"Blue Devil" News: Test Details Roll In

[JCE]

As for the SRX, it was presumed that it would get it's V-Spec trim from it's STS sibling that it shares many of it's parts with. Although I do not know of any test mules, I sure there was one, as it would be realively simple to drop the 4.4L S/C Northstar V8 under the hood of the small-ish SUV.

Dude, if Cadillac made a V-series out of an SRX that would seriously rock. The SRX is one nice SUV--and Cadillac's best vehicle next to the CTS.

 

[YSSMAN]

More interesting engine news...

General Motors filed for a trademark on the term "LSX" on June 19, 2006, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The filing is described as relating to "engines for land vehicles." It's unclear if the trademark refers to a future Chevrolet LS-series engine, or if it's a reference to the 'LSx' term used by many GM enthusiasts to denote an LS-series engine. While the latter theory is entirely possible, the fact that the whole name is in capital letters suggests it could be something different. Currently, the Corvette Z06 uses the LS7 powerplant. Rumors have suggested a more powerful Corvette model will use an engine called LS9, fitted with a supercharged. Is it possible GM will instead use the name LSX? Perhaps a minor technicality to some, by Corvette fans will surely find this interesting.

...LSX, eh? I know most folks use LS-x to define the entire class of engines, but as a single model? I dunno. It sounds more like a trim-level than an engine name.

 

[GT4_Rule]

I still prefer the LS9 name. LSX sounds cool though.

 

[Eric.]

Maybe we should be thinking of it as LS(Ten)?

 

[Poverty]

LSX is the poverty spec model for some manufacturers. Doesnt sound right

 

[Onikaze]

LS(Ten) works.

Or maybe it's like the new bugs bunny...

LSEXTREEEMEEEEE!!!

 

[YSSMAN]

This GM guy doesn't really have a clue how to make anything from whats going on with this project right now. My guess is that it is being used to copyright the LS-series engines (often refered to as LS-X) so that there can be a wide variety of engine names produced. But I have no idea...

 

[harrytuttle]

Maybe we should be thinking of it as LS(Ten)?

Heh. Like OSX?

IMO, it seems less like a specific engine model and more like a branding exercise. "These cars all have LSx engines in them..." or some such. I'm a lousy tagline writer.

Given GM's long history of L88, LS2, LT1...this LSX seems the red herring to something actually interesting.

 

[Keef]

Just got the august Automobile. They showed a picture of a C6 race car minus the huge rear spoiler and decals. They suspect GM will increase the displacement of the LS7 slightly and add a super, gaining about 145 hp, making a total of around 650. They also believe Chevy will forego the Blue Devil and Sting Ray names in favor of Z07 or Z06R.

The car would use carbon fiber more readily, has a larger lip spoiler on the back, has an intake on top the rear fender/trunklid, vents on top the front fenders like the racecar to reduce lift, and the large vent in front of the engin, on the hood, to reduce lift, and finally a front spoiler that extends 2 or 3 inches in front of the car. They also estimate a price of around $100,000.

yeah, take off the spoiler, slicks, and decals. There you go. Automobile's pic may be a photoshop, but it doesn't credit anyone, so who knows.

 

[Onikaze]

Still say it shoulda been a Corvette SS.

What the hell, it will rock anyways.

 

[Poverty]

Something tells me that this car wont be anywhere as much as a bargain as the Z06, unless they dont mind roofs, and the rear of the car falling apart on theyre flagship vehicle.

 

[Onikaze]

The roof issue was regular C6's and I've never heard the rear of the car falling apart, unless you mean IRS's grenading after repeated 4k launches on drag slicks.

It will be a bang for the buck bargain, it's what Chevy does.

650 or so Hp, sub 3k lbs, for $100,000 or so.

Hate GM if you must, don't deny that it's an awesome car though.

 

[Poverty]

No the roof issue wasnt just C6's. Its affecting Z06's too, and GM have issued a notice on Z06's with certain seriel numbers, for the roofs to get replaced and stuck back on with stronger glue, but only if the car shows signs that the roof could fly off. However there are Z06's outside of GM's recall that have also been affected. GM is being very naughty about this, and if a flying roof seriously hurts or kills someone I think it could be the end for them.

 

[YSSMAN]

It was not the Z06 hard-top that was having problems, it was the standard C6 Coupes that use the detachable roofs.

