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Yes!
Well, maybe not as green as it could be, but for a 6.3 liter 638 horsepower, 604 lb-ft torque supercar, it actually doesn't do as bad as one would think...
Today, let's take a little break on our coverage of the hybrid scene and actually pay a little tribute to the technology that has crossed over to the high powered combustion supercar.
The newest Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 coming out this summer is a marvel in many ways, but especially with its monstrous power levels. It has been tested by Chevrolet to reach 0-60 in a blistering 3.4 seconds, 0-100 in 7 seconds, and can do a quarter mile in around 11.3 seconds in stock form.
Much of the Corvettes' impressive numbers is due to its advanced engine design that includes titanium connecting rods, forged aluminum pistons and roto-cast cylinder heads, titanium intake valves (to save weight while keeping strength) with hollow stems.
Everything about the ZR-1 is about saving weight by using lighter components such as the aluminum and titanium. As we have learned from Mean Green Machines, weight savings stacks up to cleaner, more efficient, and meaner vehicle. How efficient?
The ZR-1 is capable of 20 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city... now some may frown as these numbers, but you have to do a few comparisons to find why it deserves some respect...
Take the Jeep Cherokee SRT-8 for instance. It has a 6.1 liter V-8 with 420 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. It gets 14 mpg highway and 12 city... Corvette wins!
Okay, let's try European. Take the Audi S4 Avant 4.2 liter V-8 with 340 horsepower. It gets 20 mph highway, but only 13 mpg city. Okay, its close, but the Corvette is pumping close to twice the horsepower numbers, which adds up to a whole lot more efficiency.
Then you've got the Corvettes fiercest competitors, the Lamborghini Murcielago and Bugatti Veyron. Both of which can hardly match the ZR-1's city efficiency (14 mpg) while driving on the highway!
Okay, so maybe you're not the poster child for saving the world while driving a 2009 Chevrolet ZR-1 Corvette, but you could certainly be doing a lot worse.
There's technology at work for you!
This post was inspired by Episode 1 of Mean Green Machines.
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