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(from Romeo Ferrari Press Release) CORVETTE Z06-RF

Romeo Ferraris challenges and beats the ZR1

Romeo Ferraris (street and competition car tuning specialized factory for more than 50 years) declares war to the most powerful Corvette of General Motors with a tuning of 670 bhp and 823 Nm torque on the basis of the Corvette Z06.

October, 7th 2010 – Until 2009, with its 510 bhp and over 300km/h of speed, the Z06 was the most powerful stock Corvette ever produced by General Motors. The recent introduction of the ZR1 stole the Z06′s supremacy, with 640 bhp of the new 8 cylinder LS9 engine with a volumetric supercharger. A supremacy, that can however be gained back with Romeo Ferraris’ specific tuning program for the Corvette, which transforms the Z06 into a high powered car with 670 bhp, able to pass 200km/h in less than 10 seconds and to fly over 340km/h.

DESIGN: Racing style

To distinguish the Z06-RF from the common Corvette it has been necessary to change its look, not on what concerns the aerodynamic and structural issue, since the aluminium chassis and the carbon fenders are untouchable, but on what concerns the painting.

A simple painting would have been enough, that’s why Romeo Ferraris chose to wrap the Z06-RF with a special carbon film which gives an aggressive look and protects the body from the atmospheric agents, keeps the original color of the car and gives the option to reestablish it without any problems (and value falls) when it’s time to sell it: an issue that should not be underestimated for supercars like Corvette, Lamborghini and Ferrari.

INTERIORS: European finishes

Corvette’s stock passenger compartment is designed in true american style: essential and its finishes are not at european counter-partyʼs level. At the opposite, the Z06-RF interiors have been studied to accomodate the driver in a classy and confortable compartment. In fact Romeo Ferraris offers the chance to wrap every single plastic part, from the dashboard to the door panel, with extremely smooth, first class italian leather. However sportiness was chosen for the seats, the Recaro Sportsters (with airbag), which manage to contain the driver in the exaggerated lateral acceleration generated by the car at high speed. A touch of style is given by the Romeo Ferraris “Commando” steering wheel in
Alcantara with square design which takes up the shape of the front fenders.

ENGINE: Over 650 bhp

The extraordinary power reached by the ZR1 of General Motors and the Z06-RF Romeo Ferraris has been possible thanks to a supercharger: a volumetric one for the ZR1 and a centrifugal one for the Z06-RF. The kit chosen by Romeo Ferraris for the Z06-RF has been realized by Vortech and includes a centrifugal supercharger, an air-air aluminium intercooler, a bypass valve, alluminium installation supports, a high capacity gasoline pump and increased injectors. However there are several differences between the two cars: the engine’s capacity, the exhaust system and the final performances.

In fact the ZR1 has been developed on the base of the LS9 6.2 litre engine, but the 7.0 litre LS7 that equips the Z06 permitted Romeo Ferraris to take advantage of the higher cubic capacity. First of all the higher reliability and, thanks to a high performance exhaust system realized by the Factory and a careful optimization of the electronics, to obtain more horse power at lower number of rpm (677 bhp at 6000 rpm vs 646 bhp at 6500 rpm of the ZR1) with more disposable torque all speed long: up to 823 Nm at 4950 rpm (The ZR1 reaches the maximum peak of 819 Nm at 3900 rpm).

Therefore the Z06-RF is much more aggresive than the ZR1 and reaches the extraordinary speed of 340 km/h, still remaining a every-day-car if driven under 3000 rpm. It’s enough to touch the gas pedal with more decision to transform this supercar in a spaceship: the numbers speak out, the Z06-RF does 0-100 km/h in 3,3 seconds and passes 200km/h in less than 10 seconds.

SET UP AND BRAKES: Power under control

Z06-RF’s behavior on track is radically different from the Z06ʼs one. The increased and immediately disposable power made the car very aggressive in acceleration, reaching high speed instantly..

To guarantee maximum security on track and street, Romeo Ferraris replaced the whole braking system on the two axles, installing 380mm rotors with 6-piston callipers on the front and 345mm rotors with 4-piston callipers on the back.

At the end the Z06-RF is a supercar for who looks for the maximum perfomance but also wants an every-day-car. The new set up with automatic variable calibration comes for this need, adapting to the different surfaces you can meet in the city (asphalt, disconnections, cobblestones, etc) and consequently modifying the shock’s braking to guarantee the maximum roadholding and comfort. On a perfect asphalt, like on track, the Z06-RF will have a hard set up, on the other hand on disconnected terrains, like historical city centers it will limit eventual impacts with a softer set up. The 19” front and 20” rear black divided rims set complete the Corvette Z06-RF.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Z06-RF (677 BHP, 823 NM)

EXTERIORS
Carbon film body wrapping

INTERIORS
Recaro Sportster racing seats with side airbags
Complete leather wrapping: dashboard, door panels and plastics (optional)
Romeo Ferraris “Commando” steering wheel
Romeo Ferraris shift knob
Romeo Ferraris shift cuff
Romeo Ferraris pedals

