After 34 years of service with General Motors, I retired on September 1st, 2018. During my 15 years as the Ride and Handling Vehicle Dynamics Engineer on the Corvette, my first and foremost objective was to provide the customer with a product that is second to none. I’ve always strived for perfection. That mindset is the prevailing motivation as I develop new upgrades for the 6th generation Corvette owner.
I have been tuning/developing cars with Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) for almost 20 years starting in 1999 on the Cadillac STS, then the Corvette from 2004 to my retirement.
While developing the C7 ZR1, I decided to strip down the MRC calibration and build it back up using a completely different philosophy. This philosophy was something I had been pondering for several years but time constraints prohibited me from implementing it.
As I re-developed the MRC calibration for the C7 ZR1, I quickly realized I had created a revolutionary change that significantly improved the ride quality and the handling in the Tour and Sport modes, as well as track performance. These changes were so significant I felt obligated to develop a path for re-tuning every 7th generation Corvette model with MRC, 24 calibrations in total for 2019.
My new philosophy improved the C7 model so much, we decided to make these calibrations available to every C7 owner as an upgrade. Thousands of C7 owners have upgraded their cars and the positive feedback exceeded our expectations.
Chevrolet today announced that the 2019 Corvette ZR1 set a production-car lap record on the 4.1-mile Grand Course West at Virginia International Raceway with a time of 2 :37. 25.
Along with a harness bar and track seats with five-point harnesses, the record-setting stock ZR1 coupe was equipped with the available paddle-shift eight-speed automatic and ZTK Performance Package, which includes an adjustable carbon-fiber High Wing, a front splitter with carbon-fiber end caps, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires, and specific chassis and Magnetic Ride Control tuning.
“The Corvette ZR1’s lap record at VIR, arguably America’s most challenging road course, is a testament to its supercar status,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “On the racetrack, the ZR1 can compete with any supercar — at any price.”
On sale this spring, the ZR1 coupe will carry a suggested retail price of $119,995 (price includes destination charge, but excludes tax, title and other dealer fees). The ZTK Performance Package will cost $2,995.
Validation testing
The ZR1’s record lap at VIR was set during routine validation testing earlier this month, with vehicle dynamics engineer Jim Mero at the wheel. The car was set up per the owner’s manual’s recommended track alignment and aerodynamic settings. As part of the validation, the ZR1 was finalizing its total of 24 hours of at-limit track testing, with multiple GM Performance engineers logging laps.
“The track had been empty since mid-December, so it was a bit slow when we started, but the conditions turned pretty quick at the end,” said Alex MacDonald, manager, Vehicle Performance. “On the heels of announcing our Z06 time of 2:39.77, the ZR1 lap time is the icing on the cake. It’s not too often you set a lap record during validation testing.”
Speed-enabling horsepower
The ZR1’s exclusive LT5 6.2L supercharged engine is rated at an SAE-certified 755 horsepower (563 kW) and 715 lb-ft of torque (969 Nm). The LT5 features a new, more-efficient intercooled supercharger system, along with GM’s first dual fuel-injection system, which employs primary direct injection and supplemental port injection. Compared to the supercharger system on the Corvette Z06’s LT4 engine, the LT5 employs a larger, 2.65-liter supercharger that generates more boost while spinning at a slightly slower speed. That reduces heat to help maintain a lower air intake temperature for optimal performance.
Four new radiators also help manage cooling in the ZR1, which features 13 radiators in all, including circuits for engine oil, transmission and differential cooling.
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