MotorWeek Road Test: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

MotorWeek Road Test: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

[@t-jh4236]

Two of the best things the auto industry have going for it. The ZR1 and John Davis' voice. Love these videos.

[@jermaineonealnumber7]

These MotorWeek reviews are pretty cool.

[@mex8729]

Old school legends !! remember being a kid and watching this every week.

[@maxthehulk]

aston martin one-77 : 7.3 l v12 750 hp 560 flb 0-60 mph 3.5 sec top speed 220 mph 1.700.000 $ mercedes benz slr mclaren roadster : 5.4 l v8 617 hp 575 flb 0-60 mph 3.8 sec top speed 207 mph 500.000 $ chevrolet corvette zr1 : 6.2 l v8 638 hp 604 flb 0-60 mph 3.4 sec top speed 205 mph 115.000 $ dodge viper srt10 convertible roadster : 8.4 l v10 600 hp 560 flb 0-60 mph 3.5 sec top speed 202 mph 92.000 $

[@basshead.]

My M275(V12 5.5 twin turbo) engine from 2003 produces more torque than those on your list lol.

[@g00dl00kinb0i]

Only it weighs more then some cars while at it and ends up in heavy high-end vehicles: S, SL, CL, ML and G - everything is way past 2000kg. You'll need all that torque just to try to play with cars listed above.

[@basshead.]

I have a m275 engine in my W210(E-Class).

[@g00dl00kinb0i]

That's the E from late 90s/2000s yes ?

[@mia1shooter]

Motorweek > Inside line

[@Len1977gt]

hell yes

[@mattsee45]

Motorweek > Post-KZbin MotorTrend

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

The writing on this show has been and always will be top notch.

[@jimgunthorpe1681]

I am proud to say that I had the pleasure of being able to test drive one of these beautiful machines once and it left a lifelong impression on me. Not once did I feel that I was not in control of it and my god torque galore

[@kawasakiwhiptwo5821]

Can't wait to see what they have in store for the upcoming ZR1.

[@Ensilvanation]

Shit now imagine if the climate was race perfect..lol The 0-60 time will probably closer to 3 seconds flat, and maybe 11 seconds flat in the 1/4 mile..SICK!!!!! Nothing touching this car. This is my current dream car, second is the Z06

[@adamtrombino106]

Back in 09, a co-worker friend of mine bought a new Z06 in that bronze, with the 6 speed. After putting about 200 miles on it, he took it to work. We ooooed and ahhed over it. He took a couple of us for a ride in it, never hammering it. Then it came back bucking, chuggling, and missing like crazy. It was in misfire limp in mode. He parked it, thinking once it cooled off, that it would regain its composer. It didn't. In fact, it wouldn't start! So, much to his embarrassment, it had to be towed back to Chevy to get 3 coils and all of the spark plugs replaced! After that lil incident, we would tease him that he 'brought his Friday car to work today' meaning the car was built on a Friday..

[@eljefe797]

@@adamtrombino106 is it unreliable?

[@blackice7408]

U still alive?

[@corvetteZ3r]

@@eljefe797 Z06’s in general are unreliable if you don’t fix the heads or keep the oil warm (rods rub each other, happened to me) But I’ve never heard of factory coils having trouble. That’s extremely rare as they are great coils.

[@corvetteZ3r]

@@adamtrombino106 it’s called atomic orange lol

[@mannyfox8089]

Motor week is a national treasure

[@semashow]

Great video. Thanks for posting, keep em coming.

[@gojackets4894]

This is now officially my second favorite Corvette. My first is the one I grew up with, the C3. When I get a two car garage , I hope to get a 2012 Corvette with a stick. These are by far the best sports car for the money. Unlike others, you can beat up on these all day long and they keep coming back for more. Others just cost too much to keep them going . You could buy 5 Corvettes with what other cars cost with their maintenance and endless repair bills.

[@esteemedenergy]

You are very insecure.

[@downsouthherc6638]

Had an 09 in black with the 3zr package. Smile from earlobe to earlobe everytime I fired it up. The most intoxicating car I ever drove.

[@Bmackins94]

if it wasnt for the zr1 cadilliac cts-v woundnt the fastest production sedan thats why i love both of them

[@adamrobledo684]

One of the most beautiful cars ever made

[@MrAtoZ-un3fk]

Let the Whining begin! "Oh its cheap interior!, plastic rear end!, I'd rather have a Ferrari (slower and 100k+) but Id still rather have one." This is a video about the ZR1 and how great it is, if you want to bash it go find a Ferrari video.

