By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
The King is back! No, Elvis is still dead (or living in Kalamazoo) and Michael Jackson has no plans to going on tour again (or so we hope). The King that will be returning is the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.
Originally, the ZR1 was the most powerful Corvette ever produced until production ceased in 1995 (close to the end of the C4 Corvette model). Since then, the C5 and C6 Corvettes have kept enthusiasts happy with Z06 models. For 2009, Chevrolet will once again create a Corvette truly worthy of the ZR1 nameplate.
With a supercharged 6.2-liter LS9 V-8 and a $100,000+ price tag, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will mark the fastest, most powerful and most expensive Corvette ever to roll out of the Bowling Green, Kentucky production facility (the original ZR1 maxed out at 405 horsepower - 25 horsepower less than the base 2008 Corvette - and came with a hefty price tag close to $60,000). GM’s goal of 100 horsepower/liter means that the new LS9 will put out at least 620 horsepower (with an expected torque rating at 595 lb-ft.), which should easily propel the 3,350-pound super Vette well over the 200-mph barrier.
In addition to the unique engine and the plentiful power that will accompany it, many exterior enhancements set the ZR1 apart from other Corvette models. The extensive use of carbon fiber on the new ZR1 allowed Chevrolet designers to not only cut the weight of the car, but it also Besides the numerous carbon fiber accents that adorn the ZR1’s exterior, the most noticeable and unique visual aspect has to be the raised bump in the hood. The bulging hood features a clear window that displays the supercharger’s intercooler and leaves no doubt what powers the ZR1 with “LS9 SUPERCHARGED” clearly visible on each side of the iconic “crossed flag” Corvette emblem.
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