As if there weren’t enough superlatives surrounding the 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1, we learn General Motors undersold the grunt of its most expensive and most powerful production Corvette ever.
We were already enthralled as we dreamed of an estimated 620 hp at 6500 rpm and 600 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm from its supercharged LS9 6.2-liter V-8. Not so fast, says GM to anyone wed to those impressive figures—it’s actually more powerful!
Having completed SAE certification for the first factory-built Vette with forced induction, the true numbers are a dizzying 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. Do the math and that’s nearly 103 horses per liter, or just about 1.7 hp for each of the engine’s 376 cubic inches. Well worth the expected hundred grand price tag (or about $110,000 for the loaded 4LZ trim level).
GM says it has not completed its fuel economy testing, but engineers assure us it will be “the most fuel-efficient 600-plus-horsepower car on the market.” We actually thought it was illegal to put the words ‘fuel efficient’ and ‘600 horsepower’ in the same sentence—and given that enthusiasts likely will be willing to maim one another for one of only 2000 ZR1s (all with handmade engines) to be built a year, we suggest anyone who asks about mpg be immediately disqualified from ownership.
