Vehicle Overview
t's hard to find a more iconic American sportscar than the Chevrolet Corvette. The current generation of Chevrolet Corvette features much more angular exterior styling and a vastly improved interior.
New for 2009
The big news this year is the late introduction of the Corvette ZR1, which boasts a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing 638 horsepower. It's the most powerful (and expensive) road-going Corvette ever. The rest of the Corvette lineup heads into 2009 with just minor changes, the most significant of which is the availability of Bluetooth phone connectivity. 2009 Chevrolet Corvette is available as a two-seat coupe or convertible, trim levels include the standard Corvette, Z06 and ZR1." Only the base Chevrolet Corvette is available in convertible form, and many familiar styling cues highlight the latest Corvette, but the current generation is the first one since 1962 with fixed headlights."
Exterior
Upgrades on the ZR1 include massive carbon-ceramic brake rotors used for their superior heat dissipation and suspension tweaks designed to keep the car planted when all that power hits the pavement. The ZR1 will reportedly be priced around $100,000, which is outrageous for a Corvette but a bargain when looking at competitors in this performance bracket. Chevrolet aimed for a sports car that could match the power and performance of a Ferrari or Lamborghini at less than half the price.
Interior
Standard on the 1LT coupe and drop top are 18-inch front alloy wheels and 19-inch rears, xenon headlamps, cruise control, keyless ignition/entry, full power accessories, OnStar, leather seating, a six-way power driver seat, a tilting steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. The standard seven-speaker audio system includes a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, steering-wheel-mounted controls and an auxiliary audio jack. The 2LT Package adds Bluetooth and upgraded leather seating with a power passenger seat. The convertible gets a power-operated top with the 2LT Package. More equipment can be found on the 3LT; it includes a head-up display, a power telescoping steering column with manual tilting, heated front seats, driver-seat memory settings and a Bose audio system. The top-level Corvette 4LT is very similar to the 3LT but includes an exclusive two-tone leather interior (with leather covering the dash top, console top and armrests).
The Z06 (coupe only) largely mirrors the standard model in terms of feature availability, but gains a more powerful V8, a fixed roof, a lighter frame and body panels, larger wheels and tires, a more stiffly tuned suspension, upgraded brakes and special sport seats. Compared to the Z06, the ZR1 boasts a more powerful supercharged V8, plus larger wheels, high-performance carbon-ceramic brakes, an exclusive suspension with adaptive dampers and additional lightweight body panels.
Major stand-alone options, depending on the model, include a navigation system, a transparent roof panel for the coupe, a two-tone interior, a dual-mode exhaust and different wheels. There are also suspension options for the standard Corvettes: the Magnetic Ride Control suspension (which automatically firms up and softens the suspension according to how the car is being driven) and the Z51 performance handling package (which adds extra cooling, stiffer suspension calibrations, bigger brakes, specific tires and shorter gearing for the six-speed manual).
Under the Hood
The 2009 Corvette ZR1 will produce at least 620 hp from its supercharged V8 engine outdoing the current Corvette top dog, the Z06. The ZR1 is designed to compete with the most exotic European sports cars.
Safety
Antilock disc brakes are standard, as is a superb stability control system known as "Active Handling." The latter provides noninvasive assistance and allows a "competitive" driving mode that gives the expert driver more leeway while still maintaining a safety net. Side-impact airbags are optional on 1LT models and are standard with all other LT packages. Head curtain airbags are not available.
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