Jay Leno's Garage

Although a ZR1 was never part of the original C6 plan, legend has it that at an early review, CEO Rick Wagoner was so impressed that he wondered aloud, "If that's what you can do with $60,000, I wonder what a $100,000 Corvette would look like?" The power of suggestion was all it took for the team to initiate a skunkworks project code named "Blue Devil," with the ultimate goal of creating a car that could hold its own against any supercar from around the world at a fraction of the price.

The ultimate Corvette fan, Jay worked some magic to receive delivery on the first ZR1 off the line, and he couldn't be more pleased. At its heart, the car is a bold departure from the Z06, starting with its hand assembled LS9 6.2 liter small block engine enabled by Eaton's latest four-lobe Roots-type supercharger. Power is delivered to the rear wheels by a twin-disc clutch and a 6-speed manual transmission, with top speed achieved in sixth gear. That translates to 638 hp, 605 lb.-ft. of torque, and 205 mph! Massive 15.5 inch carbon-ceramic Brembro brakes should last the life of the vehicle, and the 20 spoke alloy rims are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires, developed specifically for the ZR1. To prevent light from degrading all the carbon fiber on its exterior, a special high tech additive priced at $60,000 per gallon is added at three percent concentration.

All this technology serves to set a new and enduring benchmark in performance, one that's going to be tough to beat. GM has created the fastest, most powerful Corvette ever, arguably, the greatest Corvette in history. For Jay's money, the ZR1 is the performance bargain of the decade. Don't forget, unlike its more expensive competitors, the ZR1 is built in America, can be fixed at the local dealership, and gets 20 mph highway!