[@jimmycline4778]

I would take a blue 09 C6 ZR1 over a C8 any day!

[@andrewe4277]

All day long and twice on Sunday. I own a 2013 Grand Sport 60th Anniversary

[@ThrashCore124]

HOLY DAMN now thats hell of a car

[@sidefx996]

Love how it still shits on plenty of brand new performance cars

[@dylangriffin846]

I’m not a Chevy fanboy at all, I’m much more of a mopar guy. Sheesh this year of the Zr1 is my absolute favorite, would love to own one someday👌

[@knoose]

This is really the only model im really proud of in a way that could stand up to the new age. Wow seriously if you look at all of our designs, like the viper compared to other countries with cars of the same price, its no wonder the companies do not do well in a basic way.

[@justsaynomoregopever8220]

All Vettes are awesome. Just some more than others.

[@nickadkins7765]

Rare color for the ZR1! Atomic orange was only offered in 09 for the ZR1

[@corvetteZ3r]

Wish they had Daytona sunset orange metallic. Favorite color on any C6Z I’ve owned

[@Pube83]

@Allante715 They're non-adjustable and expensive to replace, which is why most track enthusiasts remove them in favor of a coil-over conversion setup ($2k). The fact is, no other high-performance car uses them and one hallmark of the Corvette (compared to other cars) is that it's high-speed handling can be described as "skittish" to "scary".

[@torres3800]

Did he say Michelin "peelot" sport tires??? It's Pilot

[@BladeBarn]

there called peelot because they are so sticky they make your passenger.....

[@Polorigolo35]

Prononciation à la française! Even if the correct french word would have been "Pilote" with a 'e'

[@bretteur2legende]

Yes ! you're right ! and gretchen is my favourite flower !

[@Corvettelloydminster]

Best vette ever

[@josiahthibodeaux]

I’ll second that, I know the c7 zr1 is the newest and hottest vette & all. For me this will always be the greatest Corvette.

[@SChaconJr]

Actions speak much louder than any words ever will "Mr2ya". The ZR1 stands on its own merit--and therefore IS deserving of praise. So much som, that I'd be willing to wager that it has probably out-performed a great deal of the automobiles that you're a fan of yourself. *I empathize*. You must be heartbroken.

[@kgthegreatone943]

Amazing car

[@2008Z0666]

@DangerousD1985 Thanks buddy,commin from you, that means alot.

[@skip741x3]

that sound!

[@itsPikachu]

I love this generation of Corvette including the c7

[@rickdickerson4895]

And years later they have a 1000 horsepower ZR1 900 pound feet of torque

[@swimmerman272]

Red-no Burnt orange-love it, but still feel that the zr1 should only be that silver or blue.

[@maxthehulk]

now i want to ask a question which is faster chevrolet corvette zr1 or mercedes benz slr mclaren

[@kingofquartz]

Automotive racing uses coils because you can quickly and easily change spring rates. You cannot do so with a leaf.. which is why it is used. I ask you again.. please point out how exactly raising the center of gravity and adding more weight is going to have a positive effect on handling. I am not a fanboy.. I own both imports and domestics. I am just trying to inform you as to the advantages of composite leafs over coils.

[@kingofquartz]

Thats odd considering that the leaf is lighter and has less weight that coils. The leaf also has a lower center of gravity and functions as an anti-roll bar which further reduces weight.

[@Greendude33]

Ya 96 feet cold, but carbon ceramic brakes work best when they're hot and ive seen them stop in 85 feet when the brakes were hot.

[@kevinsnell3205]

I love the ZR one but your interior I want it black sorry I’m not crazy about that Two tone

[@kingofquartz]

Again I am going to ask you the same question Mr know it all. How is adding more weight and rasing the center of gravity to do the exact same job going to improve the handling? The leaf does the exact same job as a coil spring.. there is no difference in the job they do. So it makes absolutely no sense to add less expensive coils which will add weight and raise the center of gravity. I believe the corvettes handling is a testiment to the effectiveness of properly designed leafs.

[@TheCarArchives96]

the 2005-present Chevrolet Corvette is assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States

[@maxthehulk]

now my favourite supercars of all time are : 1-mercedes benz slr mclaren roadster 2-dodge viper srt10 convertible roadster 3-chevrolet corvette zr1 4-aston martin one-77 5-mercedes benz sls amg

[@adamrobledo684]

Nice list

[@swimmerman272]

@greendude33 Accidentally marked yoru comment spam, my bad. I'm not gonna say I don't like the red, because we have an 01 convertible in torch red, but I just don't think its the right color for the zr1. I dunno.