ENGINE
Electonic upgrade
Panel air filter
Vortech centrifugal supercharger kit
Increased water radiator
Left and right manifold
Midpipe with metallic kat
Left and right exhaust
Syntethic racing motor oil
Motor oil additive

SET UP AND BRAKES
Antiroll bars
Automatic calibration racing shocks
Spacers 15 mm
Front racing pads
Rear racing pads
Metallic brake hoses
Syntethic racing brakes oil
Increased front braking system 380 x 32 mm – 6-piston callipers
Increased rear braking system 345 x 28 mm – 4-piston callipers
Front divided rims 10×19
Rear divided rims 12×20
Front P Zero Rosso 285/30 R19 tyres
Rear P Zero Rosso 345/25 R20 tyres

After spending most of its marketing dollars on ad campaigns for more volume models like the Malibu, Equinoz, and Traverse, Chevrolet has finally given the Corvette a decent spot on television. Even better, its an awesome video of the ZR1. With a supercharged 638 horsepower engine under the hood, GM feels the need to show what this monster can really do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJW9Up0nJT4&feature=player_embedded

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We’re pretty fond of the Jalopnik gang–partly for their insults against The Truth About Cars, and partly for their grassroots fondness for automotive and aeronautical performance. Joining a common trend this is their “Best10″ (a play on Car and Driver‘s “10Best”) cars of the decade.

Here’s the list with the watered-down specs:

1. BMW Z3 M Coupe (1999 to 2002)

Price: $42,000
Engine: 3.2 L I-6
Power: 315 hp
Weight: 3,230 lbs.

2. Chevrolet Corvette (2005 to Now)
Price: $50,000 to $100,000
Engine: 6.2 L V-8 to 7.0 L V-8
Power: 430 to 638 hp
Weight: 3,180 to 3,330 lbs.

3. Audi R8 V-8 (2006 to Now)
Price: $114,000
Engine: 4.2 L V-8
Power: 420 hp
Weight: 3,450 lbs.

4. Honda S2000 (1999 to 2009)
Price: $35,000
Engine: 2.2 L I-4
Power: 240 hp
Weight: 2,780 lbs.

5. Mini Cooper (2001 to 2006)
Price: $18,000+
Engine: 1.6 L I-4
Power: 114 hp
Weight: 2,520 lbs.

6. Porsche 911 GT3 (2004 to 2005)
Price: $100,000
Engine: 3.6 L H-6
Power: 375 hp
Weight: 3,050 lbs.

7. Ferrari F430 (2004 to 2009)
Price: $188,000
Engine: 4.3 L V-8
Power: 483 hp
Weight: 3,200 lbs.

8. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (2003 to 2006)
Price: $32,000
Engine: 2.0 L I-4
Power: 286 hp
Weight: 3,340 lbs.

9. Pontiac G8 GXP (2009)
Price: $40,000
Engine: 6.2 L V-8
Power: 415 hp
Weight: 3,800 lbs.

10. Ford F-150 Raptor (2010 to Now)
Price: $39,000
Engine: 5.4 L V-8
Power: 310 hp
Weight: 6,000 lbs.

1969 corvette for sale

The 2004 Nomad is all about what could’ve been.

GM was going retro, hyping the HHR as part of a fresh and stylish direction.  The Nomad was meant to cover the sport compact scene.  GM was well-aware of the popularity of the Mini Cooper, and the Nomad had all the potential to be a great rival.  Pininfarina assembled the final product, which evoked the 1950s Corvette-esque original.  The Nomad could seat four, had more cargo room than the Coop, and used a turbo 2.2 L Ecotec I-4 to deliver 250 hp.

This seemed to offer so much.  It looked great, and had power to boot.  The downside?  GM’s then-notorious rep for ruining good concepts.  Odds are the Nomad would’ve had third-rate plastics all over, stiff seats, a sluggish 4-spd., and an underpowered engine choking out 140.  On top of that, it probably would’ve been overpriced.

There could’ve been shot at success: look at what pitiful Dodge pulled with the Neon SRT4.  Maybe then the Nomad could have worked out.  Then again, Detroiters still say hatchbacks don’t sell.  (We think Fit, Impreza, Mazda3, and PT owners would care to argue.)

If an Alfa Romeo 8C is too far out of your range, you may take consolation with the SV Motor Company’s SV9 Competizione.

As the name suggests, this custom-build sports car mimics the Alfa’s appearance, but carries enough different cosmetic features to prevent a lawsuit.  The SV9 is actually based on a Corvette platform, and is re-skinned, adorned with a fresh interior, and tweaked for higher performance.  The upgrades include Pirelli sport tires, four exclusive wheel combinations, composite panels, an upgraded intake, and a tuned V-8 delivering 400 hp.  The SV team is promising a four-second run to sixty and twelve for the quarter-mile.

Pricing for the SV9 is set at $100,000.

