid-engine-c8-chevrolet-corvette-first-photos-news

[LHutton]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/watch-the-2015-corvette-z06-absolutely-destroy-virginia-international-raceway/


So get this: The new Corvette Z06 turned an absolutely blistering 2:41.3 at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), and the company has released a video of the lap recorded using the car’s awesome Performance Data Recorder. That time is really damn quick—and we should know, as we run our annual Lightning Lap competition at that track using the same highly technical, 4.1-mile Grand West Course layout as Chevy did for this lap. Watch the clip below, and then read on for some more perspective, as well as insight into the lap from C/D technical editor K.C. Colwell, who has laid down a number of our times at VIR, including the overall record.

We’ve run Lightning Lap eight times now, amassing more than 160 times for performance cars that run the gamut from the impish Ford Fiesta ST all the way to exotics from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and more. In fact, that overall record was set this year in Porsche’s scintillating 918 Spyder hypercar with a 2:43.1 time.

So does the Z06’s 2:41.3 mean that it’s quicker than the 918? Well, no, not really. The Z06 scorcher—4.3 seconds quicker than GM’s time at the track for the C6 ZR1—was laid down by engineer Jim Mero, one of the Corvette program’s hottest shoes, and someone who has perhaps spent more time thrashing the 2015 Z06 than anyone else on the planet. Chevrolet also no doubt spent several hours, if not days, at VIR doing development work in concert with achieving the lap. In contrast, our editors’ first time lapping a performance car in anger often occurs during the Lightning Lap competition itself, and time restrictions—we often have more than two dozen cars to assess in a three-day window—generally mean that we only get 15 to 20 laps to record our top times.

[novicius]

Out of all of them I'd probably take the Hellcat even though it's the slowest and I can't even explain why.
On slicks it would have been one of the fastest (if not THE fastest) car there.

[Kchrpm]

What if the other cars were on slicks, too?

[novicius]

Quickest ET and Fastest Speed List (drag radials)
10.93 @ 128.94 (1.77 60′) – C7 Z06 “robe38″ – 1st privately owned 10-second C7 Z06!
11.16 @ 128.31 (1.93 60′) – C7 Z06 “lethal z06″
A Hellcat Automatic on slicks can do 10.8's. (http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2014/07/2015-dodge-challenger-srt-hellcat-runs-11-2-second-14-mile.html)

[Kchrpm]

Are drag radials equivalent to slicks?

I wonder what would happen if the spoilers were removed from the Z06. And then x was done to y and z was done to...you get the idea.

Fast cars are fast.

[novicius]

Good point, they're not. Looks like more testing needs to be done. :cool:

EDIT: My bad -- the Hellcat Auto's 10.8 was set using drag radials, not slicks.

But on the stock rubber, the Dodge Boys can pedal to an 11.2xx quarter mile, compared to this guy's 12.1xx? Guy can't drive. :assclown:

[Godson]

Lhutton again ignores the affects of df at speed. The c7 zo6 has way more down force than ever. Which is why the c6 zo7 is .3 sec faster from 0-150.

This zo6 is built for on track madness. Straightline is not what this car is built for.

[LHutton]

On slicks it would have been one of the fastest (if not THE fastest) car there.
A Z06 has apparently ran 10.7s on slicks but it's the VIR lap time that's truly impressive, 2:41 is the stuff of sub-7 minute 'ring laps!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioNkkdQ896E&feature=youtu.be


Lhutton again ignores the affects of df at speed. The c7 zo6 has way more down force than ever. Which is why the c6 zo7 is .3 sec faster from 0-150.

This zo6 is built for on track madness. Straightline is not what this car is built for.
I'm aware that drag and weight (1600kg) affect acceleration and yes the VIR lap time I posted above is very impressive!:up:

[LHutton]

On slicks it would have been one of the fastest (if not THE fastest) car there.
Next Viper may get Hellcat engine:

http://www.torquenews.com/106/challengers-hellcat-could-be-first-viper-v8-engine

Or not:

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/20/dodge-viper-out-hell-hellcat-supercharged-v10/

[Godson]

If it ever sells enough copies to not get killed off again...

[Kchrpm]

There was a widebody, blue 427 C7 at the local custom car show. Found more info on it online, it's an enlarged LT1, making 800+ hp, and it the blue, widebody part was done just before the show.

It sounds lovely.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xazYQ0sWzVg&feature=youtu.be

[Kchrpm]

Tadge Juechter, lead Corvette engineer, responding to heat-related power loss issues.


I don't think that many people have. I know relatively few customers who have experienced power loss. We have shown the car to hundreds of highly skilled drivers on warm days on track, and there has been relatively little drop off in performance.

http://jalopnik.com/ask-corvette-z06-chief-engineer-tadge-juechter-anything-1678938189/all

[Kchrpm]

Also, a thing that everyone assumed was a cost-cutting was actually the opposite.


Steering wheel mounted paddles are some of the most expensive switches on the car, it wasn't done for cost cutting at all. The bean counters had a hissy fit over it. It's expensive, but when you experience the rev matching, you'll discover that having a convenient way to turn it on and off is priceless.

[LHutton]

There was a widebody, blue 427 C7 at the local custom car show. Found more info on it online, it's an enlarged LT1, making 800+ hp, and it the blue, widebody part was done just before the show.

It sounds lovely.

Build thread.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c7-tech-performance/3507908-weaponx-build-thread-reviving-the-427-corvette.html

[Kchrpm]

I spent about a week driving this beauty, a 2014 3LT, around Arizona and Las Vegas. Found a few great sections of road, some awesome vistas, and proved to myself that the car is worth all the praise.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-brhSJax0bB0/VMT-d-ajtWI/AAAAAAAEuy8/AF7_hoX_GZQ/w964-h723-no/DSC02650.JPG

Tons more pictures here (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/116674493483634194038/albums/6108286780565995441).

[Freude am Fahren]

:up:

[Kchrpm]

I'm glad I had read articles from others that had driven the car in cold temps, the loud clunking noise caused by cold tires at slow speeds (creeping out of a parking spot) is really disconcerting. I thought I was hitting or running over something the first time it happened, then I remembered journalists reporting the same thing.

