corvettes of fresno - Description: Description: Description ...

Wallace won't talk specifics about the C7 Corvette, but he told Automotive News that if the Corvette's
weight was dropped 300 to 400 pounds and was powered by a 4.7 Liter V8 with about 150 less hp than
the current LS3, the weight to horsepower ratio is essentially the same as the current standard C6
Corvette.
While the Corvette ZR1 makes extensive use of carbon fiber as a weight saving material, the cost is
currently prohibitive in the standard models. But that could change by the time the C7 is developed.
It's also possible that by the year 2012 when the new C7 Corvette is expected that we will see the next
generation of fuel efficient engines that utilize both gasoline and ethanol. With the trickle-down effect
that Corvette Racing has on its regular production-bred siblings, its a natural evolution for there to be an
E85 powered Corvette coming directly from the assembly plant at Bowling Green. Corvette Racing tells
us that ethanol based fuel has a higher octane rating so the combination of the new engines powered by
ethanol combined with a lighter body may get Corvette close to the 35 mpg highway average.
Two other factors help Corvette as well. First, the amount of Corvettes produced in recent years averages
roughly 35,000 cars compared to the nearly 4 million GM sells domestically, so the impact of the
Corvette's highway MPG figure is smaller than that of one of GM's mass-produced vehicles. Secondly,
GM's investment in alternative fuel solutions and new products like the Chevy Volt are likely to increase
the automaker's average significantly if the market is there to support them.
Corvette enthusiasts may have to swallow the reduced horsepower pill like we had to with the C3
Corvettes. The good news is that unlike the Seventies, GM won't simply cut performance to increase
mileage standards. Performance will always be one of the governing covenants of the Corvette, and with
the looming changes on the horizon, there will be room for a green Corvette.
Green Gets Mean: The Skinny on Jay Leno's E85 Corvette C6RS
Last week's press announcement from General Motors about Jay Leno's E85 Corvette Z06 appearing
at the SEMA show was short on details, but now that SEMA is here, we've got the skinny on the
Chin's mean green Corvette Z06.
Jay's E85 Corvette it turns out, is much more than just a Z06 with a retrofitted engine. In addition to
the custom 8.2 liter aluminum V8 that churns out 600 horsepower and 585 pounds of torque on E85,
he went to Pratt & Miller, builders of Corvette Racing's C6.R racecars, for some custom body work
that makes this ethanol powered supercar one of kind. The Corvette C6RS sports a black exterior
with wider front and rear fenders and a wider rear fascia with an integrated spoiler on top and
diffuser on the bottom. The new body work adds 1.6 inches to the width of a standard Z06 and is
designed to enhance fuel efficiency though better aerodynamics.
The C6RS has Michelin's mounted on BBS Wheels with 18's on the front and 19's on the back.
Additional performance options also provided by Pratt & Miller include a custom DeWitt highcapacity
radiator with dual cooling fans, a carbon-fiver ram-air induction kit and Brembo brakes
with six-piston mono-block calipers in front and four piston rear calipers.
The interior was also customized with several premium items from the Genuine Corvette Accessories
catalog including the two-tone shift knob and boot, leather-covered armrest, parking brake handle
and boot, and interior trim kit and racing-style pedal covers.
Interestingly, despite all the specs regarding Leno's e85 Corvette, the one fact omitted is fuel
efficiency. I suspect that its on par with is fossil-fuel burning siblings or slightly less due to the high
performance 8.2 liter V8. After all, E85 doesn't improve gas mileage, it’s really just a substitute for
gasoline. That being said, 600 horsepower is still a cool way to go green...