Guess who’s back? The 2018 C7 Corvette ZR1 prototype. It seems as if every other day we are graced with new spy shots of the upcoming mystery Corvette, which we have all come to know as the C7 ZR1.
This time, the Corvette seems to be doing its best Dodge Viper ACR impression with its massive rear wing fixed even taller than we’ve seen before. The large-winged Corvette ZR1 wears the same start-style wheels, which show blue brake calipers poking through. The blue calipers were a signature touch on the C6 Corvette ZR1, also known as the “Blue Devil.”
However, there’s something new here. A second Corvette ZR1 prototype was spotted wearing a much thinner and lower wing. It was affixed to a coupe, and not like the wing we’ve seen from the Corvette ZR1 convertible prototype before. This car also has red brake calipers instead of blue but wore identical camouflage.
For now, that’s all we have, as the photos don’t give us any other additional hints as to what’s going on in with performance aspects. We’ll simply have to wait and see.
Spy shots: Autoblog.
Comments
Well the key to this car will be down force and tuning of the down force as it is a street legal track car much like the ACR.
The wings have been seen and may have two meanings. One they may be just using a Convertible wing on the coupe for testing.
Also it could mean the car could come with two wings that the owner can chose what he wants. The large wing is a top speed killer as it could knock off a lot of MPH from a tops speed. but the larger wing means faster lap times too.
Now consider the Zo6 has a movable wicker option so they could be doing the same here for tenability of the car. It may be an option or just part of the package.
The key to this car is to get anymore power down they have to plant the car as the Z06 even struggles with not having enough down force to use all the power all the time.
Also note the Z/28 also will be a massive down force car. In the video of the ZL1 where the tires are barking the Z/28 will have more grip and lower lap times.
GM has done all they can with the Chassis now it is time to take the next step with Aero and plant the cars down much like race cars did over the years.
The C8 will not just incorporate more down force but also better weight placement and center of gravity. It too was testing a large wing on the Ute Mule so we may see it show up on one version of this car at some point too.
Note we will get more power of due to the down force. It will get as much as it can put down. 725-750 HP is what I would expect.
The old ZR1 engine had already tested to 725 HP and the C7 is said can handle up to 750 HP.
Word has been the C8 has tested to 1000 HP but they can not put it to the ground. If you do not believe it then just look at the tuner cars with the LT engine already making over 1,000 HP. If they can do it GM certainly could. Just how much can you put to the ground is the real matter.
getting traction by using a big wing crates big drag so going to a mid engine will give traction without drag
While computer simulation of fluid mechanics can determine how the Corvette may respond with different wing heights and shapes, there’s still nothing like some real world testing to test the accuracy of the computer analysis.