The much-anticipated 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is big news for fans of the Corvette, Chevy’s legendary flagship sportscar. TheCarConnection.com has driven the ZR1 on the road and track and finds it a truly impressive sports car–no reservations, no qualifications.
Genuine excitement (whether or not you see it through the hood) comes in varying degrees from every 2009 Chevrolet Corvette powertrain. The base 430-horsepower 6.2-liter LS3 V-8 Vette coupe tops out at 190 mph and can run from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (manual six-speed) or 4.3 ticks (automatic six-speed).
Stepping up to the Z06 model with the larger 7.0-liter LS7 V-8, top speed goes up and 0-60-mph times drop: 198 mph and 3.7 seconds. Because of the mammoth, accessible torque from either engine, the 2009 Chevy Corvette is enjoyable to drive with the optional automatic but definitely at its best with the manual, even though the shift action tends to be overly deliberate and notchy.
