German Car Forum

Here are millions of dollars of development and thousands of hours of work laid bare for us to ogle. This Corvette caught by Fast-Autos.net forum member, Chikara83, definitely has some trick bits on it and apparently it's the real deal. There's a liquid/liquid intercooler perched atop the V8, and where the alternator used to be sits a supercharger. We can't tell what type of huffer it is, though -- positive displacement Roots-type or centrifugal.

The hood and front quarters are wearing camouflage to cover changes in those panels. The low-pressure area behind the front wheels makes the perfect location for extractors, which are likely fed by the high pressure area at the base of the windshield. Together they provide a good path through the engine bay for extra cooling air. That's a nice, tidy explanation for why the camo is where it is, too, so we're going with it. There's also a vent in the leading edge of the rear quarter panel, which we presume is for rear brake cooling. The burning question that everyone wants to know has finally been answered: the interior (of the mule, at least) is still kinda cheap. We are gonna be so embarassed if this is Winding Road messing with us again.

Many thanks to tipster Chris.





http://www.thegmsource.com/index.php..._articleid=245

Current Z06 is brutal in every possible way, can only imagine what'll this one bring...

This is sick!!

Shipping company employee (POSSIBLY) carted off to jail for Corvette SS pics

We've just learned that EMO TRANS, the shipping company that was hired by General Motors to transport a Corvette SS mule to Germany for testing on the Nurburgring, has fired the employee who took pictures of the vehicle and posted them on the internet. In addition, the unnamed employee has been taken to jail, though we don't know what charges have been filed against him. For our part, we've removed the pics from Autoblog for fear of GM's wrath. The automaker has been reportedly approaching various sites all day requesting the images be removed, so rather than waiting for the phone to ring we've gone ahead and taken them down.

This clearly illustrates how seriously GM is taking the development of the Corvette SS, as well as how utterly embarrased and apologetic EMO TRANS must be for the actions of its employee. It's all fun and games on our side of the fence because we got to see some real, informative shots of this very special Vette, but it reminds us that there's a lot of money on the line. We're sure that GM didn't appreciate pics of this powerplant were available for every other automaker to peruse. Lesson learned, though harder for some than others.

We'll keep you updates as more concrete and verifiable info becomes available.

UPDATE: Josh over at The GM Source is reporting that the SShutterbug in question has not been placed under arrest, nor is he in police custody. GM has filed a civil complaint with the Romulus PD, and the matter remains under investigation. Whether or not the individual in question will be charged with a crime depends on the outcome of said investigation. Stay tuned. Full report here.

Osna, you should report here first!!!

Hilarious. He even took a picture sitting in the car, IDIOT!

I have a friend that lives in Romulus, but he doesn't work for EMO TRANS, thank goodness.

M

Motor Authority is reporting that General Motors' VP of Global Product Develpment, Jim Queen, revealed in an interview with Motor Trend that the next-generation C7 Corvette will produce up to 700 naturally-aspirated horsepower in its top trim. We haven't been able to find the interview on Motor Trend's website or in the current March issue of the magazine, and the April issue has yet to arrive in either digital or dead tree form, so we can't corroborate the information at the moment.

The news of a 700 horsepower Corvette certainly isn't shocking at this point, considering the 2008 Dodge Viper will be packing at least 600 horspower by the time the C7 arrives, if not more, and GM product czar Bob Lutz told reporters at the Chicago Auto Show that a 600-horsepower Corvette would arrive by summer of 2009. He was most likely referring to the C6-based Corvette SS that's been making news on the internet lately. That car appears to be a supercharged version of the current Vette's motor, so it's interesting that they're going for 700 horsepower in the C7 without the use of forced induction.

Queen also confirmed that rumors about an all-wheel drive Corvette are false and that the iconic sports car, along with the Cadillac XLR, would remain on their own unique platform.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Is this the same??!!

2009 Chevrolet Corvette SS engine revealed



http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightlin...hotopanel..1.*

or this

http://germancarforum.com/showthread.php?t=11371

No the 2009 Corvette SS is still a C6 based car. The C7 is the next model. Kinda of like E46 3er vs E90 3er. Also the car you reference is super charged while the one mentioned in the original post is naturally aspirated.

If there is one car GM really does try harder with it is the Corvette. 700hp naturally aspirated hp is going to be off the charts for a Corvette! Such a car would likely be the replacement for today's 500hp Z06 model or a replacement for the upcoming SS model. I expect the base Vette to be around 500hp by then, right where today's Z06 is. Exciting stuff.

M

As much as I like the C6 Z06, that thing has got some real drivability issues, and w/ another 100hp I don't imagine it to get any better. For straight line performance it will be a boon, but any more than that, forget it.

700hp will contribute to an impressive top speed but to be honest all the power is pointless if the car can't push all of it to the wheels. It doesn't have the grip and aerodynamics of a 997TT or a Zonda which means that increase in power won't make it much of a better car.

Power is nothing without control.

