Flytoyz

Welcome Everybody to The Automotive Corner, I Am VizX your automotive go to guy representing Flytoyz, the number 1 place to get the 411 on all the goodies, gadgets, and goodness from the automotive world.

NOW… today, we are looking at two of Chevrolet’s most prized vehicles…one of them being a limited edition and well..this one! We shall see if it last’s longer then 5 years, this may tickle the funny bone of all you bow tie guys, but today is the day of the Z06-427 and ZR1 Corvette’s!!

Im thinking GM must be doing good in Q1 and has predictions of a few more to go forward with the release of these two models this year because WOW they are expensive! But you will see why today. Lets start with the ZR1.

Now people have been saying “The King is back” meaning the return of the ZR1 well heres a little background on the ZR for ya. Chevrolet had went to Lotus in 1986 when the Corvette, then on the C4 platform, reigned supreme! Well from ‘90-’95 Lotus had given Chevrolet a vette like no other…at that time, at WOT(Wide open throttle) it produced 375HP and had an “FX3″ active suspension system. Further changes were made in ‘92: ZR-1 badges were displayed on both front fenders and traction control was added as a standard feature. In ‘93 Lotus reworked the heart of the ZR1 and gave it 30 more HP til its demise in ‘95. The beauty about the 1st generation ZR1 was that in only the 1st year in its life, Chevy gave ALL the vettes an updated look, well the updated look was what made the ZR1 stand out before…but now was offered on all vette’s,it looked like a bone stock vette to the untrained eye!!

The ZR was identifiable by wider rear wheel’s and Center High Mounted Stop Light(CHMSL) because it was integrated into the new rear fascia used on the base model, but remained at the top of the rear-hatch on the ZR-1’s, thats pretty much the only way you could tell it was a ZR, only saying that because who know’s how many ZR owners debadged it to keep the stock corvette look(smart).

Now this new generation ZR1 is based on the C6 platform with a Supercharged LS9 6.2 Liter V8 cranking out an estimated 620HP-600 TQ, the only problem….its the most expensive Corvette in History around a mere… :cough: $100,000 :cough: lol

Yeah, thats a hard pill to swallow vette lovers, 100K! This Mercedes price tagged piece of American muscle is also the 1st Corvette to have factory forced induction(supercharger and intercooled) AND will be the 1st vette to top 200MPH off the showroom floor!! Viper and Shelby GT500 Owners, you have been warned(though GT500’s are around 40-50k less and only 70HP slower and vipers are around 10k cheaper and only 20HP slower).

The ZR1’s power plant, the famed LS9 has been validated to 150,000 hours and had no piston, rod, or crank failure in 6800 cumulative dyno hours. The hand-assembled engines come from GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan, and each one is hot-tested before it goes out the door so there is no worry that this new motor will break down on you quickly if you have a heavy foot. Because this LS9 has a Blower on it, chevy included a boost gauge on the cluster and also one in the heads up display.

This new venture for chevy having a S/C in their vette, they wanted to make sure they had a great company to go with and who they could trust, so they went with the same company who provided SuperChargers for Fords SVT program(cobra’s&lightning’s) and thats Eaton. This blower is a Roots style blower which produces around 10LBS/Boost and apparently Chevy is claiming an increase in efficiency and noise reduction over their past blowers. Now im sorry, if im rocking a beast of a car with a blower, when I bury the throttle I want to hear it whine, but thats just me. Eaton also included an Air to Liquid intercooler that sits on the top of the blower so again,thats chevy wanting to keep the boost a visual secret by keeping a Big intercooler from being seen behind the front bumper. Chevy also lowered the stance of the motor inside the engine bay so that a massive hood bulge could be avoided. There is a hood bulge but only about an inch.

Now with all this power, what did they do for a transmission??
Well as the LS9 does roars through its power band,its many, many ponies invade the tranny, where they meet a rather beefy six-speed manual that has closer ratios than the one found in the Z06 but heres something to wrap your head around, 1st gear is still good enough for 60MPH…ok let that sink in lol, you ok? ok Think about when you go out driving today if you floor the throttle, the ZR1 can hit 60 with no problems in 1st gear,and lets not forget the other 5 gears after it lol. Times expected to be a 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds or better and the quarter-mile in 11.0 seconds, one word: Impressive.

Ok so we have Engine,and Trans covered, the two main things to get you to 200MPH… now lets talk about what will save your just about to take flight self… BRAKES! The ZR uses the very same Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes as the ones found on the million-dollar Bugatti Veyron. With its vented and cross drilled rotors, they measure an incredible 15.5 inches at the front and an even 15 at the back. The front calipers utilize six pistons and the rears four so there is no worry when you try to stop unless you try to drift or do something else you shouldn’t in a car this expensive.

Want to hear something else expensive yet impressive? The ZR1 rocks Carbon fiber goodies like a hood, front fenders, sill extensions, front splitter, and roof. The car has eight major panels of carbon fiber. GM says the ZR1 will be first to offer clear-coat carbon-fiber exterior panels designed to last the life of the car so you dont have to worry about the CF(carbon fiber) going bad or heavy maintenance needed to maintain it!