Tired of all the gloating from the middle-aged and balding men who pre-ordered a C6 ZR1?  Techco has an answer for you.

The Anaheim tuner, which has experience working with Mopars and Saleens, is offering a large-displacement blower (three liters in all) and a dual “AFrame” intercool system as part of an $8,500 performance package.

I know…eight grand isn’t cheap, but it is a bargain when you see the numbers: horsepower from Chevy’s LS3 V-8 is increased by 40% to 600 and torque is pushed up 11% to 535 ft-lbs.  That goes for the LS3, but the upgrade can be hooked to any C6 engine (LS2 and LS7) without any exterior adjustment to the hood.

If you could call one ‘Vette a sleeper, this’d be it.

Specter Werks’s C6 GTR is just flashy enough to win us over at CarVersation.  While its appearance may echo polished aluminum, the body is made up in large part of light composites.  The aesthetics have been altered with a new splitter and rear-diffuser, 19″ alloys up front and 20″ out back, and a vented hood.  The Chevy LS3 V-8 has its displacement raised from 6.2 L to 6.8, pushing up horsepower to 615 and torque to 578 ft.-lbs.

Y’all should know I’m not a fan of Top Gear.

I utterly hate the show, the cast, the writing–hell, I even hate the magazine.  What I hate the most, however, are the absurd comparisons.  Taking an un-original page from the Top Gear crew (who did the same thing), the folks at Motor Trend have taken a sinfully fast exotic car and put it up against one of the best fighter jets in the world.

In dealing with an entertaining, but still silly, video, I’m going to give you guys some serious background info and raw data.

The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the fastest and most powerful passenger car General Motors has ever produced.  Inside the ZR1 beats the heart of a mechanical lion: a supercharged 6.3 L V-8 that pushes out a maximum of 638 hp.  The body is provided with lightweight carbon-fiber panels (weight’s 3,300 lbs.), a low stance, a chin spoiler to help reduce lift, and a carefully applied rear to reduce drag.  The top-line ‘Vette will hit 60 mph in 3.3 sec. and achieve a max speed of 205 mph.  Base price is $100,000, but the pricing will be hiked.

Chevy test drivers showed the ZR1′s muscle over at Germany’s famed Nuerburg race track, where it scored a lap time of 7:26:40.  That lap time is the sixth fastest for a production car, placing it ahead of the Nissan GT-R, Porsche 997 GT2, and Koenigsegg CCX.

On the opposing corner is the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet from the famed Blue Angel Squadron.  The Hornet is the Navy’s front-line fighter jet.  It made its first flight in the fall of 1978 and entered into service in the starting winter of ’83.  The Hornet won its place with the Navy because of its ease of function, relatively simple maintenance, maneuverability, and multi-role function (hence the “Fighter/Attack” designation).  The Hornet has two General Electric afterburn turbofan engines, which may be an advantage to a pushrod V-8.  Service ceiling is 50,000 ft., while top speed is an immodest 1,200 mph.  All that’ll cost you between $40,000,000 and $60,000,000, depending on what variant you opt for.

Which do you think is the better deal?

The Ford sports car has been an ongoing issue for the company to this very day.  The Thunderbird was a wildly popular two-seater in the 1950s, easily outselling Chevrolet’s Corvette.  Bean counters opted to enlarge the T’Bird and add rear seats, leaving GM to offer the only serious American sports car.  Ford’s top brass couldn’t argue with the “Big Bird’s” growing sales figures, so it decided to support other efforts like the Shelby Cobra and the De Tomaso Pantera.

After a rough time from the mid-’70s to the ’80s, Ford mounted a big comeback.  With the ’90s, Ford felt confident enough the test the supercar waters.  It sought to revive the excitement from its classic GT40 race car with a fresh, high-tech design.  The result was the GT90.

Like the era’s top supercar, the McLaren F1, the GT90 employed an immendsely powerful engine combined with a light body.  Carbon fiber monocoque construction served as the body support, keeping the weight down to just 3,200 lbs.  The car employed a fully independent double-wishbone suspension derived from Jaguar’s XJ220.  (Also taken from the Jag parts bin was a five-speed manual transmission.)

The heart of the car was a mid-mounted 5.9 L forty-eight-valve V-12.  The engine was backed by four Garrett turbochargers, helping push the maximum output to 720 hp.  Ford spin doctors claimed the GT90 could outclass any production supercar on the road.  Top speed was said to be anywhere from 235 mph to as much as 253.

Of course, there was never any proof of this.  The test model could only hit 40 mph, and no prototype was built to achieve anything far beyond that.  Press reports and articles floated around for years claiming the GT90 was being readied for production.  Even more stunning (and McLaren-like): Only one hundred examples were to be built.

The GT90 never did get off the ground.  The projected cost far outweighed any marketing advantages.  The boom years of the Taurus and Explorer gave way to steady losses; by the start of the new millennium, the GT90 concept was left to the dust bin of time.  A tiny bit of irony came when Ford did build an exotic sports car in the 2000s, but based the design on the original GT40.

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