[1]Picture Courtesy AllCarNews
The Detroit Auto Show North American International Auto Show [2], is on now folks. The show runs until the 22nd and continues to be arguably the biggest OEM automotive hootenanny on the planet.
Most major automakers arrive in Detroit in full force to show off their new sheetmetal and toot their own horns, but surprisingly, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati, Mini, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Tesla are skipping the show this year. Huh?
[3]Big Spoiler here…Pic Courtesy MotorAuthority
For ‘Vette fans we could care less if those snooty Europeans and Elon Musk shun the show. What we care about it is whether or not the 2018 C7 ZR1 will break cover.
According to GMAuthority [4], the answer is a big, stinkin’ no.
That isn’t etched in stone though. When Ford introduced the latest GT, it took the automotive world by surprise with no advanced notice so maybe GM is aping their cross-town rivals from Dearborn and playing dumb.
[5]Aaaand, a little spoiler. Pic Courtesy MotorAuthority
The new ZR1 is a huge event for Corvette. It will be the first ZR1 since 2013 and most likely will be the recipient of a DOHC V8 [6] that recently ricocheted around the web. Chevrolet usually likes to alert auto scribes to such an event but the only thing we’ve heard is the sound of crickets.
There have been ZR1 murmurs, sightings and leaks galore in the press though. Speculation has run wild with declarations of turbocharged, supercharged or naturally aspirated motors and whether or not the ZR1 is the swan song of the C7 or a stablemate to a new mid-engine, range topping Super-Vette.
With the leak of the DOHC motor, we think that there is no better engine bay to introduce it than the C7. A modern version of the old C4 ZR1 would be very cool. It would also pay homage to Dave McLellan and his tireless dedication to the Corvette.
From what we can deduce, the ZR1 will have increased air flow management with air vent nostrils on either side of the main grille opening. The Z06 has a reputation for running hot so increased airflow should cure that.
[7]Pic Courtesy MotorAuthority
GM trademarked E-Ray recently and spy shots clearly show a bundle of wires visible in the rear hatch area. [8] We think adding instant torque to an gas motor would be a marriage made in heaven but after “The Great Tailight Fiasco” of 2014, we think this might trigger a revolt among Corvette purists. We’ll have to wait and see, but as electrification of the automobile is coming folks and the Corvette will not be excluded. If we’re wrong, tell us why below.
In the meantime, mark your calendar and keep your ear to the ground this coming Monday. If they lift the curtain and show the car we’ll be bummed that GM played dead but will also jump for joy that we have a new ZR1. Stay tuned to Corvette Online for all the latest and greatest coverage of the secret, super C7.
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