With production beginning in July the ZR1 should be on sale in August or September. GM can deliver about 2000 ZR1s a year with a choice of seven colors. Each car will have a unique VIN that incorporates the sequential build number, which should please collectors because I am sure that about 3/4’s of these unfortunately will be garage queen’s whom only see track use or are the weekend drivers.
So a 100,000 corvette? Are you that die hard for chevy to drop that much money on a vette?? I dont think I could bring myself to spending that much money on a car!!! But it will sell, no matter what, it will sell.

Wondering What it looks like??
Here’s some shots for ya!!

Up Next Part Two: 2008(9) Chevrolet Corvette 427!

Alrighty well here begins Part Two of The Automotive Corner, which cover’s Chevy’s limited edition Z06 based 427!

Yes the 427, remember back in the day in the mid-late 1960’s? The StingRay’s? Damn what a car. Well Chevy decided to bring back the 427 Vette as a Limited Edtion Z06. The 427 name refers to the C.I(cubic inch) displacement for one of the Highest performing motor’s offered between ‘66 and ‘69, and by off chance is also the C.I equivalent of the Z06’s 7.0 liter LS7.

The new 427 boasts a crystal red metallic paint job which mark’s that this is the 1st Z06 to be cloaked in a red metallic paint, it has graphics on the hood and front facia that will have you remembering the original stinger’s hood design. It also has the same graphic’s that were offered on the ‘67 sting ray’s that were equipped with the 427 as well as the 427 hood badges to make it complete. Each of these limited vette’s will be numbered and signed by Wil Cooksey who is the assembly plant manager who is retiring after 15 years on the job and will come with a certificate of authenticity.

Only 427 of these 427’s will be offered here in the states as well as Canada and ONLY 78 of these limited beasts will see foreign soil, do the math and thats 505 of these vette’s. What a coincidence, thats how much horsepower this thing has! But theres a Catch!! With a Price tag of just over $84,000 which includes the premium equipment package that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy thanks to the custom leather interior. If you want to add to this, you only have 1 thing to add. Navigation for an extra $1,750.00! which to me, is alittle pricey, ill stick to the GPS on my cell phone lol.

A few other little things added to the 427-Z06 is it has exclusive chrome wheels,special Crystal Red interior trim plate graphic pattern, the console armrest is signed and numbered like I mentioned above.

Chevy also will have another vette as the Indy500 Pace car as well in the 427. Chevy has introduced two, High dollar Corvette’s with in a year of each other(ZR1 being the other). This will make collecters back-pockets feel a smidge light now wont they?

Now if you take away all the 427 goodies, you will have a plain bone stock Z06 so if your a Z06 fan, you will love this 427, there was no weight gain no power loss, no stopping power lost or anything, still 3100LBS, still goes 0-60 in 3.7/0-100 in 11.7 and tops out at a hair under 200MPH.

The large 18 x9.5-inch cast-spun aluminum wheels and 275/35ZR18 tires are found in the front,and 19 x 12-inch cast-spun aluminum wheels with 325/30ZR19 tires are found in the rear, complimenting them and making sure you live to drive another day is the large four-wheel disc brake system, consisting of 14 inch vented and cross-drilled front rotors and 13 1/2 inch vented and cross-drilled rear rotors with red six-piston calipers that use six individual brake pads!! Instead of what we are all used to(2 pads) they have 6!! But they have good reason for it, not just to make more money which seems to be what this is all about, but the individual brake pads are used because they deliver more balanced wear compared normal single piece pads. For the rear brakes,four-piston calipers with four individual brake pads are used.

For all of your gear heads who do your own brake work, did the idea of changing your own brakes on that vette make your head throb alittle bit? Because it sure did mine lol.

So there you have it, a Z06 dressed up to pay homage to the Original 427 StingRay, but the question is… is it worth the $84,000?? Or would you want to just hold out around another $20k more and bite the bullet and get the ZR1?? I myself would get the ZR1 and hunt for an original 427 StingRay(seen below).

So there you have it everyone!! The 1st two-part Automotive Corner released in Praise of the Almighty bow-tie racing flags! The Chevrolet Corvette! I hope you enjoyed your time here this week, I hope I didnt bore you or anything because reading and writing about two of the biggest vette’s in history was definately a blast! What do you think on these incredible piece’s of american muscle? Drop us comments on either post and let us know! We would love to hear!

This is VizX For the Automotive Corner

and you are now IN THE KNOW!!

See you thursday in The Mod Shop!

I found this on The Press Enterprise-PE.com and thought it was interesting

By JESSICA LOGAN
The Press-Enterprise

“Riverside police may have put a dent in local street racing Friday when about 100 officers raided a parking lot on Valley Springs Parkway, where suspected racers are known to congregate.

Police from Riverside and other agencies shut off the exits to the lot to inspect more than 150 vehicles. Officers wrote a similar number of citations, including 48 for illegal modifications common to street racing, according to a police news release.

