Halltech Killer Bee II
It is official, the Halltech Killer Bee II for the 2005 and up C6 Corvette is hitting the streets and the feedback is looking pretty stellar.
The first independent dyno numbers (see below) are just in. Dynoed on a brand new 2010 Z06 just off the trailer: Stock 448.9RWHP/431.6 lb-ft Halltech Killer BeeII CF112 installed 10 minutes later: 481.9 RWHP/449.1 lb-ft. Tq. 91 Octane pump gas, reprogrammed MAF tables to set new long term fuel trims, but other than 2 degrees additional timing, the factory programming was stock. Next: 3-08-10 Katech Engine Development dynoed 618 HP vs. 604 with the GM stock intake on their Superflow Engine Dyno. +14 HP. Halltech's all new designed Killer Bee II CF112 designed to compliment the Williams Performance 102mm Throttle Body and FAST LSXR 102 intake manifold. Recalibration of the MAF tables is required for maximum performance. The optional Halltech Super Beehive Carbon Fiber Heat Shield should be ordered for heat shielding of the filter. Halltech's MAF relocation wire harness included in pricing. Halltech's Filters have been tested using ISO 5011 standards and now have 109g of extra dust capacity. This system will be the exclusive induction system used by Katech on all of their Track Attack engine builds. Custom programming is available through Halltech's exclusive e-mailtune, with the SCT X3 Hand Held tuners available soon with pre-populated programming developed on the dyno. Fits Corvettes 2006-2010 Z06; 2008-2010 C6 LS3. Not recommended for the C6 LS2 at this time.
* +33 RWHP/26 lb-ft Tq. with recalibration of MAF tables only on 91 Octane Fuel vs. stock (Test Vehicle 2010 Z06 with 10 miles, just off the carrier)
* +14 HP on the Katech Superflow Engine dyno over GM stock LS7 intake
* Mass Air Flow Sensor relocation under the Super Beehive™ Heat Shield/Radiator Bezel
* Zero Obstruction to flow at the throttle body
* 112mm outlet to match the new Billet WP 102mm Throttle Body and FAST intake manifold
* 112.5mm inlet from the all new Killer Bee II filter
* Relocation of the Dry Sump vent tube to the filter bottom
* Larger plenum and redesigned flow design by Jim Hall
* Built in Velocity Stack Bellmouth filter flange
* More Horsepower and torque than any other intake made for the Corvette
* Pure Carbon Fiber made by the company that makes Pratt & Miller C6.RS body panels
Corvette Racing Preview from Mobil 1′s The Grid
More previews keep coming out of Corvette Racing's 2010 American le Mans year. Seems to be a whole lot of press surrounding the team this year (even more than usual), which leads me to believe that a solid showing from the team could mean a whole lot for the entire Corvette world. With all of the press, if the C6.R tears up the track, I'm certain we'll be seeing serious rises in Corvette sales. I hope this happens, as the Corvette sales numbers have started to seriously stagnate, and that's never a good thing. Right now big brother's being kept afloat a little by his little brother, the Camaro. So, here's to you Corvette Racing, may you make the best of the circuit this year and win as many races as you can! We're cheering you on.
New Carbon Z06
Chevy, in anticipation of the Corvette Racing season and towards a greater pursuit of their ideals about bringing production and racing vehicles closer together, have released info on their next iteration of the Corvette. The special edition Carbon Z06 looks likes a pretty fantastic Corvette too. Based around the Z06 and its lightweight body (with some of the components made even lighter here) and the 505HP LS7, the Carbon Z06 also utilizes braking, suspension, and the Magnetic Selective Ride control aspects of the ZR1 making it a fantastic balanced track Corvette.
Beyond the mechanics (which also feature more track-ready wheels and tires than the Z06 was already employing), the vehicle has a lot of powerful visual cues added to it. From the body kit, the ZR1 style front-splitter and spoiler, and the specific paint job in either blue or orange, every visual touch of the Z06 makes it one fantastic looking Corvette. I also, personally, love the GM Black-out lights on the car. Those black-out kits for the C6 are some of the greatest looking exterior touches anyone can install, and its nice to see Chevy take that to heart themselves.
There will only be 500 of these Carbon Z06s constructed, so get one while they're available.