[Jason]

Working the chunks of hooker out of the treads. Perfectly normal. :up:

[LHutton]

Motor Trend Z06 test.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1504_2015_chevrolet_corvette_z06_vs_2015_nissan_gt _r_nismo_comparison/track_performance.html


When we overlaid the plots of the Z06 and GT-R’s best laps, we all sat back, briefly confused. Is the Nissan really that much faster at higher speeds? Does the Corvette really outgrip the GT-R that substantially through the long Turn 2? The data doesn’t lie. (We simultaneously record these laps with two different Vbox data loggers precisely to keep them honest.) But on both the front and back straights, the Nissan clearly had the legs on the Chevrolet. Gearing? Aerodynamics? Heat buildup? Meanwhile, the Corvette’s big Turn 2 cornering edge quickly degraded during subsequent laps. Was heat generation in its tires rocketing their pressures? And notice, too, Randy Pobst’s pause between Turns 4 and 5 in the Z06 (avoiding a time-eating gear shift) and his dramatically early braking before Turn 9 due to a lack of total confidence. Often comparison lapping days such as these leave us frustratingly short on time to unravel all the underlying puzzles. But we know for sure that despite all the back and forth in the speed graph, the GT-R quickly grabbed a small lead on the Corvette and held it all the way to its 280-foot advantage at the finish line.


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/sigmafour1/Z06vsGTR_zpsi9pjc4dl.png (http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/sigmafour1/media/Z06vsGTR_zpsi9pjc4dl.png.html)

[Kchrpm]

Godzilla's a beast.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5F18o8xayA

[Kchrpm]

It seems like they're thinking the aerodynamic efficiency (downforce vs drag) of the GTR's wings vs the Z06s spoiler+wickerbill is one of the culprits. Pobst mentions that the GTR makes better downforce on the long high speed turn leading onto the front straight, and they tried some laps without the wickberbill on the Z06, but the new straightline speed didn't make up for the loss of rear traction.

But you still can't discount all those computers doing excellent work for you in the GTR driveline, it was launching harder out of every turn.

[LHutton]

But you still can't discount all those computers doing excellent work for you in the GTR driveline, it was launching harder out of every turn.
Yeah AWD is a really big advantage, the 918 has kind of proved that against the P1 at Laguna Seca (see May's issue of MT). To cut a long story short, the 918 allegedly won by 0.8s and both cars beat the current 1:30.97 lap record.

I can't wait to see the data traces.

[novicius]

2015 Corvette Z06 Owners Report Heat Soak Power Loss, but it’s actually a conservative ECU, claims General Motors. (http://horsepowerkings.com/gm-responds-c7-z06-shortcomings/)


“The reasons behind the ECU setup reigning over the LT4 V8. To put it shortly, Chevy wants to make sure the Z06 meets emission targets and keeps placing those 650 ponies at the mercy of your right foot for at least 10 years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km), which are the intervals covered by the warranty.”
Note that the Hellcat does not seem to be suffering from this problem and still has a 5-year, 100,000 mile warranty. :assclown:

[Kchrpm]

Yep, that was discussed on the last page, and the head of Corvette engineering, Tadge Juechter, has said it does not seem to be a common, widespread issue:
http://jalopnik.com/i-dont-think-that-many-people-have-i-know-relatively-f-1679017046

I don't think that many people have. I know relatively few customers who have experienced power loss. We have shown the car to hundreds of highly skilled drivers on warm days on track, and there has been relatively little drop off in performance.

[novicius]

Hmm. Seems to be a growing -- not shrinking -- complaint from the enthusiast base. More cars out there, more people discovering it.

EDIT: Also, I'm slow and did not realize this was already discussed -- my bad. :smh:

To make up for it, here's some M6 cars having fun:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF_HqqKwCfY

[Kchrpm]

The article you posted is from early December, Tadge's comments are more than a month later in January. But maybe it took more than a month for the new complaints to make their way up the food chain.

[Kchrpm]

One of the mundane things I miss about the Vette is how far I could go on a single tank. I really get annoyed with the Mazda when it's at a quarter tank with only low 200s on the trip. I went on a road trip shortly after getting the Mazda and was really excited that I got 300+ miles out of a tank pretty easily, but that has proven to be the exception, not the rule. It just doesn't have the day-to-day fuel economy to make up for the little tank (filling up from below a quarter tank is usually 11-12 gallons).

Compared to the Vette, which at its worst got 368 miles (from 14.7 gallons), and had a best of 420 miles (from 16 gallons). I'm sure that would drop during a normal commute cycle, but still.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, my BRZ only get's about 300 miles on a good full tank (11+ gallons). You could probably stretch it to 400 on a road trip if you ran it near dry though.

[novicius]

My MINI's 13.2 gallon tank would typically get me close to 300 miles in city driving and over 500 bladder-busting miles on the highway. :up:

The Exploder gets a little over half of all that but since I'm driving a lot fewer miles, my fill-up frequency is about the same once-a-week.

For topicality: I saw a C7 recently. There's a savage around these parts who is daily-driving their Stingray. :smh:

[KillerB]

Small tanks are my main annoyance with small cars. But it wasn't always this way, my RX-7s had pretty big tanks - I want to say about 17 gallons.

[Freude am Fahren]

Well, when you're getting like 17mpg... :lol:

[KillerB]

I pretty consistently averaged 20 mpg in mixed driving with mine. Not great for what they were, but considering their age, not terrible either.

[LHutton]

Don't suppose either driver knows what they're doing but fun to watch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy6rRgMCD0w

[LHutton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0dmgfSP36WI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omR1B-MEhHk


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOckVQ3JVAI

[LHutton]

Ref: http://gtxforums.net/showthread.php?57-C7-Corvette-Updates-Info&p=33559&viewfull=1#post33559

Bwright asked:

You mentioned in this week's answer to the Ask Tadge question on overheating that there are, "Lots of interesting back stories behind recent media tests." In light of that, what are your thoughts on the recent Motor Trend test of the new Z06 vs. the GT-R Nismo at Willow Springs? Any interesting back stories on that or any other recent media tests?
Quote:

Tadge answered:

To be perfectly honest, both Chevrolet and Motor Trend were surprised by the test results - both the lap times achieved and the subjective comments on handling which did not match their impressions from the first drive story at Road Atlanta. Obviously the GT-R Nismo is s supremely capable machine engineered for precisely this kind of track work, so nothing against them, but we thought we would do better. After the story was published, we decided to examine that car closely and do a follow up test at Willow Springs.

We first discovered an alignment setting error in the rear. We knew something was wrong with their test car because of Randy's oversteer comments. In the words of our development engineer, Jim Mero, "The car is tuned for a small amount of understeer, but we found out the rear caster was inadvertently set to 2 degrees instead of 0 degrees. This causes ride and roll oversteer". We try to keep the Corvettes used for media tests in perfect condition, but didn't this time, and the alignment clearly had an effect on handling and driver confidence.

