'09 ZR1 LS9 Corvette engine leaked-- !!

Captain Wert over at Jalopnik obtained what I believe to be the first pictures of the new Corvette supercars powerplant-- 6.2l supercharged V8. Worth the click:

http://jalopnik.com/cars/detroit-auto-show/this-is-the-2009-corvette-zr1-ls9-engine-and-yes-were-probably-in-serious-trouble-326717.php
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nice find but i dont like direction this car takes. should have gone with super suspension upgrade with coilovers, remote reservoir shocks, exotic alloy, etc. ceramic brakes. carbon fiber everything. clearly differentiate style from other models maybe with advanced top like the superamerica's. offer stripped out track varient like viper acr also.

more hp is last thing the z06 needed but i understand chevy's rational that hp gets the publicity over sophisticated running gear.

 

Disclaimer - as many of you know, I still have one of the last 1995 ZR1s from last time around.

I kind of agree in principle with spiderman, but remember that this sort of "sophistication" did not go far to save the 1990-1995 experiment. On this particular engine - my "old timer ZR1" thoughts are:

a) - They sure have covered it up in plastic so you can't admire all the pretty castings, no?

b) - I would rather have my 4 valves and overhead cams than the supercharger.

c) - Most of the guys on my ZR1 discussion group do not seem to have a problem with recycling the ZR1 name; there was after all a very rare ZR1 made back before the 4 cam.

d) - I have a 2004 Z06 as well as the 1995 ZR1, but I really do not think I will be in the market for this car. Having way too much fun with the Testarossa, and am not sure I really need or can use much more than 400hp anyway. Not much interested in a Viper for all the same reasons.

I do admire the effort, though - some thought the Corvette would have been pronounced dead and buried way back with the fuel crisis when the last of the C3s were being made.

 

I might be the first to say, but a blown 6.2 is a step backwards from the drysump, titanium rodded, and valved 427. Now if they would have supercharged THAT motor....... Infact I was just looking at a blown 427 out of a Z06, in a desert car this weekend. 1200hp....just nuts. Seriously though, the 6.2 is the wrong motor for that car.




Darrell.

 

Why is it Supercharged? they should have gone with a turbo insead.

 

Probably cheaper and easier to do.

I agree though, I would rather have a twin turbo set up over a supercharger anyday.

 

Look at the pictures. It's obviously supercharged for packaging reasons. They managed to get a supercharger and intercooler packaged in a space not much larger than the stock intake manifold. Now try and fit a turbo on each side of the engine and see how far you get. I know that it's done in the aftermarket, but this seems like a logical solution to me.

 

Man I remember the days of the C4 Twin turbo vettes and those where awsome and ridiculously fast in those days like the Callaway vettes. I would love to see Corvettes next step be a factory Twin turbo vette next if they are going to take it to the next level.

Supercharging is OK but to me thats so "Mustangish" if you ask me but thats me.

 

There is no need for rear coilovers unless you plan on making frequent replacements, or adjustments to the rear springs. They both act as a spring. A corvette Z06 is already using magnesium, and high grade aluminum, as well as a ton of other carbon fiber. Your post basically outlines what a Z06 is to a regular vette.

 

I agree it's not like an upgraded C6 with more HP and stiffer suspension like the C5 Z06 was.

It's got a carbon fiber hood and front fenders and I'm not sure if the rear fenders are CF or not....as well as a upgraded suspension, brakes, 12' rims, 325 tires, widend body, 427 hand built engine and different exhaust. It's a completely different Vette altogether based off of and designed after the C6R race car but yet still refined enough for driving it to work if you feel like it on a nice weather day.

 

but it also has a leaf spring rear suspension which cannot be considered state of the art...

 

Overall I think this will be a badass car. Also, say what you will about the sophistication of leaf springs, but a Z06 or ZR1 Vette won't have too much trouble keeping up with almost any Ferrari around a track.

 

Gents...lottsa talk and not so many facts.
Facts:
1. Ceramic rotors (seen on the yellow Laguna Seca car as well as a silver prototype about 2 months ago)
2. 6.2L supercharged engine (henceforth known as the LS9)
3. F55 Magnetic shocks
4. Carbon fiber roof and B pillar
5. NON runflat Michelins
6. I'm sure there's stuff I'm leaving out

Wild Ass Guesses:
1. Coil springs
2. All carbon fiber skin
3. HP ratings
4. Some type of automatic transmission

Jimmy

 

Doesn't have to be state of the art to do what they're intended to do.

BTW, have you ever driven a newer Vette? Very comfy ride compared to almost any other performance car I can think of.

And the new Z's already don't have any troubles keeping up with F cars around a track.

 

Ok? and??

 

Pretty much any suspension, that uses coil overs, or leaf springs, is hardly state of the art. You know just how OLD coil overs are? For Ferrari, Fourty years, and they weren't the quickest to use them. I'd hardly call fourty years state of the art! If it works, and gets results, then I'm happy with it. The main advantage of conventional coil springs, is adjustibility - something most road car owners will never do anyway.

 

So you really think some cheap corvette could beat a Ferrari??

 

At Le Mans? 4 Sure. By over 240 miles last June.

 

I'm a big Ferrari fan, but come'n, the current stock ZO6 could take a F430...

 

Aren't the new Z06' 7L engines?

Why the drop for this car?

 

I have a conspiracy theory...Bowling Green has made quite a reputation for bringing out the "latest and greatest", charging over list for it, and then screwing those owners over by making a "later and even greater" version that overshadows the early car.

Example - 90 to 92 ZR1, 375HP, 93-early95 ZR1, 405hp, late 95 ZR1, "Dunn" heads, unstated HP...

Example - C5 Corvette "hardtop" - regular engine, early C5 Z06, 385hp, late C5 Z06 405 hp...

Example - C6 engines now around 436 hp depending on options...

ETC. ETC. ETC...

So, who is to say they don't already have a plan to punch this one on out to 7+ Litres after the first batch is sold for about 40K over list?

Cynical, I know - but I have been there and done that.

James ZR1 & Z06

 

Very interesting. Never thought about that before.

 

Who says that they are using a blower on an LS2? Most speculation is that they are using the LS7 as a base for the LS9. Most likely they went with a smaller bore (thicker pressed-in cylinder liners) to meet durability requirements. Sure, Lingenfelter will build you a twin-turbo 800 hp LS7, but I don't think they have to meet a 100,000 mile durability target. They went to the dry-sump system to prevent oil starvation at the g-loads the Z06 can produce, I don't think they'll go back to a pan for a higher-performing model. Just because the LS3 now displaces 6.2l (6.0 for the LS2) doesn't mean that they are using that as a basis for the LS9.

I would add the '71 LS-6 Corvette to your list above, as well as maybe the L89.

The 2008 Corvette does have the LS3 engine, 430 hp base.

 

It's a single, transverse leaf spring, not the leaf springs used in musclecars with live axles.