2011 Chevy Corvette

The Corvette returns for 2011 as both a convertible and a hartop. Furthermore Chevrolet offers two high-performance variants of the sports car: the 505-hp Z06 and the ZR1, which is powered by a supercharged V-8 that kicks out a whopping 638 hp. New for 2011 Magnetic Ride Control is available on Grand Sport models and includes Goodyear F1 Supercar Gen 2 tires with the manual transmission. Radios on models with the navigation system add a USB port and audio input jack. Contrasting-color headlamp housings are newly available in gray, black or silver. Besides these, the Corvette is a carryover from 2010. The Chevrolet Corvette is the best high-performance value in America. The Corvette delivers supercar performance for the price of a midsize luxury sedan. The ultra-high-performance Z06 and ZR1 models push the envelope for off-the-shelf production cars to incredible limits. For everyday driving, the regular models work great. The Corvette can be a reasonably comfortable daily driver in most locales, for at least three of the four seasons. The latest-generation Corvette is a sophisticated car, and its performance does not exact a painful toll on driver or passenger. And, with all that performance, it still gets an EPA-rated 26 mpg on the Highway, better than most SUVs.

Powering the Corvette

The 2011 Corvette coupe and convertible come an all-aluminum 6.2-liter V-8 which makes 430 hp (436 hp with the performance exhaust system) at 5,900 rpm and 424 pounds-feet of torque (428 pounds-feet with the optional exhaust system) at 4,600 rpm. Chevrolet recommends premium gas for this engine. An optional dual-mode exhaust increases horsepower to 436-hp. The Z06 comes with a 505-hp LS7 7.0-liter V8 engine, a six-speed manual transmission, sport handling suspension, and bigger wheels and tires. New for 2011 is a Z07 Ultimate Performance Package for the Z06. The amazing ZR1 comes with a supercharged 638-hp LS9 6.2-liter V8, a six-speed manual transmission, Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension, special carbon fiber components and Brembo ceramic brakes. All manual transmissions include launch control.

2011 Corvette Models: Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1

The Grand Sport trim adds a performance package to the coupe and convertible with a sportier suspension, wider wheels, tires, and fenders, and high performance brakes. The Grand Sport is distinguished by special exterior styling and a stiffer suspension. For 2011, Magnetic Ride Control is available on Grand Sport models and includes Goodyear F1 Supercar Gen 2 tires with the manual transmission. Manual-transmission Grand Sport coupes have a dry-sump oil system and a differential cooler, and the transmission itself features shorter gearing. Automatic models have a shorter final-drive ratio, and the changes lower both models' zero-to-60-mph times by 0.2 seconds, according to Chevrolet, which puts them around 4 seconds. The front and rear fenders are also larger, and the front fenders feature three vents behind the front wheels and a Grand Sport badge.

The 2011 Corvette ZR1 is based on the aluminum chassis of the Corvette Z06. It adds a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 capable of a 205-mph top speed, carbon ceramic brake rotors and standard magnetic ride control, plus a carbon-fiber roof, front fenders, rocker moldings and more. Chevrolet says the ZR1 can produce more than 1 g of cornering grip. It features a ZR1-specific gauge cluster with a supercharger boost gauge. The ZR1 also features a launch control system.

The 2011 Chevy Corvette Z06 tops the Corvette's performance capabilities with the use of a more powerful V-8 engine, larger brakes and a firmer suspension. For 2011 it gains Goodyear F1 Supercar Gen 2 tires and new exhaust system tuning.  A 7.0-liter V-8 engine, which makes 505 hp at 6,300 rpm and 470 pounds-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm, is the heart of the Z06. It teams exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and Chevrolet says it can rip from zero to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. The Z06 is outfitted with 18-inch wheels in front and 19-inch rims in back, and Chevrolet says the car can pull more than 1 g when cornering. The drilled front brakes measure 14 inches across, while the rear ones are slightly smaller, at 13.4 inches. When a car's top speed is 198 mph, as the Z06's is, aerodynamics become even more important; the sports car has a splitter for extra downforce. The slit near the hood feeds cold air to the engine, and scoops in front of the rear wheels funnel air to cool the brakes. Back to top

Design of the 2011 Corvette

The Chevy Corvette is low-slung and wide, the Corvette sports swoopy exterior styling and bulging front fenders. The sports car's body panels are made of composite material, and the current model features exposed headlights as opposed to flip-up ones that have been used in past versions of the sports car. The driver and passenger ride low to the ground in the Corvette and sit in bolstered bucket seats. The sizable center console separates the seats and houses the standard six-speed manual's shifter or optional six-speed automatic's gear selector.

Conclusions

The 2011 Chevy Corvette continues to be an incredible value considering its performance abilities. Not only that but consumers are left with the option of a variety of models, from the recently debuted Grant Sport to the super performing ZR1 and Z06 models. The Grand Sport version debuted, and it accounted for half of coupe sales and 70 percent of convertible sales. Visit AutoGuide.com to view the latest Corvette 'Still Builds Rockets' Ad.  Competitors include the Ford Shelby GT500, Dodge Viper and Nissan GT-R. When it comes to serious performance, the Corvette might be the best bang-for-the-buck deal on the planet. For the price of a midsize luxury sedan, the Corvette delivers supercar performance. It's easy to drive on a daily basis and maintenance costs are not exotic. For the latest updates on this incredible model, visit the official Chevy Corvette site.