[@Bmackins94]

The gtr woundnt stand a chance

[@superfast30]

@Towelman20 It's a great car for the money but I wouldn't go as far as saying its the best!

[@PlutoniusX]

What is so bad about transverse leaf springs anway?

[@siamiam]

great bang for the buck, but if i was in the market to spend $100K i would buy something nicer or buy a base C6 and build it up to be as quick as the ZR1 and also buy a cobalt SS at the same time :P well if i was going to stick with GM :P

[@Pube83]

Sorry, but I and most non-Vette enthusiasts would say the Enzo is. I'm sure the new Ferrari 458 Italia will also pass the ZR1's performance envelope, considering the non-Scuderia F430 rips to 60mph in 3.5sec and trips the quarter in 11.7@120mph w/483hp/343tq/8500rpm/6spd auto clutch man @ 3,150lbs. The 458 Italia is all new, not a rework like the F430 was of the 360 Modena. 458 specs: 3,042 lbs 4.5L V-8 direct injected 560hp/400ib ft, 9000rpm redline, 7spd dual clutch auto manual

[@Greendude33]

Seriously? How old are you kid? The last vette to have what you're thinking of was the c4 vette. The C5 has a transverse leafspring which had no affect on the rear tires at all, it was just there to help with body roll in the turns. The C6 gen no leafsprings whatsover, and the Z06 and ZR1 have the same springs and dampers that you'll find in Ferrari's, Porsche's etc...

[@rudytaneloruxy9491]

Without tackey chrome wheels and a better interior like the c7 this car would be much more appealing. You cant swap interiors but luckily you can put on better looking wheels. The exterior styling is fine and the performance is still on par nearly 10 years later. I actually like the styling better in some ways then the C7. I can not get with the rear end styling / light treatment no matter how hard I try.

[@worldtravel101]

that last sentence..... SAME HERE!!!

[@corvetteZ3r]

These look great with chrome wheels, and the interior is not that bad, it’s a lot more comfortable than the C7. I have a C7Z and C6Z so I’m speaking from experience

[@kingofquartz]

Thats funny considering the vette owns at lemans and pulls higher skidpad/slalom/braking numbers. Ok.. the GTR outhandles it on a wet road. But the rest of the time the ZR1 owns. I think I would pick the car that will win in everything except the rain over the car that will only win in the rain.

[@Greendude33]

The Zr1 looks best in blue, yellow, or red

[@WhuDhat]

I'd still take one of these over a c8

[@kief4diamonds]

i wanna see one race a supercharged ls3.

[@Pube83]

@pens71malkin Are you kidding me? ALL C6 models still use transverse composite leaf springs in conjunction with standard dampers. The magnetic suspension is just the dampers, not the (leaf) springs. GM and it's fanboys can say what they want about how good or non-detrimental leaf springs are, but the fact is no other sports car uses them. GM doesn't use them on the C6R race models and enthusiasts serious about track days buy a coil-over conversion set ($2k) and removes the leaf springs.

[@NarcRider2]

its not the best but one of the best sport cars out there

[@JerkVegas86]

DiabloWS6 It's the best for its dollar amount that's for sure.

[@thegame8791]

Who is watching in Jan 2020?

[@danziger69]

Only car I would sell my current 2009 Z06 for...

[@ph00ny1]

actually you know what sport auto tested euro spec with p zero corsa and only managed 8:09 and frank stippler's laptime has always been he said she said and never confirmed as a full lap. I'm sure if that was a confirmed full lap, audi would have had a feat over GM's claim that cts-v ran the fastest four lap record. Also that's not a pillAr brace. It's a harness bar which was used to mount the racing harness. You don't see a single publication/manufacturer arguing over it do you?

[@Greendude33]

Leafsprings? The Zr1 has a magnetic selective independent rear suspension same as the one you'll find in a Ferrari 599 GTB.

[@g00dl00kinb0i]

C6 and C7 uses leaf springs with Mag shocks, it's a well known fact. The only reason why the 599 GTO shares Mag-ride is the fact Adelphi licensed it to other brands after GM's sole use, Ford uses it as well and the 1st Ferrari to use it was the 2009 458 Italia, which shared suspension with the 2nd-gen Cadillac CTS-V ! The 2020 C8 is the 1st one to use full coil-over springs and electromagnetic particles.

