Chevy Teases Two Corvette Concepts Ahead of 2011 SEMA Show

If anything, General Motors' Chevrolet brand will have one of the most comprehensive displays at this year's edition of the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.

We've already given you a sample of the tuned Sonic hatchbacks, Cruze sedans and Camaro Coupe and Convertible concepts that are heading down to the strip, and now it's time to show you a pair of Corvette concept cars.

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Callaway Unveils The 2008 C6 and C16

Callaway Cars is an official tuner of the Corvette and just a few days ago they made available two upgrade-packages, one for the C6 and the other for the C16 Coupe and Cabrio.
For $18,500, customers can boost C6’s power up to 580 HP over the initial features of the 430 HP 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine. This super-engine produces 510 lb-ft torque and it boosts the car to a maximum speed of over 200mph. Buyers can opt for upgrades of the brakes, suspension, tires and wheels.

The new C16 is available in three versions, Coupe, Cabrio or Speedster. The upgrade of the C16 consists of a HP boost up to 650 and a 585 lb-ft of torque, a German-leather interior and high-performance chassis among others. According to Callaway, the C16 reaches a maximum speed of 210mph and 0 to 60mph in 3.3 seconds. The C16 Coupe costs $150,000 meanwhile the C16 Cabrio costs $158,000.

Corvette C7 Delayed Because of CAFE regs

Due to CAFE regulations some cars were put on hold until new instructions. According to Motor Trend, the latest car delayed is the new model of C7 Corvette. Also, GM waits for the CAFE changes to begin the production of the Impala, but until then they might consider a new approach of the C7 to be compatible with EPA regulations. Maybe Corvette should focus to the idea of a more efficient car, lighter and they should bring in the idea of a less-powerful engine. Currently we do not have so much details but we are waiting for an official press release.

$1,000,000 For Corvette ZR1 at Barret-Jackson Auction

You have to know this. The first Corvette ZR1 car has been sold for $1,000,000. For the two-seated car, it was a fierce battle between Jay Leno and Dave Ressler, but in the end the winner was Dave. We remind you that the super-car costs around $99,000, so 1 million bucks may be a little too much. The car features a 6.2 V8 supercharged engine which produces around 620HP. I think we all agree that this is a powerful car and it has an attractive design, but are very happy that a part of the money will go to charity.

Detroit Auto Show 2008: Corvette ZR1

General Motors unveiled a supercar at Detroit, it’s the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette 2009. This car is a monster, the sound of the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine makes your heart to beat faster and faster. The design cannot be confused, is impressive that they managed to keep the old looks but they brought new and cool features. Yeah, we refer at the carbon fiber splitter, the roof and the side skirts. The carbon-ceramic disc brakes also drawn everybody’s attention. We have to mention that this car has a number of 620 HP. What more can you say? Oh, the price for this supercar is $100,000.

Revealed: 200mph plus Corvette ZR1

The internet and American car fans have been speculating about this thing for months. But it's finally real. It's finally here. This is the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Why the big fuss? Because previous top-dog Corvette, the Z06, proved that American muscle doesn't have mean you can't go round corners. The Z06 has an immense level of attention to detail, built more in common with the racing version than the regular 'road car - down its carbon fibre and balsa wood floor. And it produces 505bhp from a 7.0-litre 'smallblock' V8. This car, finally officially unveiled as the new ZR1 - as opposed to 'Blue Devil', or even 'Stingray', the other names touted in rumours - is like the Z06 after it has spent months pumping iron.

At least 100bhp per litre
You can see the results in the pictures. The ZR1 is wider, lower, harder. It doesn't just look mean, it even has a skull moulded into the under-bonnet air intake. His name is Jake, incidentally, and he's making a guest appearance away from his usual gig as the racing team's logo; General Motors knows how to please its target audience - and it is not messing around. The new 6.2-litre V8 engine is hand assembled at GM's Performance Build Center using techniques more commonly associated with competition vehicles. But most important of all, it has also been fitted with a supercharger.

