Corvette Blog

After the introduction of the ZR1, Rick Squires was provoked to turn his dream into a reality. He had always wanted to build a limited-edition STS Corvette. Now, more than ever, he had the motivation to build such a dependable, everyday ride while also dishing out stiff competition to the ZR1.

A car enthusiast himself, Rick Squires, founder and VP of research and development at STS, chose to produce a handful of these vehicles in order to entice potential customers away from the almighty ZR1.

And so the ZR7 was born.

This name was not only chosen as a close replication to the competition, but also to symbolize the vehicle’s features. ‘Z’ for the history of high-performance GM vehicles, ‘R’ for the racing suspension and power delivery, ‘7’ for the vehicle’s 700+ horsepower status.

Fortunately for Squire and his hardworking team, production of the ZR7 squeezed right in hours before the 2008 SEMA, where the vehicle was formally introduced. "The body was designed and fabricated, finished and painted in six days," Squires explains. “The turbo system, suspension, brakes, radiator, and so on were all finished in an 18-hour blitz at STS Turbo."

Click below to read more about the long production period and the multiple changes made to the interior and exterior of Squires’ ZR7.

Do you think the STS ZR7 has a chance when compared to the ZR1?

[ Vette ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette Concept & Show Cars , Corvette News , Corvettes of the Future | 0 Comments Permalink

As always, we at CorvetteBlog have the latest constraint information straight from General Motors.

• 2010 Corvettes:  Th only constraint to report for ordering is the 70U Torch Red option.  It is a new color introduction and they are ramping it up.  Only 10% of available orders this week will be able to order Torch Red.
   
• 2010 Corvette Z06:  There is the same constraint to report.  70U Torch Red is being ramped up, only 10% of orders available nationally to choose Torch Red.

• 2010 Corvette ZR1:  There are 3 color constraints to report.  First, the same 70U Torch Red constraint of only 15% nationally available, and then both 10U Artic White and 89U Crystal Red are both new to the ZR1 and are being ramped up.  Both colors have only 4% of orders available to place.

Posted By Ryan In 2010 Corvette , Corvette Dealers , Corvette Equipment , Corvette News , Corvette Parts , Corvette Production | 0 Comments Permalink

A tire is a tire, right?  Wrong.  Many consumers lack pertinent information about how a tire can improve a vehicle’s performance and potentially reduce fuel costs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to change this and educate consumers during their next tire purchase.

The NHTSA has proposed that tires come equipped with removable labels, explaining that individual tire’s fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas rating, safety (wet traction), and durability (tread wear).

Purchase a better quality tire, save gas costs, and remain eco-friendly… we like!  Of course Corvette tires are certainly specialized and not like other tires out there and it will be interesting to see how they are rated.

The proposal is still awaiting approval by the end of the year. For more information, visit www.safercar.gov. Would you base your next tire purchase off such a label? What do you think?

[ USA Today ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette Equipment , Corvette News , Corvette Parts , Corvette Performance , Corvette Safety | 0 Comments Permalink

J.D. Power & Associates recently conducted an Initial Quality Study, focused on the quality of all vehicles produced for the U.S. market. Reports concluded that the big three have improved their vehicle quality by 10% since last year.

In fact, the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant received its very own Bronze Award honors for its quality inspection. The assembly plant ranked 5th place internationally for overall vehicle quality! This Corvette and Cadillac XLR plant only averaged 43 vehicle issues out of every 100 vehicles produced (or a rating of 43 PP100). The industry average for initial quality problems was 108 per 100 vehicles produced.

Though 43 faults may seem quite high, this score was only surpassed by THREE plants, which included:

• Toyota’s Japanese plant (29 PP100)
• Honda’s Ohio plant (41 PP100)
• GM’s Ontario plant (42 PP100)
• Ford’s Kentucky Truck plant (43 PP100) and
• GM’s Bowling Green plant (43 PP100)

“High quality generally translates into reduced re-engineering costs and lower warranty expenses during a vehicle’s life cycle. High quality also enhances an automaker’s reputation for reliability, which is a critical purchase consideration for many consumers,” says David Sargent, J.D. Power and Associates’ vice president of automotive research.

Corvette proves, once again, to be the ultimate pure-American quality super car!

[ The Auto Channel ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette News , Corvette Production | 0 Comments Permalink

Corvette Racing came to a lull when GM decided to cancel production on a Corvette-based prototype… the C7R LMP1.

The vehicle was expected to be apart of the LeMans “Evo” class, a combination of both the GT1 and LMP1 classes. Competition for this class would have included the Porsches, Ferraris, BMWs, Aston Martins, etc. However, plans for such Evo class were cancelled due to cost constraints and LMP1 teams failing to comply.

Vehicle models of the C7R LMP1 can be found on display within the Pratt & Miller facility in New Hudson, MI. We are only left now to dream about Corvette having had the opportunity destroy the competition at LeMans.