Here's some images of the vehicle (click thumbs for larger images), and the official release below:
Taking track-to-street technology to a new level
DETROIT -- When the 2006 Corvette Z06 was introduced, it represented the closest connection to the Corvette race cars ever. The 2009 Corvette ZR1 closed the gap between racing and production even further. This year, Corvette continues its tradition of track-to-street technology transfer with the 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition.
"Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette's first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. "With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast."
The Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is another example of the expanded Corvette line-up. Five years ago, customers had the choice of a Corvette coupe or convertible. With the addition of the Z06, Grand Sport coupe and convertible and ZR1, Corvette enthusiasts now have more choices than ever.
"For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette Chief Engineer. "For technical tracks like Laguna Seca, the Z06 Carbon could shave up to three seconds off the Z06 lap time."
This limited edition Z06 will boast Brembo carbon ceramic brakes with specific dark gray metallic calipers. These powerful brakes were first introduced on the ZR1. Black 20-spoke 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels complement the car's Michelin PS2 tires. Other mechanical features include Magnetic Selective Ride Control for the first time on the Z06 and enhanced cooling. The car also features a special carbon pattern engine cover.
The Corvette Z06 Carbon will be available in two colors: Inferno Orange and the all-new Supersonic Blue. Black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon fiber raised hood, and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter enhance the Z06's dynamic design and reduce mass and aerodynamic lift. For track events, customers can also install the Euro-styled racing numbers that come with each car.
The Z06 Carbon's ebony leather and suede interior is complemented by blue or orange seat stitching to match the exterior color chosen. Other features include a unique steering wheel emblem, sill plate and logoed headrest. The suede used on the steering wheel, shifter, seat inserts, armrests and doors add to the luxury of this limited edition Z06.
An optional Z07 performance package that includes the mechanical upgrades introduced on the Z06 Carbon can be added to a regular 2011 Z06. This package also includes Competition Gray 20-spoke wheels and all the chassis and cooling upgrades.
The CFZ Z06 carbon fiber package includes black carbon fiber rockers, splitter and roof panel with the full-width body color spoiler. It can also be purchased with or without the Z07 package on regular Z06 models.
The 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, as well as the new Z07 and CFZ Z06 option packages will be available in late summer.
GM Talks C7 Design
Ed Welburn seems to be taking a pretty interesting approach at redesigning the Corvette for the C7 model. I don't know how much I like the whole "lets become more European" school of thought he is employing. The Corvette is a profoundly American car, if not -THE- American car, and I see no reason to try and change this. Its sales (although weak this year) have always been strong enough to justify this, and the Europeans who don't see the beauty of a car with this much performance for this price tag, must simply be blind. Who says their education systems are better? Obviously, they lack something if they can't see the impressive styling and performance of the Corvette for themselves. Of course, the new 'Vette will be gorgeous regardless, and will be an impressive piece of engineering, I have faith in Chevy (the C5, and the Gen 5 Camaro have pretty much won them all the faith one could possibly give) and am excited to see what really happens. Official article from Automotive News below:
Late last year, Ed Welburn, GM's vice president of global design, invited GM's 10 styling studios to submit design proposals.
Some "were absolutely phenomenal," Welburn said. "There is a lot to pick from. The direction that we take is very important, and the decision has not been made."
Global input on the Corvette's design is one of several steps GM is taking to attract buyers in Europe, where the car has little appeal, and young U.S. buyers who favor imports.
"We have challenges in the States with the Corvette," Welburn said in an interview at the Geneva auto show. "The average age of the customer is really rising."
The current average age of a Corvette buyer is 54, according to the Power Information Network, a unit of J.D. Power and Associates.
Corvette sales are in a tailspin. Last year 13,934 were sold in the United States, down 48 percent from 2008.
The current Corvette debuted in the 2005 model year. Prices range from $49,880 for the base coupe to $107,830 for the ZR-1. Both prices include shipping.
A redesign is due in two to three years, industry sources say.
Corvette critics often cite the sports car's size, saying it looks big. They also point to what they say is a cheap-looking interior.
Welburn admitted the interior has a problem: "The execution, materials selection -- it's got to be a much better interior. Our customers desire that."
Welburn said today's Corvette is about the same size as the Porsche 911, but the styling makes it look bigger. "We have to develop a design that feels trimmer, meaner, to go along with the incredible performance that the car has," he said.
In addition to styling, content, pricing and marketing strategy are under discussion, he said.
"It is a key time in the development of the Corvette," Welburn said. "There is a lot of debate and a lot of study on the bandwidth of Corvette."