We also learned the Nissan was using octane booster, as it will cut power when running the 91 octane pump fuel available locally. Generally speaking, higher octane enables more aggressive spark calibration and higher power. While the Z06 is certified for 91 octane fuel, adding octane boost will offer greater resistance to spark retard and detonation under thermally challenging conditions (reduced likelihood of power reduction when intake temps go up). Racing fuel (100 octane) available at the track improves this robustness even further. We will be recommending that customers who track their car, especially at higher temps, use the highest octane fuel available.

Although we do track testing at quite a number of tracks around the country, we never tested at Willow Springs, so we decided to rent the track and check the performance of the Z06 ourselves. We looked at it as an opportunity to learn something. What Randy told us and we confirmed is that the track has an unusual combination of speed and roughness.

We used exactly the same car Motor Trend tested, as well as a second car, an 8 speed automatic. With proper suspension alignment, we saw a marked improvement in handling.

We also used the opportunity to tweak the calibration of the magnetic ride dampers in Track mode (Tour and Sport modes unchanged), and were able to improve the vehicle’s dynamic behavior. Since we think that calibration is uniquely suited to very rough tracks, our plan is to offer it through our Performance Parts department for customers who frequent those types of venues. So it was a good exercise for us.

We invited Motor Trend to test the car again with suspension alignments corrected and give us feedback on the new calibration. They are planning a follow up article based on Randy's experience, and since we don't want to "scoop" their story I won’t say specifically what the results were. However, I can say we were very satisfied. Look for it soon!

[Kchrpm]

Why would they use octane booster in the GT-R but not the Z06? Maybe the GT-R is rated to use 92 or 93, but they could only get 91, and the Z06 is marked as 91 so they just left it.

[LHutton]

Why would they use octane booster in the GT-R but not the Z06? Maybe the GT-R is rated to use 92 or 93, but they could only get 91, and the Z06 is marked as 91 so they just left it.
Nissan put it in. I don't really think it made much difference based on personal experience and the quarter mile performance in the test. Cup 2 tyres on the other hand, that's a big difference. Look forward to the re-match anyway.

[Godson]

Boosted cars benefit HUGELY int the torque area from 1 to 2 points on the octane scale.

[LHutton]

Nissan put it in. I don't really think it made much difference based on personal experience and the quarter mile performance in the test. Cup 2 tyres on the other hand, that's a big difference. Look forward to the re-match anyway.
Actually I take this back, Motor Trend put it in apparently.


Boosted cars benefit HUGELY int the torque area from 1 to 2 points on the octane scale.
Yeah but compared to Cup 2 tyres it's completely irrelevant. Cup 1s were fast but... well... Cup 2s a whole shed load faster still. Tyre for tyre, the Z06 was many seconds down on the Nissan, I was frankly very surprised. Hopefully it'll be much faster in the re-match.

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Michelin-Pilot-Sport-Cup-2-Launched.htm

[LHutton]

GT3 faster 60-150mph?

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/sigmafour1/GT3CampD22_zpsn69sstvv.png
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/sigmafour1/Z06CampD_zpscvj6itaa.png

[LHutton]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1503_2015_chevrolet_corvette_z06_track_retest/

As a result of this new testing at Spring Mountain and additional testing at Willow Springs, Chevrolet developed a new Rough Track mode for the Z06 that softens the dampers in Track mode. Chevrolet plans to make this software update to the Z06 available soon through the GM Performance Parts catalog, and our test cars at this retest were both fitted with the new software. We cannot say, then, that the improvement in lap time was due solely to the corrected rear alignment, as it's possible the new damper programming also aided the Z06's performance.

.
.
.
.

Regardless, the results are clear. When properly aligned and using a softer damper calibration, the Corvette Z06 is as fast as or faster than the GT-R NISMO at Willow Springs. All said and done, the manual Z06 ran a 1:25.00 and the automatic a 1:25.76 to the NISMO's 1:25.70.

[Kchrpm]

The GT3 has 4 wheel steering? Nice.

[thesameguy]

Wait, am I reading this properly? GM is selling software suspension calibrations to Corvette owners?

[Kchrpm]

It sure does sound like it. Maybe it will be free but they just need some kind of part number tracking or something for it?

[LHutton]

The sad thing is that a base model GTR on the same Cup 2 tyres will still be faster on track and a GT3 is quicker than it to 150mph with 175hp and 326lbft less.:smh:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Michelin-Pilot-Sport-Cup-2-Launched.htm

http://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/nissan_gt-r_mk_iii-vs-nissan_nismo_gt-r.html

[LHutton]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1503_2015_chevrolet_corvette_z06_track_retest/


The high ambient temperature on our test day was 70 degrees.

As in previous tests, the Z06 got very hot during lapping and pulled power. Per Pobst: "The power starts to fall off significantly after the first lap. It was nearly pegging the oil temp gauge after a few laps. 320 degrees. I did a cool-off lap and it came right back down."
:twitch::smh:

[Kchrpm]

Right after that


We checked the data, and lap times and peak speeds did fall off by a few tenths of a second and 1 or 2 mph on each subsequent lap, though these could also be attributed to tire wear and other factors.

He says power fell off significantly, but speed barely fell off. If he had not been told that power might be pulled when it got hot, and not saw the oil temp, would he have noticed at all?

[LHutton]

A C6 ZR1 would never have had these problems. It comfortably beat GTRs with Michelin Pilot Sport 2s, didn't overheat and was faster on the straightaway.

Z06 Cup 2 tyre
http://www.web-cars.com/images/vette_img/2015-Chevrolet-Corvette-Z06-tire-2_a.jpg

GTR Dunlop GT600 Sport Maxx
http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/minkara/parts/000/003/770/146/3770146/p1.jpg?ct=5cf54456ee38

[Kchrpm]

So the previous $100k model is faster than the current $80k model? Ok.

I'd still rather have the normal C7 Stingray than both, though. Versus a C6 Z06? Now that's a tough one.

[LHutton]

I'd like to see what a C6 Z06 would do on the same tyres as well. I have a theory it would be damn near as fast, or faster The last C6Z to lap Big Willow was on Badyears.

[Kchrpm]

You could get a C6 Z06 with the ZR1's aero package and wheels/tires, I think it was the Carbon package? Look for that.

