WindRestrictor Soon to be Available for C5 Corvette
The Extremely Popular WindRestrictor is coming for C5 Corvette Convertibles
King Penn Industries' incredibly popular LED Lighted WindRestrictor which had previously only been available for C6 Corvettes is coming for C5 drivers as well - (1/19/2012)
Every now and then a product comes along that's so innovative and exciting it takes a consumer market by storm, and that's exactly what King Penn's LED lighted WindRestrictor did last year for the C6 Corvette public. Designed to help minimize wind noise when driving with the top down, wind buffers/screens are nothing new for Corvette drivers. A number of different net versions have been sold over the years, but none have offered the good looks and quality of the WindRestrictor.
Manufactured from incredible clear acrylic materials, the Corvette C5 WindRestrictor provides the functionality of other wind screens with little to no decreased visibility. This visibility is a large plus over other models similar to it, but is by no means the only point of interest on this product. In addition to the incredible construction, the WindRestrictor is also a unique, stylish, and gorgeous custom product. It's available with a number of different etching options--for the Corvette, much any GM licensed Corvette emblem you can imagine is available--and has available LED lighting which shines through the clear WindRestrictor plate for a fantastic glow.
Also setting the WindRestrictor apart, visually and in construction quality, is its mounting system. Many other wind screens for the Corvette convertible use sub-par mounting systems that are bulky and unattractive and require removing the wind screen when the top is up, but the developers over at King Penn Industries realized this basic structural flaw in the standard wind screen construction and developed their WindRestrictor to be able to remain in place with the top both up and down.
Thankfully, this product is finally available for the fifth generation Corvette. It has been one of my favorites for the C6 since it's release, and will certainly be very welcome for the C5 Corvette as well. The quality and style are undeniable, and the design is unlike any other! Of course, this hasn't been officially announced by King Penn Industries yet, so until it is the release of the product is little more than "rumor" I acquired by talking to the right person on the right phone call, but you can trust me that it will certainly be happening. I'd expect to see the C5 Convertible Corvette WindRestrictor start hitting dealer websites within 3-4 weeks time.
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block
GM Produces 100-Millionth Small Block Engine
A ZR1 LS9 Engine just produced by Chevrolet was the 100-Millionth manufactured by the company.
In the past 56 years, since Chevrolet began producing small block engines, the bowtie emblazoned automotive company and the small block engine has been synonymous with one another. In that time, every iconic car produced by Chevrolet has been known and linked to their famous small-block engine design in some manner. Most recently, the fifth generation Camaro has become a small block powered icon on both road and track, much like it's LS small block powered big brother, the Corvette.
The sheer number there--100,000,000 for those who like lots of zeroes--really highlights the durability, reputation, and potential of the small block and speaks to the iconic nature of the GM engine. It is fitting then to also consider that the first small block, introduced in 1955, was built for the first generation Corvette and the 100-millionth produced was a hand-crafted work of art LS9 made specifically for the sixth generation Corvette's special edition ZR1--the fastest Corvette ever produced.
Of course, the transition from the first small block to the modern pinnacle LS9 is a long one, filled with numerous exciting and memorable engines. In 1992 Chevrolet first introduced its second-generation Small Block, known as the LT1, in to its Corvette. This engine became an absolute staple on tracks across the globe, and adorned various vehicles from that Corvette, to the F-Body Camaro and Firebird, and the B-Body Impala SS and Caprice Police car. The LT1, which featured a newly developed reverse cooling, is still being used in races all across the globe today.
Following the second generation, Chevrolet then introduced their first LS Engine in 1997. This third generation small block, which was first placed in the C5 Corvette, was an even greater step forward. The LS engines are all-aluminum small blocks, and the first of them, the LS1, was rated a naturally aspirated 350HP and 365 lb ft of torque--numbers that, today, are still incredibly impressive for a naturally aspirated 5.7L engine. The LS engine was then featured, in some form, in numerous different vehicles and even had a more powerful, LS6 version introduced in the C5 Z06 Corvette in 2001. This LS6 featured the same 5.7L displacement as its LS1 brethren, but put out a stomach churning 405HP and 400 lb ft of torque.
