“The ZR1’s over-caffeinated heart is a progression of the Z06’s LT4 powertrain. A significantly larger supercharger port and direct fuel injection, and internal tweaks give birth to the ZR1’s LT5 V8.” –Digital Trends
Engine and Transmission
Under the hood lies the over-caffeinated motor of the ZR1 that produces an outrageous 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque, making it the fastest production Corvette ever. With its mind-boggling engine stats, this car has enough oomph to make any car think again of going on track against this beast. As soon as the engine is turned on, the hidden beast gets ready to unleash its wrath upon the tarmac and lay waste to its rivals out there. The burbling sound from the exhaust feels even more refined and full of bass than the LT4 Corvettes.
Like its coupe variant, this car is a crowd magnet but on a larger scale due to its top-down feature. When taken to a track, this car acts like an angry monster every time you throttle it up. The 7-speed manual transmission comes with active rev-matching, so you are never too overwhelmed when downshifting. There is plenty of power available at all ranges.
Models
|
Corvette ZR1 1ZR Convertible
|
Jaguar F-type SVR Convertible
|
Mercedes Benz AMG GT C Roadster
|
McLaren 720S Spider |
MSRP
|
$126,495
|
$125,850
|
$158,850
|
$327,130 |
Engine
|
6.2L LT5 Supercharged V8
|
5.0L Supercharged V8
|
4.0L AMG V8 Bi-Turbo
|
4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 |
Transmission
|
7-speed Manual with Activ Rev-Matching
|
8-speed ZF Automatic
|
7-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
|
7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic |
Horsepower
|
755
|
575
|
550
|
710 |
Torque (lb-ft)
|
715
|
516
|
502
|
568 |
The McLaren 720S is what comes closest to matching the immensely powerful V8 of the Vette. Even though it costs nearly three times as much, it still falls short of matching the power figures offered by the Corvette ZR1. Both the Merc and McLaren feel smoother with their dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The manual surely offers a hands-on approach but is not as slick when shifting gears.
Acceleration
The massive power output of the Corvette ZR1 is put to good use. The new Vette is a throttle happy car and gets the rider to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. The gas pedal feels natural and has a great response that enables it to spit power even with the slightest push. Though it has some wheel spin when the pedal is mashed in, it manages to make up for this with ease. The acceleration is breathtaking, keeping you in awe of the supremely powerful engine. Before you can gather your senses, you are already on the way to 100 mph.
Models
|
Corvette ZR1 1ZR convertible
|
Jaguar F-type SVR Convertible
|
Mercedes Benz AMG GT C Roadster
|
McLaren 720S Spider |
0-60 MPH (sec)
|
2.85
|
3.5
|
3.6
|
2.9 |
Quarter mile (sec)
|
10.6
|
12.0
|
11.4
|
10.4 |
Engine
|
6.2L LT5 Supercharged V8
|
5.0L Supercharged V8
|
4.0L AMG V8 Bi-Turbo
|
4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 |
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)
|
11.8
|
11.36
|
12.84
|
9.50 |
It is unsurprising that a supercar like McLaren 720S wins over the Corvette ZR1 in a drag race. What's surprising is that it doesn't win by much. The split second of difference can be easily overlooked once you consider the price gap of both the vehicles. No vehicle that costs below the $300,000 can hope to match the ZR1 n terms of speed, as the numbers for the Merc and Jag clearly show.
Braking
The new ZR1 comes fitted with Brembo Brakes as standard that offers exceptional braking performance. The Brake pedal is well-tuned, feels natural to use, and is quite easy to modulate. While decelerating, the brakes work really well, no matter if you are stopping from 50 mph or 100 mph. There is never a moment when the the Corvette's thrust becomes uncontrollable.
Models
|
Corvette ZR1 1ZR convertible
|
Jaguar F-type SVR Convertible
|
Mercedes Benz AMG GT C Roadster
|
McLaren 720S Spider
|
Front Brake (in)
|
15.5
|
15
|
15.4
|
15.3 |
Rear Brake (in)
|
15.3
|
14.8
|
14.2
|
15.0 |
Curb Weight (lbs)
|
3642
|
3729
|
3660
|
3247 |
70-0 MPH (ft)
|
134
|
150
|
151
|
132 |
Yet again, it is the McLaren 720S that comes closest to the Corvette ZR1. There is only a minor difference between the 720S and ZR1. The Corvette's massive brakes and lightweight body gives it an advantage that other performance convertibles simply cannot compete with.
Ride and Handling
As soon as the steering wheel is taken into the hands, the rider feels quite confident because of its firmness and control. The car is quite responsive at corners and translates the feedback from the ride really well. Like its younger sibling, the Z06, the ZR1 has a well-balanced steering column and comes with 3 driving modes to give the rider a unique driving experience in each mode.
Kudos to the well-balanced chassis, steering wheel, and suspension system, the car has great road manners. The suspension system feels stiff but the magnetic ride control does a good job in making the ride smooth by filtering out harsh parts of the road. The car stays glued to the tarmac while cornering. The negligible body roll makes the ride even better. The engine noise is the only noise that fills the cabin, even at highway speeds. It is a good thing since that 755-hp behemoth sounds better than any rock n' roll song.