But, he added, "It can't mutate into something that gets so far away from Corvette that it is no longer a Corvette."
More Corvette Racing Information
2010 Corvette Racing is about to begin, and a lot of noticable changes have been made based on the American Le Mans series new rules. The biggest one is the new LS5.5R V8 that the C6.R Corvette Racing car will be using. A 485 HP, smaller, more efficient engine was necessary to meet the Le Mans Series requirements. The C6.R is based around the ZR1 Corvette in many different ways, although some of the more high-tech components of the ZR1 were dropped to meet the Le Mans Series standards, such as the Carbon brake rotors. All in all, this makes this years version of the Corvette Racing flagship vehicle more closely resembling a production ZR1 than much any other Le Mans Series car is to its production counterpart. It should be a fun year of racing to follow, as the Corvette seems poised to win more races and awards this year.
Full press release from Chevy Racing:
New Corvette Racing C6.R and Production Corvette ZR1
Represent the Culmination of More Than 10 Years of Technology Transfer
Updated C6.R to Race in 2010 Le Mans,
50 Years After Corvette's First Appearance in Legendary Endurance Race
DETROIT: Corvette Racing's second-generation C6.R will be powered by a new 5.5L production-based V-8, to compete in the new unified GT class in the 2010 American Le Mans Series as well as the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The updated C6.R and the Corvette ZR1 on which it's based represent the strongest link yet between a production Corvette and the modern Corvette Racing team. Both cars are well-equipped to compete on and off the track with showroom competitors including Aston Martins, BMWs, Porsches and Ferraris.
Corvette has a long history of production-based endurance racing, making its first appearance at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956, and its first appearance at Le Mans in 1960. Then Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov leveraged the racing program to improve the production Corvette, as evidenced by the development of heavy-duty and high-performance components and the introduction of the race-bred Z06 option on the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray.
The transfer of technology between racing and production cars resumed with the start of the modern Corvette Racing program in 1999. More than a decade later, it's impossible to imagine one team without the other, according to Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer:
"Simply put, without Corvette Racing, there would not be a Corvette Z06, much less the ZR1. And, without the foundation of the Corvette C6, Z06 and ZR1, the Corvette Racing team would not be the dominant presence in production-based racing."
1999 – 2004: The C5-R acts as a catalyst for Corvette performance
Corvette Racing campaigned the C5-R from 1999 through the end of the 2004 season. The first-generation car scored 35 victories in 55 races, won its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring three consecutive years, posted three 1-2 finishes in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and earned four consecutive ALMS manufacturers championships for Chevrolet.
It also served as a catalyst for Corvette performance.
In 1999, the fifth-generation Corvette C5 produced 345 horsepower from its 5.7L V-8. Leveraging the powertrain technologies developed for the C5R, Corvette brought back the hallowed Z06 moniker in 2001, packing a 385 horsepower 5.7L V-8.
In addition, the C5-R helped shape the sixth-generation Corvette, introduced for the 2005 model year. Corvette Racing's influence could be seen in the C6 Corvette design, which featured flush headlights for better aerodynamics; a single, large grille opening for the engine air intake, radiator, and brake cooling; a lower coefficient of drag; and low 3,179 pound curb weight. Lessons from racing were also integrated in the 6.0L LS2 V-8, the most powerful standard Corvette engine to date, with 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the C6 Corvette delivered unprecedented performance, including a 186-mph top speed, acceleration from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and quarter-mile runs in 12.6 seconds at 114 mph.
2005 – 2009: The co-development of the C6.R and Z06
The C6 Corvette served as a foundation for the joint development of two new, high-performance Corvettes: the 2006 Corvette Z06 and the Corvette Racing C6.R, introduced in 2005.
Both cars were powered by 7.0L small-block V-8 engines, with dry-sump lubrication systems, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads, titanium valves, forged steel crankshafts, and plate-honed cylinder bores.
For the Z06, the collaboration translated into 505hp, 470 lb.-ft. of torque, and searing performance: 198-mph top speed, acceleration from 0 – 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and quarter-mile runs in 11.7 seconds at 125 mph. Racing's influence was also evident in the Corvette Z06 use of lightweight carbon fiber front fenders and wheelhouses, and aerodynamics package – including a front splitter, air extractors behind the front wheels, radiused trailing edges on the wheel openings, brake cooling scoops, widened rear fenders, rear diffuser, and spoiler.