Those numbers were fairly mind-shattering for a naturally aspirated engine of the LS6's size and weight, at least, until 2005 when the first of the fourth generation small block was released. In 2005 the Corvette went from its fifth generation vehicle to the now current sixth generation, and with the change in body also came the biggest change: the introduction of the Chevrolet LS2. The LS2 was almost identical to the LS6 engine in performance and displacement, but also featured a much more even Torque curve through-out the RPM range, and had the potential to be modified for incredible gains. It was from this base LS2 that the LS7--the now revered 505HP and 470 lb ft torque monster--was produced and introduced to the 2006 Corvette. Just one year after the update of the small block, this engine seemed to be where everything was building, and the Z06 became the undeniable greatest performance bang for the buck on the globe. Within the year, there were Z06's running against quarter-million dollar European exotics on racetracks all across the globe, and each one came with the distinctive sound and tone that only a Chevrolet small block V8 can deliver through the exhaust.
Of course, Chevrolet wasn't finished there (thankfully, they're dedicated to the production of envelope-pushing performance machines) and we saw such engines as the 430HP LS3 (now outfitting the base-level C6 Corvette and the Chevrolet Camaro SS), the LSA (a 556HP Supercharged monster that can be found in the world's fastest production sedan, the Cadillac CTS-V and will also hit the streets in the body of the new super-Camaro ZL1 this year), and the engine that would be made as number 100,000,000--the LS9.
The LS9 is an absolute marvel worth talking about as well, especially considering that everything before it brought us to this point. The LS9, which can only be found in the top of the line Corvette ZR1, produces an amazing supercharged 6.2L engine based on the LS3 block and putting out a ferocious 638bhp and 604 lb ft of torque. Those numbers, in combination with the Corvette's lightweight body and wide, aggressive stance, have produced a vehicle that runs track times that best it's $250,000+ competitors. Today, the ZR1 is the undeniable greatest bargain on wheels that exists for the performance minded consumer, and, as such, is the only engine fitting to be given the designation as number 100,000,000 of its kind.
Of course, Chevrolet's not stopping at 100,000,000 and the future of the small block engine holds a great deal of excitement. Already, official reports have come out that Chevrolet is updating their engine for the seventh-generation of their Corvette, and we may see the introduction of such features as direct injection and an upgraded combustion chamber design, as well as the improved performance and efficiency numbers to match. GM enthusiasts should expect to see the next small block engine first hit the streets in the C7 Corvette, scheduled for release some time in 2014.
GM Files for “Stingray” Trademark; Convertible Tops Service Bulletin
A couple news stories for today:
The first comes from a watchful eye at a Trademark office who found a filing by GM to Trademark the Stingray moniker. They apparently filed the trademark as being for “Land based vehicles, namely automobiles.” This news would almost ultimately lead one to believe that they're looking to release a Stingray version of, most likely, the C7. Just as the filed for the ZR1 Trademark in 2007, a few years before the ZR1 hit the market, this is most likely indicative of the future release of a Stingray Corvette. Of course, this isn't exactly amazing news, as Chevy has made a Stingray Sideswipe prototype for Transformers 3 and not been shy at all about that vehicle. Hopefully though, we'll get to see the C7 and all of its Stingray glory some time soon.
The Second story is a much less happy one:
Here's a note for all 2008-09 Convertible Corvette drivers: Don't speed. At least, not too much. There have been some complaints about Convertible tops ripping, and even dislodging, at speeds of over 100MPH. This will, of course, mess with your shit if it happens to you. The best way to avoid this is simply don't go over 100MPH, but where's the fun in that? Acknowledging their mistake, GM has released an official service bulletin for all potentially endangered Corvettes. The Service Recall will be active through May 31st, 2011, so now's a good time to go have your Corvette top replaced. There's an excerpt from the official service bulletin below:
GENERAL MOTORS Owners of 2008-9 Chevrolet Corvette convertibles may have trouble keeping a roof over their heads. In T.S.B. 08312A issued on July 1, G.M. said that the top fabric might begin to separate from its retainer bracket near the windshield. At speeds over 100 m.p.h., the roof material could tear from the front all the way to the rear window. A new retainer bracket should keep things together. This repair program runs through May 31, 2011.