[@Pube83]

@19thaman79 READ some reviews. The Z06 is skittish compared to F430's, Gallardo's and even the Ford GT. It has to do with the shit suspension and having a super high performance street car with a front mounted engine.

[@maxthehulk]

i want a challenge between : chevrolet corvette zr1 6.2 l v8 638 hp 604 flb dodge viper srt10 roadster 8.4 l v10 600 hp 560 flb mercedes benz slr mclaren roadster 5.4 l v8 617 hp 575 flb

[@hellon45]

@MY700WHPK20 in 2009/2010 they made 1600, and sould 1600...

[@2008Z0666]

@DangerousD1985 Really? I guess mine is 1 of a kind then.

[@Greendude33]

Love the ZR1 but im not feeling that color.

[@kingofquartz]

Acceleration times.. GTR 0-100 km 3.5 seconds 0-160 km 7.8 seconds 0-200 km 12.4 seconds 0-300 km 53.3 seconds ZR1 0-100 km 3.4 seconds 0-160 km 6.9 seconds 0-200 km 10.3 seconds 0-300 km 32.6 seconds And that is a MASSIVE difference.

[@Kaiser187]

Best Vette ever built IMO and I don't really care for Chevy.

[@INSANEFREAK1]

it just have leafsprings u can even look it up

[@kingofquartz]

Hummm.. last I checked the small block V8 in the corvette was designed for the corvette not trucks and it is anything but big. You can say what you like. Thats your opinion but Jeremy Clarksons says the following "anyone who says the ZR1 is not sophisticated is an idiot". That is a direct quote. Gm made a car that can be both civil under normal driving conditions and dominant at the limit. Fact remains that there isnt a single stock japanese import than can touch it.

[@ph00ny1]

are you serious? That RS4 driven by Frank Stippler was ran with P Zero Corsa. Just in case you don't know what that is, it's a competition tire that is DOT legal. As for 30MPG, if you can't get 30MPG out of a lightweight, aerodynamic car with ridiculously tall overdrive 6th gear then you shouldn't be driving you should also google for z06 and marathon and let me know what you get as a result

[@kingofquartz]

No.. it doesnt run nearly the exact same times. Over the course of a race the GTR would effectively be lapped by the ZR1. It takes the GTR 25 seconds longer to accelerate to 186mph than the ZR1.. and thats a hell of a long time.

[@kingofquartz]

Its funny that you dont know the difference between truck springs (two steel parallel leaf son soild rear axle) and the corvette spring (single transverse composite leaf attached to A-Arms). The C5-R uses coils because you can easily change spring rates with coils.. and this cannot be done with the leaf. Oddly enough you fail to point out how exactly raising the center of gravity and adding weight is going to have a positive effect on handling.

[@ph00ny1]

also M5 ran 7:52 with corsas and never said anything about panamera

[@kingrandor7272]

Love this car but i thought 0to60 was 3.3 seconds

[@hmackprotection1]

Who care about 0-60 in a 640hp rear drive car? It’s about 0 to 100 in the C7ZR1

[@sublimekid247]

haha mr2 makes me laugh I read just about all his comments all I have to say is look up the side by side video of the zr1 beating the gtr at the ring. 2 I have a 83 mazda rx7 with "leaf" springs right from the factory that can out handle most cars out now leafs are great and as far as drag racing goes cant be beat. there is even a side by side of the zr1 and the enzo the zr1 actually was a better less scary ride then the 1mill car. if GM is such garbage wait till a DOHC LS motor comes out.

[@kingofquartz]

I brought up imports because there isnt a single production import than can run with the ZR1. Thats why I brought it up.. if they are so great and the vette is "3rd world garbage" then why in the hell cant any of the imports hold a candle to it? Imports do certain things well. Every compact/midsized pickup I ever owned has been a nissan.. because they build the best in that class. Passenger cars.. imports pretty much rule there as well so long as you exclude crappy brands like mitsubishi.

[@nmunmnm]

Crazy that they called the tired “Michelin Pilos” maybe they assumed that’s how you say pilot in French?

[@MaxwellReviresco]

by some things else soon. I mean that's how it always is. Each car lover gets to talk crap for a yr untill another car company finds an answer for getting beat. Z06, beats Porsche,lambo,viper &more. Then out comes the new 08 viper w/600hp,& 09 Porsche 09 GT2, the handful of lambos superleggera etc, GTR. Then ZR1 & the cycle repeats lol. Fact is I love all true supercars ZR1,Porsche,Lambo,Ferrari & etc r all just going 2 trade hands each yr so get ur licks in b4 the other company rebuttals lol.