For the C6.R, homologation on the Z06 translated into 42 wins, four consecutive ALMS drivers and manufacturers championships, and three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
2010: Introducing the second-generation C6.R, based on the ZR1
In the 2010 American Le Mans Series, Corvette Racing will compete in the series' production-based GT category (formerly GT2) and in the GT2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a second-generation C6.R that is homologated on the Corvette ZR1.
The GT rules require the use of many production-based components, making the ZR1 and C6.R the closest street and racing Corvettes since the 1960s.
Introduced for the 2009 model year, the ZR1 is the fastest, most powerful car ever produced by Chevrolet. To deliver 638 hp, the LS9 V-8 engines are hand-built using many of the processes developed by the race team. To deliver a 205-mph top speed, the ZR1 aerodynamics package also utilizes race technology – including wide carbon fiber front fenders with dual vents, a full-width rear spoiler, and a front splitter.
The updated C6.R utilizes the ZR1 body design, aerodynamic package, aluminum frame and chassis structure, steering system, windshield, and other components.
Aluminum frame: The new Corvette C6.R is built on the same aluminum frame rails that underpin production Corvette Z06 and ZR1 models. Other production chassis structures in the race car include the windshield frame, the hoop around the rear of the passenger compartment, the door hinge pillars, the drivetrain tunnel, the firewall, and the floor pan.
Steering system: The new Corvette C6.R utilizes the production steering column out of the ZR1, with a fully adjustable steering wheel, and production rack-and-pinion steering rack.
Body profile: The Corvette C6.R race car is now virtually identical to the Corvette ZR1 street car in appearance, as GT rules require production-type fenders with simple flares to accommodate wider tires.
Aerodynamics: The new C6.R utilizes the full-width, production rear spoiler from the ZR1, and a production-based ZR1 front splitter that extends 25mm, in contrast to the 80mm splitter allowed under the GT1 rules. Although the aerodynamics package does not produce the same levels of downforce as the GT1 car, the C6.R is more predictable over a wide range of speeds.
Where the C6.R and ZR1 differ significantly are in situations where GT rules actually prohibited the use of the more sophisticated ZR1 components. For example, the ZR1 is equipped with carbon-composite brake rotors, while GT regulations require ferrous (steel) brake discs. And, where the ZR1 utilizes a 6.2L, supercharged V-8, the C6.R will use a naturally aspirated small-block, production-based 5.5L V-8.
The Corvette C6.R race cars' 5.5-liter Chevrolet small-block V8s are developed, built and maintained by GM. The Corvette C6.Rs' LS5.5R is a naturally aspirated race engine, based on the Corvette Z06's 7.0-liter LS7 engine (which in turn was developed with the 7.0L race engine used in the C6.R GT1 cars), built on production cast-aluminum cylinder blocks.
Pending GT2 class regulations specify a maximum displacement of 5.5 liters, the reduction in displacement to meet this requirement was achieved by shortening the crankshaft stroke and reducing the cylinder bore diameter. In accordance with the regulations, the race engines have two 28.8mm diameter intake air restrictors. The LS5.5R engines are equipped with dry-sump oiling systems, CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads with titanium intake and exhaust valves, and sequential electronic port fuel injection. The race engines use E85R ethanol racing fuel in the ALMS and E10 fuel in Le Mans.
Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday
Clearly, Corvette Racing's success in production-based endurance racing has played a significant role in improving the performance of the production Corvette. In addition, as the racing and production cars have become more closely linked, Corvette Racing has also shown a positive impact in Corvette sales.
"Corvette sales tracked directly to customer leads at ALMS races have doubled from 2005 to 2009," says John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet Performance Cars marketing manager. "This proves what we have heard anecdotally from other Corvette owners: Watching production-based Corvettes win against legendary marques like BMW, Porsche and Ferrari, on legendary tracks like Sebring and Le Mans, makes Corvette all the more desirable."
2010 Corvette ZR-1 and Corvette Racing C6.R Specifications
Here's also a pretty interesting video from the Corvette Racing people in preparation for the 2010 Le Mans Series:
One more little tidbit from the C6 Racing guys, an interesting graphic they released showing how Corvette Racing innovations eventually lead to the modern-day ZR1. Click the thumb for a full-size and fascinating image listing all of the design cues the ZR1 has taken from Corvette Racing.
