2009
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - What the Auto Press Says
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 tears up the road and track, and gives high-priced exotics a run for their money.
Model Overview
The all-new ZR1 is a performance-tuned variant of the highly acclaimed Chevrolet Corvette. Though Chevy also offers a performance-tuned Z06 trim, the ZR1 is significantly more powerful. Some say that it's even in an entirely different league of sports car than the base Corvette and Z06. Road and Track explains: "The ZR1's performance is so over-the-top, it's no longer America's sports car. It's America's supercar, on a level beyond reproach by all but the most exotic of machinery." In fact, the ZR1 is often pitted against Lamborghinis and Ferraris in performance road tests -- where it often proves that it can hold its own.
Though General Motors is undergoing massive restructuring to cope with a record downturn in sales, it has no plans to discontinue the Corvette ZR1. Given today's economic climate, it's important to note that the ZR1 may be eligible for GM's Total Confidence Program -- which provides Payment Protection in the event of job loss. Be sure to check for current Chevy deals that may be available on a new Corvette ZR1.
The 2009 ZR1 coupe is available in two trims: 1ZR and 3ZR.
- "Times are tough. Gas prices are high. Housing prices are low. And the car market is collapsing faster than a Jenga tower after six vodka shots. America needs a superhero. And when the next caped crusader arrives, he will screech onto the scene in a 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1." -- Detroit News
- "It is one of those rare cars, such as the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and the BMW M3, that make its driver look more heroic than reality suggests. To do that with a car that has such formidable performance is a rare feat." -- Car and Driver
- "Base and Z06 Corvette models are plenty fast in their own right. That begs the question: Did Chevrolet need to make its iconic sports car any faster? The answer is well...yeah. ZR1 is a model of engineering prowess that's surprisingly docile as a daily driver. Six figures is a lot to ask for a Corvette, but this amazingly capable coupe is almost a bargain in the grand scheme of ultra-high-performance automobiles." -- Consumer Guide
- "For the money, you're not going to get a better all-around sports car than the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette." -- Edmunds
The Bottom Line
Offering supercar performance at a fraction of the price, the Corvette ZR1 is one helluva machine. Just keep in mind that Corvettes are all about power and performance, not luxury. Just because you're dropping more than $100K on this ride doesn't mean that it's going to feel like a Benz on the inside. After all, it's still a Chevy.
Also, if you're willing to sacrifice out-of-this-world performance for phenomenal performance (decisions, decisions), then you can save $30K by opting for the highly-capable Z06 instead.
In any form, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette is a winner. The ZR1, however, takes the gold.
Performance Dynamics
Test drivers are thunderstruck by the ZR1's supercar performance abilities -- which, surprisingly, don't hinder its ability to serve as an everyday driver.
The ZR1 features a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 638 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 604 pound-feet of torque at 3,800 rpm. A short-throw six-speed manual transmission is standard. The EPA reports that the Corvette ZR1 nets a city/highway fuel economy of 16/26 mpg.
The rear-wheel-drive ZR1 is equipped with a new variable-ratio steering setup and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. A double-wishbone suspension system and Magnetic Selective Ride Control -- which adjusts shock-absorber damping in real time to either "Tour" or "Sport" mode -- are also standard. What's more, an Active Handling System aids overall performance. This system compares driver inputs with vehicle response and utilizes a range of technologies -- including Traction Control, anti-lock brakes, , accelerometers and stability sensors -- to maximize stability.
- +"The new ZR1 starts with a hand-assembled, supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 638 hp and 604 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful production Corvette ever -- and one of the most powerful cars ever, period." -- Edmunds
- "The LS9 engine is magnificent, if not quite as operatic and smooth as the Lambo's [Murcielago LP640] V-12. There is a tidal wave of power from almost zero revs, accompanied by supercharger whine and a guttural V-8 growl. This is a Guns N' Roses soundtrack compared with the Lambo's Verdi, but we're catholic in our taste in automotive music. A long-throw throttle pedal gives precise control over all that horsepower. The manual shifter is pleasing to use, too." -- Car and Driver
- "The [launch control] system automatically limits engine torque to keep the rear tires hooked up. It's different from traction control because launch control actually allows some wheel spin and progressively feeds in power to produce jack-rabbit starts. With it, even novice drivers can maximize nearly all the thrust the ZR1 has to offer." -- Popular Mechanics
- "When trying to minimize wheelspin, the ZR1 hits 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. That's quicker than the Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 GT2, while just 0.1 sec. off the Ferrari 599 GTB and the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. That's also, admittedly, only 0.1 sec. quicker than the Z06. It's in the quarter mile where the ZR1 begins to stretch its legs, cracking off an 11.4 sec. run, putting it at a level with the fastest cars in the world." -- Road and Track
- "On the track, it's incredible. The magnetic suspension -- a supercar breakthrough that can almost instantly adjust a car's shocks -- monitors the car's pitch, yaw and direction, helping the custom-designed Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires claw into the road." -- Detroit News
- "At around-town, light-throttle speeds, the ZR1 drives like a two-seat limousine. The cabin is comfortable and easy to enter and exit. The dual-mode magnetic rheologic dampers (don't ask) deliver a freakishly supple and smooth ride, like every road was paved that morning. It's downright unnatural." -- Los Angeles Times
- "No luxury sedan, but the ZR1's ride control is quite good for a vehicle that emphasizes acceleration and handling. ... Steering feel is quick and communicative. The words "body lean" mean nothing to this car. Its grip and balance put it in a class with some of the world's foremost exotic nameplates. ZR1's brakes, which have a rotor diameter larger than that of some cars' wheels, deliver short, controlled stops with outstanding pedal feel." -- Consumer Guide
- "In both braking and cornering performance, the ZR1 can't touch the Z06, most likely because the more expensive Corvette carries two-thirds of its 273-pound weight gain on its front wheels. Nevertheless, the ZR1 earns style points for its more benign behavior at the limit and its more compliant highway ride." -- Automobile Magazine