[LHutton]

You could get a C6 Z06 with the ZR1's aero package and wheels/tires, I think it was the Carbon package? Look for that.
The Z07 pack? Pratt & Miller C6RS looked nice too.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1503_2015_chevrolet_corvette_z06_first_test/


Handling is where we expected to see the biggest difference, but it came in the driving experience rather than in the numbers. The numbers say this automatic Z06 matched the manual cars' best performance on the skidpad in pulling 1.17g average. In our figure-eight test, it was actually the slowest Z06 yet tested by a tick, putting down a 22.6-second lap time at 1.01 g average. It was, however, incredibly consistent in its figure-eight lap times, something that can't be said for the car with the alignment problem, which also happened to be the car that posted the quickest Z06 lap. We're beginning to suspect that 22.3-second lap was a perfect lap, as the other cars have consistently been in the 22.5-22.7-second range. Regardless, anything under 23 seconds is screaming quick and among the fastest we've ever tested.

In addition to the consistency in figure-eight lap time, the big difference was in how the car drove. The chassis was far better balanced and neutral with no obvious tendency to under- or oversteer at corner entry or mid-corner. Aggressive throttle input can provoke a power oversteer at exit, but it's predictable, smooth, and easily controlled with quick hands. It was a welcome improvement from the badly aligned car, which would pop loose at turn-in and have to be managed all through the corner. With this car, you brake late, turn in, go to maintenance throttle, and power out judiciously, just like every driving instructor has ever taught you, and the car responds exactly as it's supposed to. Given the myriad computer aids available on this car, we tried lapping it both in Manual and Automatic modes, as well as with and without the Performance Traction Management (PTM) and its Track mode. The lap times were essentially the same, though we found it more fun to shift manually and to disable the PTM entirely, as we found the crutch encouraged sloppy throttle application (though with enough practice, it could be a handy aid in the right hands). We also found the automatic transmission to be geared shorter than the manual. Whereas the manual car could complete a figure-eight lap in second gear only, the automatic needed to get to third. Left to its own devices, the transmission was fine, but we found in manual mode it could be a bit slow to react to the paddles when a downshift was requested. Adjourning to the race track, we found the automatic Z06 a compelling performer at Willow Springs International Raceway's Big Track. With a proper alignment and Rough Track mode, it lapped the "Fastest Road in the West" in 1:25.76, 0.06 second slower than the Nissan GT-R NISMO and 0.7 second slower than a properly sorted manual transmission Z06. Given that Randy Pobst lapped this automatic Z06 first and the properly sorted manual Z06 second, we believe he may have been able to come closer to the manual car's time or even match it if we had more track time, based on his increased familiarity with and confidence in the car.

"This car is far better than the last one we drove here," Pobst said. "It's putting power down far better than it did last time. The traction under acceleration is far better. This time, I had the confidence to have a sense of downforce in the fast corners, especially 8 and 9, that the car was kinda hooked." He added: "The car is still, in my opinion, a little bit oversteer-y. It should be, in my opinion, a little bit understeer-y, especially so you can keep your foot in it when you're going around a corner -- you can use more power -- so it doesn't go to oversteer as quickly." Even still: "I still don't experience a push anywhere. All the way around the Turn 2 carousel, it feels like I have very little steering in the car. Really balanced. Even the tail, the tail may be coming, but in a no-fear kind of way, like, 'Wow, this thing's really balanced!' " With regard to the automatic transmission, he was generally positive. "The automatic is really easy," he said. "It makes it so easy. Except on the first two laps, it got lazy on the three-four shift coming out of 9. Drove me crazy, but then it went away. It was on full automatic, and it hung on the redline. It just hung there, then it shifted. It felt like forever. I was driving slower on the out lap to protect the tires, so the transmission said, 'Oh, you're not going flat. I'm gonna shift up.' Maybe that's what confused it, but it did it the second lap, too, which was hot. The third lap it didn't do it, though. But maybe that's why. It took the transmission awhile to realize 'I'm at a racetrack.' It's pretty sweet, other than that. Man, it works great."

There was still a matter of engine oil temperature, though, which plagued the other Z06s we've tested. Per Pobst, the oil temperature nearly redlined after a few laps, topping out at more than 320 degrees. Taking a cool-down lap brought the temperature back down, and the car was good to go again, but that's not ideal. Moreover, he reported "the power still falls off significantly after the first lap" after the engine gets hot. We checked the data, and lap times and peak speeds did fall off by a few tenths of a second and 1 or 2 mph on each subsequent lap, though these could also be attributed to tire wear and other factors.

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Automatic (Z07 Package)
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE 6.2L/650-hp/650-lb-ft supercharged OHV 16-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,550 lb (49/51%)
WHEELBASE 106.7 in
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT 177.9 x 77.4 x 48.6 in
0-60 MPH 3.2 sec
QUARTER MILE 11.2 sec @ 127.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 90 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.17 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 22.6 sec @ 1.01 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 13/21/16 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 259/160 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 1.24 lb/mile

[Kchrpm]

There was a Carbon and Z07 package.

http://www.corvettemuseum.org/specs/2011z06/

Z07 was just the mechanical bits, the Carbon cars had CF body parts and higher downforce aero.

[LHutton]

C7 Z06 does 1:30.47 on Sachsenring.

http://www.autobild.de/artikel/auto-bild-sportscars-5-2015-1729280.html


Pos Make / Model Time Speed (km/h) Year Power (hp) / Weight (kg) Driven by
1. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z06 1:30.47 146 '15 634 / 1598
2. Porsche 911 Turbo S (991) 1:32.51 143 '13 560 / 1605
3. Ferrari 458 Speciale 1:32.76 142 '13 605 / 1290
4. Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 1:32.84 142 '14 610 / 1422
5. Porsche 911 Turbo (991) 1:32.92 142 '13 520 / 1595

[KillerB]

I saw a Daytona Sunset Orange Stingray convertible with the Brownstone interior. Definitely got my attention - what a beautiful car!

[Kchrpm]

I don't think I've seen the orange in person yet (other than the small piece at the Museum), I should do that sometime.

[LHutton]

C7 Corvette Cracked Tires Problem Explained by Michelin Engineer - autoevolution (http://www.autoevolution.com/news/c7-corvette-cracked-tires-problem-explained-by-michelin-engineer-93114.html)

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a508/sigmafour1/cracked%20Cup%202_zpsqg5br7nr.png (http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/sigmafour1/media/cracked%20Cup%202_zpsqg5br7nr.png.html)


It’s been only a week since CorvetteForum.com member sdtoothdoc uploaded photographs of his 2015 Corvette Z06 wearing cracked tires all-round. Following this rather disappointing state of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport ZP / SC2 tires, a Michelin official cleared the matter up for CorvetteForum.