GM road-racing boss, Steve Wesoloski, comments on the lost Evo class. "I'm not giving up," Wesoloski said. "Overall [race] wins are still my target." He continues to inform that Le Mans organizations are working with GM, Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari to produce a class that allows all four companies to compete.

Will GM agree to take part? Will they have the ability to deliver a new racing Corvette? Stay posted.

[ AutoWeek ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette News , Corvette Racing | 0 Comments Permalink

The New York Times is reporting today that the National Highway Traffic Safety Admistration has stepped us safety investigations related to three specific models, one of them being the Chevrolet Corvette.

Specific to the Corvette investigation, they are looking at about 48,000 Vettes from 2005 and 2006 model years.  Some owners had claimed that the stability control system malfunctioned causing a sudden and inappropriate braking action without illumination of the brake lights, causing the vehicle to swerve left or right.

Currently there is no announcement from GM on any specific recall related to this problem.  Right now it seems like the NHTSA is checking everything out and we should hear more soon.  Any Corvette-specific recall information can ALWAYS be found on CorvetteBlog.  Stay tuned.

[ New York Times ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette Equipment , Corvette News , Corvette Safety | 0 Comments Permalink

2004 proved to be a very good year for Corvette Racing after having dominated competition within 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and at multiple ALMS championships. That same year, the racing team began using a skull logo and the motto, “Take No Prisoners”, to clearly emphasize their power within the racing world.

This representation was taken to the next level a year later when the Corvette Racing team and BadBoyVettes, a group of dedicated fans, came together to promote and enhance the themed skull (Jake) and tagline. Jake’s creation, straight off Eddie Jabbour’s cocktail napkin, came at the perfect time as the powerful Corvette C6-R was introduced that very same year.

And so, Jake, a dark skull outline with Corvette flags for eyes, was born. He became Corvette’s official racing logo, having had his first appearance on the C6-R at the 2005 24 Hours of Le Mans. To this very day, he continues to represent Corvette Racing.

Thanks Jake!

[ Corvette Racing ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette Fun , Corvette History , Corvette News | 0 Comments Permalink

382 laps.
3,247 miles.
24 hours.
Corvette C6.R.
Compuware #63.

Put these together and you get a recipe for SUCCESS at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Man’s GT1 class race. Not only was this a proud win for Corvette, but it also marked history for driver Johnny O’Connell, who is now the first American driver to ever win four GT1 class titles at Le Mans.

"When you look at the Americans who have won here multiple times, they're all important figures in motorsports history," O'Connell said. "To achieve my fourth win with Corvette Racing, driving a sports car that's an American icon, it's hard to put that into words. There is nothing more difficult and more rewarding than winning here, and sharing it with two awesome drivers like Jan and Antonio."

In second place was the white #73 Corvette. And, third place went to an Aston Martin DBR9. Had the black #64 Corvette not pulled out three hours prior to the end due to transmission trouble, the race would have marked a Corvette Racing sweep… But hey, there’s always next year!

Still, these GT1 class wins mark the 16th year of podium finishes for Corvette Racing at Le Mans since 2000.

Keep it up guys! Congratulations!

[ Vette ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette News , Corvette Racing | 0 Comments Permalink

As always, we at CorvetteBlog have the latest constraint information straight from General Motors.

• 2010 Corvettes:  Th only constraint to report for ordering is the 70U Torch Red option.  It is a new color introduction and they are ramping it up.  Only 10% of available orders this week will be able to order Torch Red.
   
• 2010 Corvette Z06:  There is the same constraint to report.  70U Torch Red is being ramped up, only 10% of orders available nationally to choose Torch Red.

• 2010 Corvette ZR1:  There are 3 color constraints to report.  First, the same 70U Torch Red constraint of only 15% nationally available, and then both 10U Artic White and 89U Crystal Red are both new to the ZR1 and are being ramped up.  Both colors have only 4% of orders available to place.

Posted By Ryan In 2010 Corvette , Buying a Corvette , Corvette Dealers , Corvette Equipment , Corvette News , Corvette Production | 0 Comments Permalink

Owning a vehicle with a V8 engine means heavy fuel costs, right?

Well, Popular Mechanics proved this false after testing a Corvette C6’s fuel economy, and discovering Corvettes “most amazing talent… its astonishing fuel economy”.

The Test Environment

• Vehicle:  Corvette C6 standard six-speed manual transmission
• Route:  140 miles, roundtrip along California’s US Route 101
• Speed:  55 mph (10 under)
• Fuel Type:  18-gallon tank with 91 octane gas
• Additional:  Cruise control used, no A/C, windows up

The Results

• Avg. speed:  52.8 mph
• Avg. mpg:  32.8 mpg!!!!!!!!

WOW!! To measure 32.8 mpg on the highway is close to what a 2008 Ford Focus clocks. Pretty spectacular for a super car like Corvette to get similar results!

Now you can feel confident driving an American-made hot ride while also saving on fuel costs. Sign us up!

[ Popular Mechanics ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette News , Corvette Performance | 0 Comments Permalink