With all the humiliation and penis shrinking negative publicity surrounding the +General Motors newest and supposedly high performance creation, Corvette C7 Z06, it would be easy to seek a much needed vindication in the results of the latest Car and Driver annual Lightning Lap event.
On the surface, the "bargain supercar" cleaned out the competition, allowing the fine Car and Driver writers to set a substantial margin between the best lap time the new Z06 managed to set and the next in line, Porsche 911 GT3. However, in reality, this "victory" fully illustrated the failure of +Tadge Juechter 's greatest creation and brutal contrast between marketing fiction and driving reality.
As it is right now, the newest Corvette flagship has been plagued by serious design, build and quality problems, rendering it a poster child for a poser car, with bragging rights carefully and very selectively crafted by its manufacturer.
First of all, the setting of the C&D event, VIR, the location of the only verified quick lap time for the Z06 on a real race track (never mind the Milford joke), finally accomplished by porker Jim Mero BUT... only after serious growing pains involving resolving rear alignment puzzle and special track calibration. Of course these "adjustments" took place after the newest flagship got serious ass whooping at Willow Springs, getting walked over by Nissan GTR.
In other words, the new Z06 was tuned to VIR track type, unlike any other cars used in this great event and with the time already verified ahead of time. Then of course, there is the length of the track itself, barely over 4 miles and relatively low straight speeds, making completion of the run possible for the car the car that cannot take more than 15 minutes of hard driving without going into protection mode and lighting up the instrument panel like a Christmas tree.
How about the "competing" cars? Unlike the Z06, equipped with the Z07 option and except for the Porsche GT3, none equipped with any of the track oriented options. Conveniently missing from the selection cars like Dodge Viper TA 2.0 and cars like McLaren 650, in ROADSTER form instead of competition inspiring coupe. (one cannot help but wonder why cars like Prius were not included? May as well, LOL).
And the run itself? Apparently the C&D writers did not mind running the car with A/C off and windows up on a refreshing 100+ day since this is the only way not to overheat the Z06 on even a 4-mile course.
Here is the biggest problem with this apparent victory: what has happened is an exception to otherwise well established rule of the newest flagship failing on race tracks everywhere else, including the latest Laguna Seca fiasco, with Randy Pobst failing to complete any runs at all in this bargain supercar that in reality is a certifiable piece of shit, validated only through dash plaque horsepower disclosure (under specific constraints only), SHORT hero laps (when lucky enough) and dragstrip adventures (assuming TM does not take over).
Finally, this only accomplishment does not even come close to erasing the memory of huge failure at Nurburgring, with a truly pathetic lap time of 7:18 that somehow got pulled back by GM after being briefly disclosed.
http://www.porscheboost.com/content.php?6505-Car-and-Driver-2015-Lightning-Lap-results-have-the-C7-Z06-kicking-ass-and-taking-names-BMW-M4-beaten-by-C63-S-and-ATS-V
what should have been done was to dyno these cars.i bet the z06 had well over 650hp.Garbage Motors does it all of the time.
ReplyDeletethe dyno of the LT4 vs the M838T tells us part of why the Z06 is quicker. The larger engine simply produces more torque. And more torque equals more hp. More hp means more acceleration and more speed. At around 2k rpm the LT4 produces about 400 lbft of torque, which translates to roughly 150hp. The M838T is at about 200 lbft and 90hp at this engine speed. From about 3600rpm the LT4 puts out 400hp while the M838T doesn't get there until about 5200rpm. This data is from a 2012 M838T btw. What this means is that most of the time, even if the McLaren and the Vette boasts the same maximum effect, the McLaren will simply be either outpowered or forced to work in a much narrower rpm range. The question now is: does VIR favor power? If yes, then what would the results be at a track that favors other qualities?
ReplyDeleteLT1 and LT4 are based on pick up truck motor, M838T started out as an Indy motor. Yes, you get more low end grunt from the Vette but it craps out at the top end, in fact, it has none.
DeleteSince VIR favors low end torque and power and downforce while keeping the top speeds within Z06 abilities, this is why it can do that VIR hero lap so quickly but again, this is the extent of its abilities, with unknown post lap consequences and this part is already demonstrated by the Nurburgring disaster.
The point about McLaren was the choice of body style unsuitable for this event. Yes, you can run around VIR in the roadster but it will lack the aero benefits of the coupe.
well, up to 6400 rpm it does have plenty power. Power comes from either "top end" (high rpm) or massive torque and top end doesn't serve one well if one doesn't stay in the rpm needed.
DeleteI agree about the aerodynamics and the problems the Z06 has but on this particular track and for this particular type of event the vette has advantages that can't be overlooked and which explain the results.
I don't think the body style has affected the results a lot. But if they didn't deploy the airbrake, and I don't know if they did, they lost a lot of downforce (since the airbrake can be partially deployed in order to give more downforce) which would also explain the results. Not to mention the tires. I'm guessing the Z06 ran those horrible-for-the-street-or-damp-track semi-slick tires which I suppose are also quite a bit wider than what was on the 650S. Comparing apples and oranges is a great way of getting the results one wants and it does look a bit like the competition here was chosen to make the Z06 with Z07 package look good.
It is called a Ringer, you would not want that car. I doubt it would last more than a few laps before BOOM baby.
ReplyDeleteMore like a ringer driver. Mero must have spent some time with the testers, giving them a few pointers, LOL.
DeleteException or not, it won. This story, this time, this test, this race, it beat them all but one. And at a 10th of the price of one it couldn't beat, it's more good PR for GM to push out in front of all of the issues it keeps in the background. I wonder if they did the radiator 80/20 flush, recommended oil changes, etc before testing this car? I bet all of the other cars came to the track tweaked too, but not so blatantly. Oh well, speed sells. Many people like the idea of how fast their car is as opposed to actually making it go fast at a track. Street light racing, 0-60, that's what you get. I guess.
ReplyDeleteWell yeah, it had to win after resolving problems from Willow Springs and Mero taking a spin first, giving the testers pointers how to drive it, LOL. The price factor is irrelevant here since you can put a Radical or Ultima on that track as well. 10 times less expensive? You seem to forget the 918 potential was never explored since no Porsche factory driver or even a pro was ever behind the wheel and magazine drivers typically suck at pushing Porsche and Viper to even close to their limits.
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