In the original forum thread, sdtoothdoc says that “my A8 Z finally got here in San Diego and took her home a few miles away. As suspected, all 4 tires have cracks like Dennis's from Las Vegas. When at the dealer, they said that 4 other Stingrays all have the same cracks in the tires. Car looks amazing otherwise!” What can we learn from this? It’s not an isolated case...

Considering that a new set of high-performance Michelin rubber costs more than $2,000, both C7 Corvette owners and enthusiasts wondered if dealers will replace the damaged tires free of charge. Fortunately though, Michelin’s lead engineer for the C7 Corvette Lee Willard issued the following statement to CorvetteForum.com:

“This winter has been extremely harsh in much of the country and some recently shipped Corvette tires may exhibit cracking. In general, summer tires should never be driven on or moved in temperatures under 20°F because they may crack. Tires should be carefully inspected at the dealership before taking delivery of a vehicle.” declared Willard.

“Never use a tire with freeze cracks, breaks, or damage to the sidewall or tread. For those residing in colder climates, Corvette owners should have a plan for vehicle storage during cold winter months. If your garage drops below 20°F regularly, consider removing tires and storing them inside. If you live in colder climates and want to drive your vehicle in temperatures below 40°F we strongly recommend investing in a set of winter or all-season tires.” he added.

As things stand now, Michelin is right - it’s not their fault that the tires on brand spanking new C7 Corvette Stingrays and Z06s were cracked, but General Motors'. It’s the carmaker’s duty to ship new cars from assembly plant to dealer in perfect conditions, including temperature. Let’s keep those fingers crossed General Motors will man up and replace the cracked tires at no cost to the owners in the near future.

[LHutton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MEnbso48gA

[Kchrpm]

2016 Stingray Updates - http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/04/2016-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-offers.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tbHtzKOgYYc/VTpQiixDLwI/AAAAAAAAEn8/7bURLii5yxk/s1600/2016-Chevrolet-Corvette-JetBlackSuede-019.jpg


New for 2016:
Twilight Blue Design Package
Spice Red Design Package
Jet Black Suede Design Package
Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat and Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat exterior colors
New standard wheel design offered in silver, black, black machined and chrome
Carbon Flash badge option deletes the chrome bar on the front grille
Carbon Fiber Hood option features a visible weave section
Flat-bottom steering wheel
Available two-tone GT seats – red or gray – offered in leather or suede
Red or yellow stitching option offered on Stingray 3LT Jet Black interior
Power-cinch feature for coupe hatch and convertible trunk latches
Front curb view parking camera offered on Stingray 2LT/3LT
Magnetic Ride Control is available on Stingray models without the Z51 package; includes Z51-style wheels and rear spoiler
Enhanced Chevrolet MyLink

------------------------------

Additional updates and enhancements for the 2016 Corvette Stingray includes:
Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat and Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat exterior colors (replacing Velocity Yellow and Crystal Red Tintcoat)
New standard wheel design now offered silver, black, machined and chrome
Carbon Flash badge option deletes the chrome bar on the front grille
Carbon Fiber Hood option features a visible weave section
Flat-bottom steering wheel
Available two-tone GT seats – red or gray – offered in leather or sueded microfiber
Red or yellow stitching option offered on Stingray 3LT Jet Black interior
Magnetic Ride Control is available on Stingray models without the Z51 package.

------------------------------

Twilight Blue Design Package:
Offered in Shark Gray, Blade Silver, Arctic White or Night Race Blue exterior colors
Convertibles feature a blue top and Shark Gray tonneau inserts
Shark Gray accent vents
Polished Motorsport wheel
Black or gray brake calipers
Wing rear spoiler included on Stingray models without the Z51 package
Optional tri-color stripe package
Special Twilight Blue full-color interior color
Magnetic Ride Control required on Stingray models without Z51.

Spice Red Design Package:
Offered in new Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat, Shark Gray, Blade Silver and Arctic White exterior colors
Convertibles feature a Spice Red top
Polished Motorsport wheel
Wing rear spoiler included on Stingray models without the Z51 package
Special Spice Red full-color interior color
Magnetic Ride Control required on Stingray models without Z51.

Jet Black Suede Design Package:
Offered in Black, Blade Silver, Arctic White and Torch Red exterior colors
Convertibles feature a black top
Satin black wheels with red stripe
Red brake calipers
Wing rear spoiler included on Stingray models without the Z51 package
Carbon Flash exterior badges
Satin black hood extractor and graphic
Special Jet Black sueded microfiber interior – with sueded microfiber steering wheel and shifter
Carbon fiber (high gloss) interior trim plate
Magnetic Ride Control on Stingray models without Z51.

2016 Z06 Updates - http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/04/2016-corvette-z06-is-most-capable.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPx7ysY604A/VTpXHrLDK1I/AAAAAAAAEoM/AqZCQH4KfXM/s1600/2016-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06-SpiceRed-015.jpg


New for 2016:
C7.R Edition – limited to 500
Twilight Blue Design Package
Spice Red Design Package
Jet Black Suede Design Package
Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat and Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat exterior colors
New Carbon Fiber Hood option features a visible weave section
New “Blade” accessory wheel
Available two-tone GT seats – red or gray – offered in leather or suede
New red or yellow stitching option offered on 3LZ Jet Black interior
3LZ trim offers Brownstone interior color and adds color breakup design
New power-cinch feature for coupe hatch and convertible trunk latches
Front curb view parking camera offered on 2LZ/3LZ trims
Enhanced Chevrolet MyLink

------------------------------

Additional updates and enhancements for the 2016 Corvette Z06 includes:
Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat and Long Beach Red Metallic Tintcoat exterior colors
New Carbon Fiber Hood option features a visible weave section
New “Blade” accessory wheel
Available two-tone GT seats – red or gray – offered in leather or sueded microfiber
New red or yellow stitching option offered on 3LZ Jet Black interior
3LZ trim offers Brownstone interior color and adds color breakup design
New chrome engine start/stop button
New Performance Data Recorder icon on the MyLink screen (if equipped).

