Those new ZR1's are AWESOME. Enzo performance for 100 grand, and still gets 20+ mpg on the highway, all with an 'old school' engine architecture (single cam, 2 valve, pushrod) that's been around for 50 years. and using a leaf spring suspension front and rear (granted, transverse mounted composite leafs) like they used in the 20's, and on trucks. If anyone doubts the prowess of the engineers over at GM, just look at this car. Imagine what they could do if they had the money and opportunity to do a real world class, price-is-no-object supercar (as in, 300k+) with all the most modern technology. It'd blow the doors off anything from italy, germany, japan, you name it.
Heres a pretty cool link, from the Detroit Auto Show. They had a stripped ZR1 chassis mounted vertically, showing off all the innovations in chassis and suspension development. They've got a bunch of good pictures and explanations of just how bad-ass this car is.
Detroit 2008: Corvette ZR1 chassis display - Autoblog
I got the chance to see one up close and personal. One of the more popular local radio morning show guys is a HUGE car nut, especially 'vettes, and apparently got the first ZR1 delivered to Florida (so he says). He mentioned on air that he was going to have his vette out at a local car cruise, so i waxed up the GN and went out there. He was kind of a douche about the car, obviously very impressed with himself for having one, but he did let me look under the hood, and under the car, and sit in it for a lil bit, so I can't fault him. He liked my GN too, said he'd always wanted to get a GNX, but hadn't found one that he didn't think was either in crappy shape, or way overpriced. I told him about the board here to find reputable people who knows about these cars if he was interested in buying.
When he left the lot that night, he did the requisite burnout down the street... that thing sounded soooo awesome, like a P-51 or something. I want one baaaad.
