Design Car: Corvette

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SEMA Show: Corvette Jake Edition and Z06X Track Car Concepts

5:47 PM koyo

After the two Camaro concepts (see here), it's Corvette's turn to show up in style at the SEMA Show. Behold the Corvette Jake Edition and Z06X Track Car concept models.

First up is the Jake Edition Concept featuring the skull mascot known as Jake, which started off as a discrete logo on Corvette racing cars back in 2005. GM considers that it embodies the determination and triumphs of the Corvette Racing team, so it built a special concept vehicle to honor it.

With Z06 wheels, painted in Competition Gray, the Jake Edition also features a matte Jake hood graphic, alongside a host of other accessories, meant to discreetly enhance its appearance.

Most of the accessories used are already available for purchase, while others (Jake-logo floor mats, console lid, wheel center caps) are planned for future release.

"Jake is more than the mascot for Corvette Racing, he personifies the Corvette spirit," said Dave Ross, design manager.

The Z06X Track Car is the second Corvette concept that General Motors will showcase at SEMA, in order to highlight performance parts that enthusiasts can use to transform their stock cars into full-blown track weapons. For this purpose, Chevrolet teamed up with Pratt and Miller, its American LeMans Series partner.

A thoroughbred track car needs to be as light as it can be, so the Z06X is packed with professional racing gear, such as carbon ceramic brakes and carbon fiber body parts. Handling is improved by the Magnetic Ride Control, aerodynamic kit, with new front splitter included, and the addition of lightweight wheels, shod in Michelin's finest racing tires.

Boasting a low-gloss Icy White Metallic color, the exterior also gets some exposed carbon fiber body components to contrast with it.

"This concept car represents a mid-point between our GT race car and the production Z06, prepared by the team responsible for the Corvette Racing C6.R race cars, and featuring many performance parts owners can choose today" Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter said.

By Csaba Daradics

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Corvette Jake Edition Highlights
Exterior:

Black color
Corvette Z06 wheels in Competition Gray
"Corvette"-logo windshield header graphic (concept)
GT1 Championship Edition Jake-logo hood graphic
Jake-logo wheel center caps (future)
Jake-logo fender badge (concept)
Jake-logo underhood blanket and lighting package (future)
Chevrolet Accessory full-width rear spoiler in Cyber Gray
Interior:

Ebony leather with titanium stitching and red accents on the seats
Chevrolet Accessory interior trim kit
Chevrolet Accessory racing pedal kit
Chevrolet Accessory "Jake" floor mats (future)
Chevrolet Accessory "Jake" console lid (future)
Performance:

LS3 6.2L V-8 with Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission
Chevrolet Accessory Tech-pattern engine cover

Corvette Z06X Track Car Highlights
Exterior:

Low-gloss Icy White Metallic color with exposed carbon fiber and red accents
2011 CFZ-option carbon fiber package, including splitter and rockers
Adjustable carbon fiber wing
ZR1 carbon fiber roof panel and B-pillar panels
Carbon fiber raised hood (from the Z06 Carbon Limited Edition)
Carbon fiber headlamp housings from Specter Werkes/Sports
Weight-saving and shatter-resistant polycarbonate rear window
Interior:

Base Z06 1LZ trim
Radio, carpeting and sound-deadening material removed
SCCA-spec roll cage
SCCA-approved window net
Racing seat with five-point safety harness
Fire suppression system
Driver's drink system
Video camera system mounted on the roll cage
Genuine Corvette Accessory racing pedal kit
Performance:

LS7 7.0L V-8 engine and Tremec six-speed manual transmission
Low-restriction air intake system
High-capacity radiator and enhanced cooling system
New-for-2011 Z07 Performance Package, feature Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors and special brake pads
Lightweight racing wheels in black; 19-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear)
Michelin racing tires
Mono-ball control arm bushing
Adjustable stabilizer bars
Coil-over struts with adjustable camber plates

Vipervette is the latest project to kill two performance nameplates in one go

9:38 AM koyo

The 1986 Vipervette is exactly what you think it is: part Dodge Viper, part Corvette, all painful. Riding on a 1986 Corvette chassis, the Vipervette is said to have inherited its body (and not much else, apparently) from a 2000 Dodge Viper. Because of this hodge-podge mix of machinery, we have a car with some very awkward proportions.