Z06 C7.R Announced - http://corvettemuseum.blogspot.com/2015/04/chevrolet-introduces-2016-chevrolet-z06.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dB8QaSG512E/VTpZOrmZdjI/AAAAAAAAEoY/K-L-C5oUlCA/s1600/2016-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06-C7R-Edition-001.jpg


The complete list of content and unique features for the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition includes:
Offered on coupe and convertible models with 3LZ trim
Available in Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat (new for 2016) or Black exterior colors
C7.R Edition graphics package
Z07 Performance Package with Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Michelin PS Cup 2 tires
Yellow brake calipers
Black wheels with yellow accent strip and Corvette Racing-logo center caps
Visible carbon fiber ground effects package
New visible carbon fiber hood section
Grilles and vents finished in Spectra Gray Metallic
Jet Black leather interior with sueded microfiber accents on the instrument panel and doors
Sueded microfiber-trimmed Competition Sport Seat, steering wheel and shifter
Yellow contrast stitching throughout the interior
Carbon fiber interior trim package (high-gloss)
Corvette Racing sill plates
Numbered C7.R Edition interior plaque showing the build number, starting with VIN 700001
Special indoor car cover with C7.R graphics.

[Freude am Fahren]

JAKE! (And the right shade of Yellow!)

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8N3OqS8j--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1223049759177695784.jpg

[KillerB]

I'm more excited by the full color blue and red interior options.

[novicius]

R&T posts vid of Corvette's onboard Performance Data Recorder: (http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a25855/chevrolet-corvette-c7-pdr-track-tested/)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ-bSY1mJl4

[Random]

JAKE! (And the right shade of Yellow!)

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--8N3OqS8j--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1223049759177695784.jpg

Can you order it with the various colored mirror caps? :D

[Kchrpm]

Can you order it with the various colored mirror caps? :D
I want leader lights :up:

[LHutton]

From Motor Trend mag


Chevy Corvette Z06 (Z07) DNF

"Spark retarded by 8 degrees."

"GM claims it was an issue of being confused by California 91 octane fuel"


CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 (Z07)

Chevrolet Lets Itself Down

It didn't work. The damn Z06 retarded spark by 8 degrees, and the 1.7-liter TVS supercharger refused to make boost. Chevrolet came up with a "bad gas" theory, but Big Nasty got filled at the same Chevron stations as everyone else and even swallowed 8 gallons of 101 octane to wake the supercharger. No luck. What we have here is a failure to compete. What a pity.

Have a look at the specs: 650 hp; 650 lb-ft of torque; big, brawny Brembos; 15.5-inch carbon-ceramic rotors with six-piston monobloc calipers up front, 15.3-inch carbonceramic rotors with four-piston monobloc calipers on the rear; relatively light weight due to its stiff aluminum chassis; and in Stage III Aero guise, the Z07 package records lateral acceleration of 1.17 g, thanks in part to the sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires (285/30R19 front; 335/25R20 rear). If any car could dominate Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, it's this Chevy. This is the horse you bet to win.

If any car could dominate Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, its this Corvette Z06.

1:38.60. That time is the best lap our sick Z06 managed to squeak out. Here's a list of cars from this year's BDC the broken Z06 was able to limp around Laguna quicker than: Mazda Miata, Volkswagen Golf R, Bentley GT3-R, Lexus RC F, both Cadillac ATS-Vs (a manual and an automatic), and Mercedes-AMG C63 S. Also, the totally healthy Cadillac CTS-V managed to just pip the lame Z06 by 8 hundredths of a second.

Those bested competitors are just from this years group. Dig into the history books and you'll see the busted 'Vette was also quicker than an Audi V10 Plus (1:38.70), Shelby GT500 (1:38.70), Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (1:38.82), Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series (1:38.90), Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (1:39.19), and a Chevy Camaro ZL1 (1:39.20). Chevy fans can take solace in the fact that even when wounded, the Z06 is quicker than most other high-performance machines. But can you imagine what time a working Z06 would lay down? Remember, the ZR1 managed 1:33.70. Sigh.

From MacKenzie: Kudos to GM for always manning up and putting its cars forward for the most grueling performance test in the business. So it was disappointing to see Big Nasty sidelined by a mysterious engine problem not even the GM techs on hand could figure out. And disappointing to also discover that a car supposedly specially earmarked for BDC testing had been sent to us with worn-out brake pads. Oh yeah, the brake pads were in terrible shape. Had the Z06 been making full boost, one of us might have been in big trouble on 198.

Chevy is now thinking that California's 91 octane confused the computer when it mixed with 93 octane from Arizona. I say that's bogus because not only is California the Z06s largest market and our 'premium' fuel a known quantity, but you're going to tell me this is what will happen to skinflint owners who try to save a buck or two by filling their Z06s with midgrade fuel? That, and this entire ordeal, is unacceptable.

Jonny Lieberman

[Kchrpm]

Why would you put midgrade fuel into a car with high compression and a supercharger?

Hopefully they can figure out some kind of long-term fix.

[thesameguy]

Mid-grade? 91 is it in CA. Has been for, what, 20 years?

[LHutton]

Yup. That's the real reason behind many cars being slower than you'd expect in Laguna Seca tests. They use toilet fuel. But many have said the C7Z would be better with a larger s/c.

[Kchrpm]

I was replying to this line specifically in the article:

but you're going to tell me this is what will happen to skinflint owners who try to save a buck or two by filling their Z06s with midgrade fuel?

[TheBenior]

FWIW, in this year's Car and Driver Lightning Lap at Virginia International Raceway, the Z06 set the second fastest C&D LL lap time ever of 2:44.6, bested only by last year's 918 Spyder, which did a lap in 2:43.1

Both cars are capable of more with professional setup and drivers, but those are journalist lap times.

[LHutton]

Aren't the Laguna laps usually done by Randy Pobst - an ex-GT champion?

[TheBenior]

Yes, and a professional race car driver in a broken car is still in a broken car.

[LHutton]

5s slower than a manual C6 ZR1 is difficult to stomach. I bet ZR1 owners are loving it wrt residuals.

[Kchrpm]

Considering they probably paid $30k more for their car (2016 C7 Z06 base MSRP = $79400, 2013 C6 ZR1 base MSRP = $111,600), I'm just guessing they are happy they got what they paid for.

[Kchrpm]

But they'd be less happy with C&D Lightning Lap around VIR's Grand Course, where the C7 Z06 is 6 seconds faster than a C6 ZR1.