The sixth-generation Eaton unit, is a Roots-type positive-displacement design, said to help boost torque and power right from tickover to the 6,600rpm redline. The complete engine has been branded the 'Supercharged LS9' - almost literally, as you can see that script through the polycarbonate bonnet window as well. There is no officially confirmed power output yet (GM may even be waiting to see what the competition comes up with in response before finalising the figure). But do the sums and it is clear that the ZR1 will be pushing out at least 620bhp when it goes on sale, and perhaps even 680bhp.

200mph plus
Whatever the final power output, the ZR1 is certain to become the first production Corvette to top 200mph; despite a new close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox. Weighing only 1,519kg also means a better power-to-weight ratio than the mighty Porsche 911 GT2. Torque is expected to be around 595lb/ft, while 0-60mph will be in 'the low threes'. The alloys are 19s at the front, 20s at the back - big enough to accommodate huge 15.5-inch front and 15-inch rear carbon-ceramic brake discs. Together with enlarged brake callipers, these should provide astounding amounts of stopping power. Comforting, given the claimed 1g cornering grip generated by the track-biased magnetic adjustable suspension.

No word on pricing yet, but the ZR1 is likely to be ridiculously cheap for its performance - remember the Z06 costs just £63k which is only a few thousand more than a base 911 so expect the top dog to undercut the GT3 RS. Still, keeping the cost down means us Limeys will be able to keep on complaining about shoddy interior quality. Even while this latest Yank upstart runs circles around much, much more expensive European machinery. We really do expect it to be that good.

2008 Corvette Review

Automakers hasvedone wonders with the brand new 2008 Corvette including many changes that will amaze you and keep you wanting more. Along with the great look of the vehicle you can’t help but love the amazing speed that the vehicle can reach. Speeds that allow it to out race some of the top supercars like the Audi R8 and the Porsche 911 Turbo.

The changes involve everything from an all-new, larger and more powerfulV-8 engine to refinements in driving characteristics that solidify theCorvette’s position as the preeminent American sports car, and further the argument that it is one of the world’s best. There are also a host of exterior and interior refinements that raise the Corvette’s luxurystatus and enhance the feeling of craftsmanship.

“Corvette is an uncompromising sports car that rewards its owners withimpeccable performance and great comfort,” said Ed Peper, Chevroletgeneral manager. “The changes and enhancements to the 2008 Corvettereflect continual improvements that speak to Chevrolet’s unflaggingcommitment to building the best sports car, and with nearly 55 years ofexperience, the Corvette just keeps getting better and better.”

The 2008 V8’s displacement is bumped from 6.0 liters to 6.2 thanks to an increase in cylinder bore from 101.6mm to 103.3mm. This 6,162cc V8 also gets new cylinder heads derived from those for the 7.0-liter LS7 V8 featured in the 500-horsepower Corvette Z06, with low-restriction, large-capacity intake ports plus lightweight, hollow-stemmed intake valves that are about 9 percent larger.

Once you add a strengthened block, a new high-lift camshaft, a revised valve train and LS7-style fuel injectors plus a new intake manifold, the bottom line is 430 hp at 5,900 rpm, some 30 hp more than before. Torque output is 424 pound-feet at 4,600 rpm.

The six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission on Coupe and Convertible is improved with new hardware and a new controller calibration that deliver quicker shifts. This change bolsters thefeeling of performance and driver control when using the shifting paddles.

Most of the visual updates for the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette lie in the cockpit. There’s a metal sill plate to greet you as you open the door, then some new brightwork on the center stack and the center console. Most important, there’s a new, optional two-tone leather trim package that finally drags the Corvette’s interior out of the 1980s at long last. “We kept hearing complaints that the styling of the Corvette’s interior wasn’t on par with the exterior,” says Tom Wallace, the Corvette’s chief engineer, “and I think we’ve addressed that.”

The price for the new 2008 Corvette hasn’t officially been released yet, but the increase is said to be a modest one. At the moment the current price is $44,250. There will be at least a $1,000 increase is not more. You can expect to see these new vehicles by August of 2008.