GM Works To Make Corvette ZR1 Light-Weight
Tadge Juechter – the chief engineer for the Corvette ZR1 – was able to answer a few questions about the supercar that Chevy is creating during an interview with GMNext. GM is bragging to consumers that this new supercar would be one of the most fuel efficient cars on the market today. Skeptical?
However, Juechter stated that GM has not yet run the fuel economy test on the car and he stated that the ZR1, “will be somewhat less [fuel-efficient] than a Z06,” which has been rated at 15/24 by the EPA, “and we expect a small gas-guzzler tax [on the ZR1].” Only 2,000 units will be put into production each year. Pricing has not yet been released.
Unfortunately the ZR1 accessories will not be available to the lesser Corvette model. This means that consumers will not be able to ask for carbon ceramic brakes on their Z06s. GM is working to make the vehicle lightweight. In fact this was one of their top priorities. That is why they will be staying away from using an AWD system because it “would have added too much mass.”