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2015/09/10/2015-corvette-z06-dominates-at-car-and-drivers-lightning-lap/

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – 2:44.6
2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 2:50.7

[LHutton]

But they'd be less happy with C&D Lightning Lap around VIR's Grand Course, where the C7 Z06 is 6 seconds faster than a C6 ZR1.

http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2015/09/10/2015-corvette-z06-dominates-at-car-and-drivers-lightning-lap/

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – 2:44.6
2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 – 2:50.7
Different track:

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia-international-raceway-grand-east-course-pre-01-2014

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia-international-raceway-grand-east-course-post-01-2014

[Kchrpm]

The only difference for that layout in 2014 is that they moved the start finish line down the straight a bit, past pit exit, inconsequential for lap times.

http://www.racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/virgina-international-raceway.html

2008 through 2013
http://www.racingcircuits.info/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/virgrandeast08.724fdc94b7fe0c6de24055ba58c77ce9.pn g

2014 to Present
http://www.racingcircuits.info/assets/components/phpthumbof/cache/virgrandeast12.724fdc94b7fe0c6de24055ba58c77ce9.pn g

[LHutton]

???

Pre-2014

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia-international-raceway-grand-east-course-pre-01-2014
http://media.fastestlaps.com/rp0elafidzvf/640x350m

[The359]

Keef:

http://sportscar365.com/gt/callaway-corvette-c7-gt3-r-unveiled-at-hockenheim/

[Kchrpm]

:up: Hopefully one will find its way to Pirelli World Challenge next year.

[Kchrpm]

???

Pre-2014

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virginia-international-raceway-grand-east-course-pre-01-2014
http://media.fastestlaps.com/rp0elafidzvf/640x350m

Doing some more looking, they do use the Grand West course (the track maps I posted were from the Grand East).

Going back to the source, C&D, the track did change, but not in a way that would really show up in the track maps we're looking at. Here's their breakdown.

http://media.caranddriver.com/images/media/640860/vir-course-inline1-2-photo-642669-s-original.jpg


Changes, The Remix
VIR is in the midst of some major renovations—most planned, one not (R.I.P. oak tree). This past winter, the owners repaved the Full Course (the track’s marquee outer ring) to make it more suitable for top-tier racing. In so doing, they widened some sections (shown in light blue above) to encourage overtaking, including Turns One, Three, 12, the straight between Snake and the Climbing Esses, and the exit of Turn 10. The wider corners made the track quicker. But we’re not Major League Baseball; you won’t see any asterisks on our lap times. Tracks change.

How much of that 6 seconds goes to the track changes? No good way to tell. They only re-test cars when there has been a significant model change, so looking at lap times from different years doesn't really work.

These are some of the cars from 2014 and 2015 tests that it is faster than, though, on the same version of the track:
2014
Nissan GT-R NISMO - 2:49.4
SRT Viper TA - 2:49.9
Ferrari F12berlinetta - 2:50.8
Porsche 911 Turbo S - 2:51.2

2015
Porsche 911 GT3 – 2:50.4
Mercedes-AMG GT S – 2:51.0
McLaren 650S Spider – 2:45.8
Lamborghini Huracán LP610-4 – 2:47.5

[Godson]

Look up some pdx guys times.

[Kchrpm]

Turns out the issue at Motor Trend's test wasn't the fuel, but that an electrical connector for the intercooler pump wasn't fully seated. It was the same car that was used for the VIR test, where Car & Driver slid it into a tire wall, necessitating some minor fixes.

http://jalopnik.com/why-the-corvette-z06-flunked-motor-trends-big-performan-1736976325

This also leads to some info on why owner's cars have been overheating: improperly bled intercoolers.


One of our pre-loan checks is to bleed the intercooler circuit to make sure there is no air in it. Some customer complaints about over heating Z06s have been traced to improperly bled intercoolers. The technician doing the work plugged in the electrical connector for the intercooler pump and it seemed to seat and “click” into position, but the secondary latching mechanism did not fully lock into position leading to intermittent operation. Without the pump running there is no coolant flow, no intake charge cooling and the engine pulls spark to protect itself.

That is what Motor Trend experienced at random times during their testing. Unfortunately, the connector was seated enough that the pump and engine worked fine in all the pre-test driving done before trucking the car across the country to Motor Trend in California. Remember this is the same car that performed flawlessly a few weeks prior in sweltering heat during Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap. The possibility of bad fuel was discussed because it was clear there was an abundant amount of spark retard, but we didn’t discover the true root cause until the car had returned to the Milford Proving Grounds after the test. We have modified our procedure to run the pump remotely during the bleed process so this issue can be avoided in the future.

Yay forced induction! :|

[thesameguy]

More like "yay bad connector designs" or "yay bad technicians." Blaming forced induction is like blaming electric fuel pump. Hey, they have connectors that can become unseated too. But they don't for some weird reason. The Jag has an electric intercooler pump... you know how many times I've heard about one becoming unplugged? Zero.

[Godson]

Or drunk line guys doing the installs.

[Kchrpm]

YAY FORCED INDUCTION :|

[Kchrpm]

One of the Corvette Racing drivers was so excited about getting to the Geneva show that he decided to post a picture of his press kit from GM. He did not realize that he needed to cover up a certain part of the schedule, though, which revealed a little surprise that GM had in store.

http://jalopnik.com/here-s-proof-that-a-new-corvette-grand-sport-will-be-un-1761915157

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--sB1HAf9L--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/bh4kcgvva9hckbsihflw.jpg

A new Grand Sport! Z06's wide body kit with the LT1? SIGN ME UP!

[Kchrpm]

Ha, just saw his actual post, he hashtagged Grand Sport in it, so I think it's more likely they told him it was fine for him to talk about it.

[novicius]

Cool. :up:

The real question is, is THIS the Corvette that you'd be ok with stretching for used even in the face of the new hawtness C8/9? ;)

[Kchrpm]

It depends on what the C8/9 is. At some point the big displacement, naturally aspirated party has to come to an end, right? Is the C8 going to be that point? And/or will they go mid-engined and kill the trunk space or shoot up the price?

I already have a reasonable plan in place for a 2014 in 2018, and I am selfishly hoping that this and the C8 do not influence me to change it.

[novicius]

Very cool! :up: :up:

[Kchrpm]

But if a 7 Liter version of the LT1 comes out, making 500+ hp, ALL BETS (and plans) ARE OFF!!! ;)

[Phil_SS]

Honestly. If you just keep waiting for the next best thing you'll never be able to get the experience. Just keep your plan and buy what you can in 2018. Enjoy it for a few years and then if something else comes out you can sell and upgrade.

[Kchrpm]

I am not purposefully waiting for the next big thing, but I am gun shy of making payments on something 10+ years old, and Chevrolet consistently makes improvements that I find really appealing (except with their forced induction cars). If I just liked Corvettes because they were sleek and fast, that'd be one thing, but I love all the tech and improvements they throw at it (magnetic shocks! multicolor HUD! customizable dash! multiple USB ports! rear view camera! rev match!), and most of it is stuff that's not simple to retrofit on an older model.