The car is motivated by the '86 Vette's power train - a 5.7-liter V8 and a 4-speed stick - so don't expect to be going anywhere in too much of a hurry. Inside is more of the 1980's, with the Corvette interior color-coded to line up with the Viper exterior (meaning it's the mighty played-out red and black).

At least it's based on a relatively modern car, so it's got common amenities like power steering, power windows, the Viper's removable top, and a CD player. There's no telling about the quality of the project's fit and finish, but if you're interested in finding out for yourself, this little monster can be yours for the low, low price of $12,250.

For that money, I'd pass and get a cherry 1980's Corvette (and still have money for a vacation, to boot).

By Phil Alex

Link: Autabuy - Hat tip to Brian!

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We're Goin' Surfin': Rental Corvette Abandoned in Pacific Ocean [With Videos]

1:25 PM koyo

Some presumably drunk people out California way decided to have a little bit too much fun in their recently-rented Corvette and ended up parked in salt water halfway up the car's doors. Thankfully in this day and age everyone has some sort of video recording device within arm's reach, so we have some post-parking-surfing videos below.

The story goes something like this: between two and four people - who may or may not have been racing - decided to roll on down to the end of Law Street (seriously) and take the normally pavement-pounding Corvette out to play in the sand. Once actually on the beach, the driver proceeded to do a few donuts, calmly drive the car into the water, and flee the scene.

The report indicates that some people who were involved have been detained, and that at least some of the expenses involved in pulling the car out of the sand could be recouped. All I can say for certain is that puling a car out of wet sand and water must have been hard as hell due to the suction; I learned that lesson when my friend took his Grand Marquis four-wheeling and the night ended...let's say poorly.

By Phil Alex

Source: CBS8

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Chevrolet Video Teases 2010 SEMA Show Tunes

8:36 AM koyo

Next up on our motor show calendar is the biggest tuning event of 2010, the SEMA gathering in Las Vegas, and like every year, GM will be there with a huge display of vehicles. This time, the General is video-teasing some of the Chevrolet models that will descend on the Las Vegas convention center next month including several Corvettes, Silverados and you guessed it, a boat-load of Camaro builds. Scroll down to watch the clip.

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Corvette NASA Astronauts

1:40 PM koyo

Astronaut Alan Shepard, a long time Corvette owner, was invited by then GM Chief Engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to drive pre-production Corvette models. General Motors executives later gave Sheppard a 1972 model with a Bill Mitchell interior. Jim Rathmann, a Melbourne, Florida Chevrolet dealer and winner of the 1960 Indy 500, befriended astronauts Shepard, Gus Grissom, and Gordon Cooper.

Rathman convinced GM President Ed Cole to setup a program which supplied each astronaut with a pair of new cars each year. Most chose a family car for their wives and a Corvette for themselves.
Alan Bean recalls Corvettes lined up in the parking lot outside the astronaut offices at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, and friendly races between Shepard and Grissom along the Florida beach roads and beaches themselves as local police turned a blind eye.
Shepard, Grissom and Cooper even pulled each other on skis in the shallow water. The Mercury and later astronauts were unofficially tied to the Corvette and appeared in official photographs with their cars and with mock-ups of space vehicles such as the Lunar Module or Lunar Rover. Cooper talked of the races along Cocoa Beach in his eulogy of Shepard at the Johnson Space Center in 1998.

Corvette

Corvette

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Corvette ZR1 Sports Car

1:44 PM koyo

The new 2009 Corvette ZR1 is a fast and powerful sports car. It has a 6.2-liter surpercharged engine with 638hp. The acceleration of 0-60mph time of just 3.4 seconds will make it reach reach 100mph from standstill in 7 seconds flat.

The final MSRP of the new Corvette is $103,300 including the destination charge, but it will have a $1700 gas guzzler tax added on top of this.

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is super sports car indeed.