Chevrolet to showcase Corvette Z06 and C7.R at Geneva

Chevrolet will celebrate the European premiere of the all-new Corvette Z06 and the C7.R race car at the 84th Geneva Motor Show. The two high performers will be the highlights on the Chevrolet stand (1220 in Hall 1), vying for the crowds’ attention next to a duo of Camaro muscle cars and two seventh generation Corvette Stingrays. The Corvette Z06 and the C7.R made their global debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January this year. The two cars were developed in parallel and both make extensive use of the technologies incorporated in the Corvette Stingray. Chevrolet is looking forward to welcoming two special guests during the press days (March 4 and 5): Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer and mastermind behind the new Corvette Stingray, and Oliver Gavin, Corvette Racing ace, will be at hand to share their passion for Chevrolet’s seventh generation sports car and answer questions from the media. Corvette Z06 boasts supercharged V8 power The new Z06 is the most track-capable Corvette in Chevrolet’s history. It is also the first Z06 to offer a supercharged engine, an automatic transmission and, thanks to a stronger aluminum frame, a removable roof panel. The aluminum frame carries over from the Corvette Stingray and will be used essentially unchanged for the Corvette Racing C7.R. The heart of the Corvette Z06 is the all-new LT4 6.2L supercharged V8 engine, expected to deliver an estimated 625 horsepower (466 kW) and 635 lb-ft of torque (861 Nm). The LT4 leverages the same trio of advanced technologies introduced on the Corvette Stingray: Direct injection, Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, and continuously variable valve timing. As is the case with the Stingray, the driver can use a Driver Mode Selector to tailor up to a dozen features of the Z06 to suit the driver’s environment, including: Launch control, Active handling (StabiliTrak electronic stability control), Traction control, Performance Traction Management, as well as the Electronic Limited Slip Differential. A track-focused Z07 Performance Package specifically designed for the Z06 adds unique components for true aerodynamic downforce, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires for enhanced grip, and Brembo carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors that improve braking performance and contribute to greater handling through reduced unsprung weight. Although development testing is ongoing, the Z07 package has already recorded some of the fastest lap times ever for a Corvette, surpassing even the ZR1. As of spring 2015, and following the launch in the U.S., the Corvette Z06 will also be offered at select dealerships in Europe. Two Corvette C7.R race cars in action in 2014 The new Corvette Z06 and C7.R represent the closest link in modern times between Corvettes built for racing and the road, sharing unprecedented levels of engineering and components including chassis architecture, engine technologies and aerodynamic strategies. Corvette Racing is fielding two C7.R race cars in 2014, both of which saw their racing debut at the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 25-26 this year. The C7.R will compete in the GT Le Mans class in 11 races in North America. The team is also expected to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Pro class in June. As before, the race car and the Z06 will share the same production-based aluminum frame. Advanced manufacturing procedures were applied, including laser welding, GM’s patented aluminum spot-welding process and flowdrill-machined fasteners. This has resulted in a frame structure that is 40 percent stronger than that of the C7.R’s predecessor, the outgoing C6.R. While the aerodynamic strategies of the Corvette Stingray came directly from the Corvette C6.R, the addition of direct fuel injection to the Z06 for the first time since the end of the GT1 era in 2009 promises greater efficiency. The GT rules limit the C7.R’s maximum engine displacement to 5.5L and prohibit forced induction. Corvette Stingray to arrive at European dealerships in spring The first Corvette Stingray coupes (starting price in Germany: €69,990) and convertibles are scheduled to arrive at select dealerships in Europe in April and May 2014, respectively. Since its global premiere at NAIAS 2013, the Corvette Stingray has swept an array of industry accolades, including the prestigious 2014 North American Car of the Year award. The new Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard Corvette ever, with 466 hp (343 kW) and 630 Nm from a 6.2L V8 engine, enabling the sports car to hit 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Source: Chevrolet