But if the Grand Sport is just new body panels and wider tires, that's easy enough to replicate later, and if the C8 is a supercharged 5 liter, I'll be C7 fo lyfe. There's a method to my madness!

(I remember when people made fun of me for being somewhat disillusioned on the C5 Z06 when the C6 came out, but I *always* thought the C5 Z06's short rear glass was ugly and only existed to make them visually different)

(and the only reason I'm not already driving a C7 is the replacement of the Altima with the Mazda; I had figured out how to swing a C7 by July of last year, and then the Altima started its walk down death row)

[Godson]

And yet you don't have a c6z.....

[Kchrpm]

I almost had a normal C6, but found out it had already been in 2 or 3 accidents and gone through 7 owners in 5 years, IIRC. Something crazy like that. It was instead purchased by a local body shop owner, which I found out when I went to the dealership to give them a low ball offer.

More on point, though, C6 Z06s do not cost substantially less than a C7 unless you start getting into the ones with a lot of miles. As a person that doesn't trust himself to do home mechanic maintenance, and has already owned two cars that just went sickly on me due to mileage/age with no simple fix, I don't really want to go after a 2006.

Quick check on Autotrader: the cheapest C6 Z06 within 100 miles of me is $36,990 for a 2007 with 45,000 mile; but if I want something that won't be 10 years old at the end of the 5 year loan, that's $51,988 for 2012 with ~13k miles. That's a big difference in price. There are manual C7s below that price, and with the options I want (MR, HUD, Z51) they are nearly the same.

I know this sounds weird to someone who bought a Porsche knowing he was going to have to take the engine out and make a major repair, but I have ZERO interest in doing something like that, especially on a car I'm paying $600/month for with little to no trust or experience in my mechanical skills.

[KillerB]

The C6 was still a "awesome, but..." car when it came to the interior and especially the seats.

The C7 is not an "awesome, but..." car. It's awesome, period. Better things might come along but there is absolutely nothing about that car to feel like you compromised.

A plain ol' C7 Stingray Z51 is absolutely a car I'd consider purchasing myself after the Challenger is paid off.

[neanderthal]

I really want the red , white, and blue Honda Africa twin but fuck waiting for next years model. I can go to a paint shop and get one of the guys to wrap the parts for me. Or switch with someone. Or just buy them outright.

Next years bike might have cruise control and other amenities, but i'm not waiting.

But I hear you, your plan is sound. I say this as I drive a 21 year old Mercedes with 208K miles and no payments. Not quite your Mazda situation.

[Godson]

I really want the red , white, and blue Honda Africa twin but fuck waiting for next years model. I can go to a paint shop and get one of the guys to wrap the parts for me. Or switch with someone. Or just buy them outright.

Next years bike might have cruise control and other amenities, but i'm not waiting.

But I hear you, your plan is sound. I say this as I drive a 21 year old Mercedes with 208K miles and no payments. Not quite your Mazda situation.

I am continually thinking about selling the 911 to dump my payment and pay off the student loan. But I figure if I invest enough money into it, I won't be able to justify selling it.

[Jason]

I love the contrasting financial decisions :lol:

[novicius]

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport deets (http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/01/2017-chevy-corvette-grand-sport-geneva/?ncid=edlinkusauto00000016).

Did Chevy fix the issues with the Z06? 'Cause this thing sounds way more appealing for track days. :up:

[Kchrpm]

As discussed previously, the problem seemed to be improperly bled intercoolers. I haven't heard that they've done anything to make that setup more reliable/robust.

But it does look like an LT1-powered Z06, and I am a fan :up: But it doesn't change my Z51 plans, at least not with just press pictures of that color combo. It does hopefully give me a new A-Class car for Forza 6, though.

[novicius]

It seems hard to believe that Chevy won't address that issue at least in future sales. :smh:

Put me down for a '17 Grand Sport -- with the optional eight-speed automatic, of course! :lol: #bangbang

[Kchrpm]

It seems hard to believe that Chevy won't address that issue at least in future sales. :smh:

I'll be curious how they do, if there's a design change or just a reminder of how to properly bleed the intercooler.

[novicius]

Ah re-reading your posts I see that it's not really a bad problem -- just make sure the electric intercooler pump is plugged in and working. :up: #carryon

[Kchrpm]

http://jalopnik.com/the-porsche-911r-is-bullshit-compared-to-the-corvette-g-1762265198

Several pictures from the show floor in this article, including one of the special headrest design.

https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/zzui6hfaejrgo6garr20.jpg

Looks like a top down view of this car: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1030357_ultra-rare-1963-corvette-grand-sport-coming-up-for-auction

Might only be for the Collector's Edition, but still cool :up:

[Kchrpm]

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/02/2017-corvette-grand-sport-spotters-guide/

Pointing out some of the details, like red taillights on the widebody (the Z06's are clear), body color rear intakes (black on the Z06), split side vent and unique wheels.

[21Kid]

It seems hard to believe that Chevy won't address that issue at least in future sales. :smh:

Put me down for a '17 Grand Sport -- with the optional eight-speed automatic, of course! :lol: #bangbang
Before or after your Hellcat? :lol:

Do it Keith!!! :devil:

[novicius]

After both the Hellcat and the Powerball. ;)

[21Kid]

Not in that order? ;)

[novicius]

Nooope! :D

[Kchrpm]

I just remembered that the stock C7 is already pushing the boundaries of my narrow garage entrance, the wider shoulder and hips of the GS would likely be an issue. I *think* I'll be folding the driver's side mirror in already just to give myself some breathing room!

[LHutton]

Now give that a 7.0L engine, that would seal the deal.

[Kchrpm]

Chevy's page for the Grand Sport has a more traditional GS paintjob. I'm a fan :up:

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/Performance/2017_Corvette_Grand_Sport_Reveal/Model_Overview/01_images/2017-chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport-mo-masthead-1480x551-embargoed.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/Performance/2017_Corvette_Grand_Sport_Reveal/Model_Overview/01_images/2017-chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport-mo-design-embargoed-1480x551-01(1).jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/Performance/2017_Corvette_Grand_Sport_Reveal/Model_Overview/01_images/2017-chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport-mo-design-embargoed-980x476-02.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/Performance/2017_Corvette_Grand_Sport_Reveal/Model_Overview/01_images/2017-chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport-mo-updates-642x205-01.png