You're exactly right. Unfortunately it seems to me that the Americans have had many many opportunities to raise the standard but have failed to do so. From interior trim to chassis dynamics, the Vette has always been a cut below but on the edge of greatness only for value. That's the only reason Americans even bother buying Vette's, besides the fact that it's American.

They put power at the top of their list rather than making handling and driving dynamics number one priority. If the Vette ends up getting that power upgrade, GM better put a big as wing and larger diffuser under the car(+ awd maybe), or else rednecks will end up sliding of the road and crashing into their 66 Chevy trucks.

I think GM builds cars according to where they'll sell the most. Now the Vette isn't a volume car, but you almost always know who is going to buy it; pocket rich, American- NASCAR junkie, who's hell bent on contributing to his countries GDP and not some foreign countries. They know there's better cars out there but none of them wear the "made in America" stamp. GM plays off of this and also the fact of what the Vette use to be and is, an icon. So there's a mystique that alludes most people about the Vette. Corporate penny pinchers are big at GM which also means the future won't get any better. What the Vette needs as the class shows is more R&D (which is spread thin as it is already @ GM) to make it a true "world class performer", until GM gets that it's going to continue to be a half assed piece of work w/ the ability to spin it's rear tires into eternity.

Boy you guys are really down on the Corvette, I almost feel the need to defend it being an American an all!

M

I almost did, but then again, doing so is pretty much futile in regards to a lot of the posters on here. I tried defending when they were talking about the new Hemi crate, but frankly, they just don't care enough to accept anything you say.

after my short testdrive and also being a passenger while racing other exotics, of course you being affected by the mighty Z06. Its one hell of a car, just ask my buddy Congaman if you still dont believe me .

Yeah, we couldn't come up with anything better to call it either (feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments below and we'll potentially use the best one). It looks like our breathless buddy Josh Oliver breathlessly procured a copy of the police report in -- whatever we're calling this thing. So what can we glean from the document? Well, the car was on the loading dock at Central States Trucking Company and it's a

"2007 Chevrolet Corvette prototype, red in color, no vin. no license plate. Vehicle was shipped to Germany on 02-20-2007. The vehicle is valued at one million dollars."

In addition, we've also learned

"at this time it appears that [REDACTED] will be fired from his job and possible civil action will be taken."

Oopsie. Check out the rest over on Josh's breathless General Motorgasm of a site via the link below. Also, feel free to check back through our gallery demonstrating ways to get caught taking pictures of a million dollar Corvette SS prototype on it's way to Germany. – Ray Wert

TheGMSource Has Obtained The Police Report Filed In Romulus, Michigan [TheGMSource.com]

Ohhh, as I own a Z06 and has driven it on race tracks like the Nurburg ring I'd love to know what "drivability issues" you are talking about.....I'm realy interested as I didn't notice them myself!

It's a historical fact due to the Vette's blueprint (low center of gravity, big engine pushed all the way back into the cabin, and wide rear wheels to transmit all that power and toque) there's more attention that has to be paid when pushing the car @ full tilt, otherwise you'll be fish tailing-dough nuts into oblivion, because the rear wheels are so easy to spin. So compared to most other sports cars that have more balanced engineering, the Vette is very much the compromised sports car. Hope that clears things up for you.

Ok. I now know what you mean....but I'd have to say that I don't agree. What you say is probably true for older Corvettes but not for the C6 Z06. I have done all forms of driving an racing the the Z06 and it was always firm, reliable and very fast.....sure if you give it full gas from a standstill the rear tires will break loose...no suprise there....don't know if you have driven the Z06....if not.....you should try it out and perhaps that would change your opinion....if you are an open minded car enthusiast that is.....

Of course I am. My grandpa had a C3 Stingray back in the day, the car was an absolute hoot to ride in, especially w/ him behind the wheel.

Yu have a cool grandpa!! And the C3 is classic and nice american muscle car but could not be compared to the C6 Z06. Send me a PM if you ever are coming to Sweden and I'll take you for a ride....perhaps you wil change your opinion, perhaps not.

Lutz Says Corvette SS Project Safe, in Final Tuning Stage


Apparently GM's "pause button" on gas-swilling, rear-drive pavement ionizers doesn't include the "Blue Devil" Corvette SS (or whatever). Vice-grip chair, Bob Lutz says that project was too late to stop. As you'll recall, an EPA proposal to increase CAFE fuel economy requirements, Lutz said earlier this week, caused GM to press the big, red stop button on its plans for cars to be built on its new global rear-drive platform. Those would be the Pontiac G8, next-gen Chevy Impala and ultra-luxe Cadillac. Lutz had said the new Camaro, which is built on the same platform, was also too late to stop. As far as the new 'Vette's engine is concerned, Lutz would only say it will be "comfortably in excess of 600 ." That's horsepower. What a little devil. – Mike Spinelli

2009 Corvette Blue Devil confirmed and in final tuning phase - Daily Auto Insider [Car and Driver]