[@INSANEFREAK1]

go watch the review on top gear bout the zr1

[@alexcorona]

John Force isnt gonna bat an eyelash at a low 11 second car...

[@Towelman20]

The zr1 is the best sports car in the world.

[@joehlbrk]

What ever this thing has it works!!!!!!faster than the enzo on this track, shut the hell up about the leaf springs,This thing is insane!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ph00ny1]

lolwut? CTS-V is slower than RS4 how? many owners support the 20+MPG. In fact it's closer to 30MPG on non-zr1 model. Bias goes both ways. Let me know what you think is better because 10k+ spent on GTR barely keeps up with a stock ZR1 from a roll Cobalt SS is definitely garbage. Dull interior and not quite up to par driver's feedback but it is pretty damn fast

[@Bmackins94]

60-0 96 feet

[@jamesbond9873]

Funny if they only knew about the c7!

[@zachattack2016]

That car is worth money being atomic orange

[@kingofquartz]

I dont know.. MR2's are pretty ricey lol. Who doesnt like to bash ricers?? I would love to build a ground up sports car using transverse composite leafs but there is no way in hell I could ever afford to have the leafs designed and manufactured. Thats why so many people use coils.. they are generic.. you can take just about any set of coils and stick them on whatever you want so long as they are the right spring rate.

[@kingrandor7272]

And just think there going for under 60 now

[@hank1556]

I thought this was a retro review

[@MaxwellReviresco]

Yes really. Cobalt SS is faster than any of it it's class mates. Not to mention around a track. C&D's 2008 lighting lap at Virginia International Raceway the Cobalt SS beat Lexus IS-F, BMW135i, Lotus Elise SC, Volkswagen R32, Honda Civic Si Mugen & a hoast of others, & did it cheaper..wait kinda of like the ZR1 does! :-o So u are way off about that one man. Plus they can run sub 14.0 with the right conditions, & there are parts so who cares if there is 80 after market tuners or not.

[@ph00ny1]

let me know when AUDI puts them on their RS4 as a stock tire

[@default919]

the zr-1 makes zo6 look like a bitch and zo6 is a beast

[@maxthehulk]

mercedes benz slr mclaren roadster is 5.4 l v8 617 hp 575 flb chevrolet corvette zr1 is 6.2 l v8 638 hp 604 flb and corvette zr1 is lighter than mercedes benz slr mclaren but mercedes benz slr mclaren is faster so why

[@bandombeviews6035]

Gearing. The ZR1 is geared for acceleration, slr is for speed

[@GOBbluthagain]

he pronounces wheels funny.... i bet he would pronounce cool whip .. like stewie griffin does..

[@justsaynomoregopever8220]

He's right 😂

[@Pube83]

@19thaman79 Get real jaggoff, magazines and shows like motorweek test cars as a normal person would. GM's PR wankers always tell them to POWERSHIFT (ie. shift without lifting the throttle) the Corvette to get the best time, but of course this tears the transmission up and no normal person is going to do that to their $50k+ car, so most testers don't do that.

[@INSANEFREAK1]

thats not my point he even says it has leafsprings

[@kingofquartz]

Guess that is why he bought one???

[@dchange7277]

I would take this corvette over the mid engine corvette

[@kingofquartz]

But domestics have their place as well. And as far as american supercars are concerned the ZR1 is king of the hill for the time being. Is it built like a million dollar enzo.. well hell no it isnt and thats why it is 7 times cheaper than the enzo. Yet it has better real world driveability and and nip the enzos heals around a track.. all for 7 times less money. So who gives a crap if the bumpers are made of urethane and the floorboard is carbon over balsa.

[@kingofquartz]

With the same driver behind the wheel at the las vegas motor speedway road course the GTR posted a 58.1 and the ZR1 posted a 56.9 Streets of willow GTR 1:25.09 ZR1 1:23.87 So yes.. it is faster.

[@Towelman20]

for th money the zr1 is i mean th zr1 is only 105k the enzo is over 1 million the zr1 is just as fast as an enzo and the zr1 will rape the 458 and 430 with out any struggle and the zr1 is a pretty amazing acomplishment i mean 10 years ago the idea of a vette keeping up with a top end ferrari was laughble but know look whats hapening and the enzo is impractble the zr1 is practible and it comfortable and quite and rides smoothly and on another topic porsche 911 turbos will always rape v8 ferrari s