Corvette Returns to the UK
Wow! This is great news for GM, its employees, and the Corvette in general. GM has officially announced that they will begin selling the Corvette across the pond again! Starting in May 2011, Chevrolet UK will begin making the Corvette available at select dealers throughout the UK. They're planning on selling all model Corvettes over there, too, which is great news for the hard-working Bowling Green Corvette plant employees. The Corvette has not been offered in the UK since the economic depression began and shrunk their marketing size. The return of the Corvette to the UK, alongside its little brother Camaro, is great news all around.
By offering the Corvette in the UK, Chevy is sure to also raise profits. By removing a product from a landscape, you create a more covetous nature towards it, and there's certain to be a rush (especially for the as yet completely unavailable ZR1 and Grand Sport models).
“These cars won’t be volume sellers, they’ll be brand builders,” Chevrolet UK MD Mark Terry told Autocar. “Camaro and Corvette are both icons and can act as a hook to other cars in our line-up.”
The Corvette will start with a £50,000 price tag and go as high as £110,000 for the monster 638HP ZR1. By also making the Corvette a more exclusive vehicle, and limiting the import numbers to England, Chevy is sure to guarantee greater vehicle interest and higher profit per Corvette sold, as large discounts over MSRP will most likely not be given. This seems like a great sign and a sound business move for GM to help solidify its place in the overseas market once again.
Juan Pablo Montoya Tore Up Some Track in a Corvette ZR1
Read a recent article highlighting a day at Milford Proving Ground (also known as the Lutz-ring) with Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel of a ZR1. All in all, it sounds like an absolute blast, which I'm sure it was. Any time you have a race driver of that ability handling a vehicle with that much potential, the results are certain to be great. There's a lot of posturing on the history of both the GM owned course and the GM produced vehicle that I wont bore you with. Suffice it to say: this track is a tough but fun, 3-mile 17 turn raceway, and the Corvette ZR1 will turn you inside-out with its power and performance. The interesting part of the article, to me, was where we got word from J-PM on what he thought of driving the Corvette ZR1. Bear in mind before reading this that this is coming from a man whose job it is to handle a vehicle at 160 mph and who is well-documented for his love of European supercars. When I say super, I mean super too, like Porsche GT2 and whatever new monster Ferrari is producing. Well, the ZR1 is definitely the American equivalent of those supercars, and the quotes from Juan-Pablo listed in the article certainly highlight that. So, here we go, taken directly from Sam Abuelsamid's article on Examiner.com:
Montoya agreed as he climbed out of the Corvette with an ear-to-ear grin. "This thing is insane. You want to have fun and play around? It doesn't get any better than this."
For a driver like Montoya that is used to driving high-powered cars for a living to be this impressed with a road machine is saying a lot. He later referred back a Ferrari 360 he once owned, calling it "an understeering pig!" Discussing the Corvette "with a lot of European cars they are very precise and they don't really move, but you don't get the excitement of the driving. Yes you're going really fast but this car brings that out a lot more. It's exciting to drive and will get your heart pumping really fast. I do this for a living and I was stressed." Stressed in a good way though.
This writer has driven the ZR1 and other cars at high speeds on a variety of tracks over the years, but riding alongside Montoya in the ZR1 truly was a thrill ride better than anything you'll experience at Cedar Point. He had the ZR1 on its limits, drifting through every corner and fully compressing the suspension through the carousel. Watching a driver of Montoya's caliber working the steering wheel and steering with the throttle was a joy to behold and really put my own ample but clearly much more limited driving skill in perspective. Nonetheless it was a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.
Very Cool!
Mid-Engine Turbocharged V6 C7 ‘Vette Rumors Squashed Mercilessly Under Karl-Friedrich Stracke’s Iron Heel
Ok, so, the headline is a little extreme, but it's Friday and I was trying to be light-hearted about this. Do you remember all of those blasphemous Corvette rumors I wrote about earlier these weeks? They included such things as a mid-engine C7, and a Turbo V6 Corvette. Yeah, Gm realized those rumors were floating around and sent out Karl-Friedrich Stracke to decimate them before they did any damage. According to them the rumors are just that. He says that GM has made no plans to develop a mid-engine Corvette platform, nor are they considering such. He also said that the wet-clutch turbo V6 was some weird dream that some strange blogger somewhere must have dreamed up (I'm paraphrasing him just a little bit there). Interestingly, though, Mr Stracke did take his time to address another rumor that hadn't been flying around the web like mad. When asked if the Corvette would ever be offered in a hybrid drivetrain platform, Stracke was not so quick to dismiss. He is quoted as having said:
“That is an interesting idea... Porsche has announced a full hybridization for their complete lineup. What can they do? They need it”[ to meet CAFE standards, but] "the customer always wants power. That will not go away.”