Twenty vehicles were towed from the scene as part of a crackdown funded by a $503,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, according to a police news release.

Police spokesman Steven Frasher said officers had been monitoring illegal activity in the lot for weeks. The large number of people who received tickets for illegal modifications common to street racing confirmed officers’ suspicions that the lot was a hotbed of street racing activity, he said.

“Almost every vehicle that was there, even if they weren’t street racing, they were … an audience,” Frasher said, adding that the lot was full of skid marks left behind by racers.

Neighboring business managers at Hooters Restaurant and John’s Incredible Pizza are glad the problem was addressed. At times, they said, cars speed through their parking lots, threatening the safety of others and scaring away customers.

“They seek a big parking lot and ours is huge,” said Jim Finigan, director of operations at John’s Incredible Pizza.

He was seconded by Chris Guillet, manager of the Riverside Hooters Restaurant, who said problem drivers speed through his lot, barely avoiding collisions. While he was grateful for the police intervention, “I think it just moves the problem to another area,” Guillet said.

Police organized a similar raid in 2006 at the Target store on Tyler Street. They believe street racing has killed at least two people in Riverside in recent years, including Reyna De Leon, 38, in 2006, and 14-year-old Carlos Cisneros in 2007.

“By its nature, (the street racing problem) can get up and go someplace else,” Frasher said. He added, however, the problem may at least be solved at the Valley Springs Parkway location. “We were able to send a strong message that … we are cracking down on this activity and we won’t tolerate it,” Frasher said.

He added that police will continue the fight against street racing, but he declined to give details.

On Friday, cars ranging from broken-down Hondas to shiny, new Ford Mustangs and BMWs lined up for the police inspection. Some car owners were ticketed for replacing a small exhaust pipe with a larger one that makes the car run louder.

John Ferrier got a “fix-it ticket,” he said, because his car’s exhaust system was too noisy. And yet the 21-year-old Moreno Valley resident said he was happy the police were cracking down on Honda drivers. He blames them for reckless maneuvers such as “burning out” and “doing doughnuts.”

“That’s what attracted the police attention,” Ferrier said. “I’m glad they’re here to stop people before they do something stupid.”

Michael Calderon, 22, of San Bernardino, stood in the parking lot as his 1995 Honda Civic hatchback, which he bought for $600, was loaded onto a tow truck.

Police impounded his car because officers believed some of its parts were stolen.

Calderon said he bought the parts from a reputable business.

“It’s devastating,” said Calderon, who spent $20,000 on car improvements. “That’s my soul right there. This is the worst night of my life.”

And it wasn’t over yet. He still needed someone to pick him up — but first he had to find a friend whose car passed inspection.”

Ok, This article…. I can understand their want to crackdown street racing, But when they are towing cars away because they “BELIEVE” parts were stolen only because he cannot produce a ticket is absolutely asinine!! I can’t product a ticket for the mods on my car, ya know why?? I Bought Them From Former Focus Owners!!! which a lot of time’s is what happens in the car world, a friend wants to sell his car but its modded, well he wont get a lot of money that way so he sells his parts, so CAPD wants them to write up a friggin receipt or something??

I can see if the group is causing trouble and doing dough-nuts and driving wreck-less in parking lots, there is no need for that at all, but to go after a bunch of people just because their cars are modified because they fit the “street racer” category is ridiculous…

I pulled this excerpt from thenewspaper.com

Nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.

“If you’re not into street racing, why would you need that?” Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. “Why would you want more power going to your car?”

Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for “engine modifications” with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a “street racing venue,” Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.”

Ok, I went BOLD happy for a reason, all those things are reasons why today’s youth gets into a lot worse things then modding their cars, at least they have a hobby or a passion, i mean c’mon 9 Agencies?? 100 Cop Cars?!!? you would think they were going after a major drug lord or a sending in unit’s because of a riot!! Also note “parked vehicles, warrarntless search and interrogation,NO EVIDENCE” im sorry but I would be finding a damn good lawyer and I would be Riverside Police’s biggest annoyance in their wallet’s.

Oh And Also “If you’re not into street racing, why would you need that?” Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. “Why would you want more power going to your car?“

Maybe because its a hobby!! Here is another question I would’ve asked him after being deemed a street racer when actually not, “So being all women have vagina’s, does that make them all Prostitutes then?, because if the same rules apply to that as us, you have a lot of work to do!!” Guys and Gals, you know I bring you the mod shop weekly and Im big on modding your car to how you want it, but I guess if you live in Cali and you modify, you better be ready to lose your ride. This is apparently to help stop street racing, no wonder kids in Cali street race, their going to lose their cars anyway, so why not say screw it and enjoy the adrenaline while its there. I myself do not condone street racing at all, I too am against it, I say take it to a track, but for the officials in this state to act like this on modded cars? Is beyond ridiculous.

What do you all think about this? Please hit us up with your opinion’s on this! For I Am honestly quite mad about this.