So, there you have it. Less than a week after hearing of the ridiculous idea that was the mid-engine dual-clutch V6 Turbo Corvette you can get that idea out of your mind. Of course, you can now put the idea of a possibly hybrid Corvette right there in its place. I ask you then, which of these rumors presents the lesser evil? I personally like the Torque that an Electric/hybrid drivetrain can provide, but we have to remember that that is very much not a Corvette. Of all the vehicles on this great planet, none seem to have the classic and undying soul that the Corvette does, and I see no reason to change that.
Behind the Wheel: The C6 Z06 Carbon
Before the ZR1, the true American Bad-Ass was the Z06, and no one could deny that. The Z06 dominated the streets for many years, and even today (with the ZR1) it still wont back down from a fight. Understanding the love and respect that the Z06 has gotten, Chevrolet recently decided to give the Grand Sport's Big Brother a little bit of a tune-up. The Carbon Edition Z06 is a beautiful vehicle that combines the price-tag and engine of the Z06 with many of the ZR1's nicest little touches.
Chevrolet used their Z06 as the base, and what a good base it is to begin from. Starting with a 505 HP 7.0L V8 is always a good place to begin. They then removed the Z06 Wheels, Tires, and Brakes and replaced them with the higher quality and more efficient ZR1 equivalents. Doing this alone, would be reason enough to buy the new Carbon Z06, as the ZR1 wheels and brakes are absolutely fantastic. Of course, Chevrolet didn't stop there. The Carbon Edition gets its name from it's Carbon Fiber body kit. The body kit features a gorgeous Carbon Fiber front splitter, powerful looking Carbon Fiber rocker panels (side skirts), a painted Carbon Fiber raised hood, Black Headlamp Surrounds, Black Mirrors, A ZR1 Style Spoiler, and an optional carbon fiber roof. These pieces not only look fantastic, but they also offer downforce and drag benefits, and lighten the vehicle.
All of these modifications help boost the Z06 Carbon's performance closer to that of the ZR1's. The Z06 Carbon does 0-60 in 3.7 Seconds and tears up a 1/4 Mile of Track in 11.6 seconds at 123.6 MPH. These numbers compare directly to the ZR1's 3.3 0-60 time and 11.2 Second/130.5 MPH 1/4 Mile run. For being 133 Horsepower shy of the ZR1, the Z06 Carbon really holds its own.
Propelling itself forward isn't the Carbon's only specialty, either. The new braking system helps bring the Carbon from 60 to a stop in 93 Feet. This number actually beats the 97 feet stopping time of the ZR1. This can be attributed to the slight weight loss (and much superior weight distribution) provided by the lighter body pieces. This improved distribution and stopping power will also provide the Z06 Carbon driver with a much greater sense of strength when behind the wheel, and they'll need that confidence, because when you punch the accelerator this car goes, and when I say "goes" I really do mean it. I can immediately recall first pressing the accelerator on an open bit of straight road and finding my stomach pushed back against the walls of my Abdominal cavity. If not for the brilliant design features of the human body, I am almost certain the force alone could've pulled my stomach right out the back of me. Of course, I couldn't focus long on this, as the power provided some slipping in the rear end that I had to account for as I rocketed down the road I was on well past the allowed speed limit. What I did was dangerous and stupid (and a lot of fun) so please, never try it.
So, the thing looks great, is a blast to drive, and will re-arrange yours organs on take-off, I suppose you're asking if there's anything wrong with it, then. I have no real complaints, personally. Some people have expressed a distaste for the Z06 interior, but it feels perfect to me. It is not refined, which is a plus so far as I'm concerned. When I have that much raw power beneath my feet, I want an interior that looks nice but not stodgy. I'd rather be hanging out in a clean, cool-looking, sports bar, than a stodgy black-tie requiring piano room of some old debutante's home. Of course, if this were a Debutante's ball, the Corvette Z06 would be the wild man in the leather jacket who spikes the punch and makes sure everyone either lets their wild side go and has an absolute blast (as Porsche's are known to do when in the Corvette's company) or gets scared and walks away (we're looking at you, Mercedes). So, there you have it, the Z06 Carbon. All of the bad-assery of the ZR1 at a Z06 Price Tag, how could you go wrong?
Cool Corvette Commercial and ZR1 Discount
Chevrolet's working on a lot of marketing as of late, and their newest commercial is a great one. Highlighting the fact that NASA no longer has a functioning manned space-craft in their line-up, they play off of that and show that some rockets still exist in the USA. Highlighting the ZR1 is a smart move too, as the Corvette is the definite "halo car" for the Chevrolet line-up. Regardless of its practicality, everybody still dreams about some day owning a Corvette, and it's great to highlight that. The interesting thing about the commercial though is its timing. Chevrolet hasn't advertised the Corvette in a commercial in 5 years time, and with Corvette sales lagging behind averages right now and the C7 model still a few years out, it seems like an odd time, but one can assume that Chevrolet is banking on the undeniable Corvette love factor to take over when viewers are bombarded with the vehicle, and return some respect to Chevrolet as a whole, since all of their vehicles must share, in some manner, genetic material with the Corvette. It seems like a pretty smart move, and it's a great commercial, so I'm all for it.
Beyond that, Chevrolet's also trying to boost Corvette sales by offering discounts on the ZR1 for the first time since it hit markets. As the dealership surplus on the vehicle has risen to almost 500 beautiful works of art sitting without owners, Chevy has decided to offer a rebate on their ultimate performance monster. Hopefully this moves some more ZR1's (and it should, when coupled with the commercial above) and gives Chevy reason to continue making the ZR1 build with the C7 model. All in all, this week has given us a cool commercial, a cool discount, and some hot spy videos/pictures of a cool proto-car for a movie, all by Chevrolet. They're doing something right! Keep it up!
Corvette Stingray Speedster Spotted on Transformers 3 Set
Always making things bigger, brighter, sexier, and more explosive is what Michael Bay does (or intends to do) best. With Transformers 2, so far as its quality of a film is concerned, this was not necessarily a good thing. What it has offered up to us, the viewing public, though, were the more attractive aspects of Meghan Fox, and gorgeous GM vehicles (specifically Bumblebee the Camaro, and Whatshisname the Corvette Stingray Prototype). Seeing these two cars in action, has been worth the price of admission to the films. It looks like, for Transformers 3, us Corvette lovers are in for another treat. The newest GM vehicle added to the Transformers line-up is an update of an old one, that is to say, we now have the Stingray Speedster! How can you improve a car as fantastic looking as the Stingray? Addition by subtraction, my dear friends! And in this case, that addition came by means of subtracting the roof. This convertible Stingray prototype is fantastic looking, and appears to be a blast to drive. Here's to hoping that the rest of the third Transformers film will be up to par with the vehicles it features!
(Side note: No more Meghan Fox, which is sad, but not ultimately terrible. In her place, we now have the equally beautiful Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in her place)
Pictures of the Corvette (and the new Transformers girl) below. Click the thumbs for full-size images:
Corvette Assembly Plant to Remain Open Through Summer
It is standard for GM to shut down various plants during July for maintenance, cleaning, and equipment upgrades. While this is standard though, every year a few plants remain active to keep up with vehicle demands, and this year (for the first time in a few years) the Bowling Green Corvette Plant made that list. This is great news for GM and the Corvette brand, as it shows that while even though a number of Corvettes sit on lots at the moment and sales have dipped in recent years the demand for the Corvette still remains very high. The Grand Sport and ZR1 popularity certainly have something to do with this too. This news is also great for the Bowling Green employees I'm sure, as they've faced cutbacks and lay-offs over the last few years, and I'm fairly certain that the extra work is a welcome sight. So, good for those men and women and good for GM and Corvette, an absolute win-win here!