General Motors has recalled its 2005 and 2006 Corvette models after receiving 21 complains about roof panels detaching from the car at high speed. The problem is believed to be related to the adhesive used to attach the panel. The problem was first reported on a number of Corvette online discussion forums and websites like Leftlane News.

NOTE THE 2005 and 2006 YEARS!

Those would be COUPES, not HARD TOPS (Z06)!

 

[Onikaze]

Figured YSS would pop up with that so I wouldnt have to find it.

Thought the flying off roofs might be mentioned on Z06 forums and linked too by them, it wasn't a Z06 problem, I've yet to hear of a Z06 losing the roof.

So what was the thing about the rear ends?

 

[Poverty]

Z06's are suffereing from the roof problem and there have been recalls to it im 99% sure. Im just looking it up now.

The back end breaking is from drag starts, on track and off, and accelerating between 1st and 2nd gear where there would be wheel hop, and the chassis taking too much stress.

Sorry to hear that. Many of us assumed no news was good news when it had not happened to us after owning the car for a while, but it is hard to tell when it's going to strike. I don't know how accurate the poll is, but out of about 300 responders (2005 and 2006, C6 and Z06), the rate of failures for the group was ~18%.

Best wishes for an effective fix.


Date: June 29, 2006

Subject: 2005-2006 Chevrolet Corvette Including Z06 Repair Procedure for Painted Roofs that may separate

On Feb 21, GM released customer satisfaction program 05112 which was last revised on June 23 under version 05112D. This new version includes additional 2005 and 2006 vehicles including the Z06. It provides instruction to inspect roofs as well as a service procedure for a temporary repair that
will allow the roof panel to be secured to the roof frame and allow the customer to safely operate the vehicle until a replacement roof is available.
The demand for replacement roofs has temporarily exceeded the capacity to produce them causing a large number of back orders. A new SMC roof panel is being developed and is expected to be available no later than mid-August. Dealers with stock orders for part number 19120484 and 19120244 should be aware that these parts will be discontinued sometime in July and replaced with a new part number for the SMC roof

On May 24, GM announced a pending safety recall for this condition involving 2005 and 2006 including the Z06 built prior to May 31. Approximately 31,000 vehicles will be involved and dealers will be advised when a release date has been established. The replacement roof for vehicles involved in this recall will use the SMC roof instead of the polycarbonate panel. Orders for service replacement roofs will be filled first then the SMC roof will be moved into production.

I'm printing this out. I've already had several dealers tell me the Z06 was in no way affected by the roof issue and would not be part of a recall. Even after I told them there are reports and pictures of roofless z06s...."you must be mistaken..."

Subject: 05112D - Customer Satisfaction Program
Painted Roof Adhesive Separation
Vehicle Population and Service Procedure Revised
Message #: WIR20060318
SERVICE AND PARTS OPERATIONS
DCS1613
URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY

Date: June 23, 2006

Subject: 05112D – Customer Satisfaction Program
Painted Roof Adhesive Separation
Vehicle Population and Service Procedure Revised

Models: 2005-2006 Chevrolet Corvette with Painted Roof

To: All Chevrolet Dealers

Attention: Service Manager, Parts Manager
and Warranty Administrator


Customer Satisfaction Program Bulletin 05112C was released on June 7, 2006 via GM Administrative Message WIR20060307.

This bulletin is being revised to include Z06 model vehicles. A new service procedure and labor time have also been added.

 

[Onikaze]

News to me.

So what percent of Z06's have had the roof's actually fly off, and how many are they simply recalling for preventative care?

As for the drag launching...do that in any car that doesn't have a solid rear axle, a good clutch, and 500+ Hp a few times, and tell me you're honestly surprised something broke.

Nevermind the AWD squirtboxes and their clutch/driveline problems from people doing 5k Rpm drop clutch launches regularly.

The roof thing I will give you, but is GM not working to catch and fix it?

 

[Poverty]

No because there are Z06's affected outside of recall chassis serials. Drag launching I have no knowledge about, but the Z06 gearbox is also the one used in murcelagos and gallardos I belive.

 

[Onikaze]

Murcs and Gallardos that eat clutches and are notorious for not working magazine comparo's, you mean?

Wonder why the eat clutches...oh yeah, 500+ Hp through all 4 tires from a standing stop...weeeee...BOOM!

 

[Jim Prower]

More interesting engine news... - ...LSX, eh? I know most folks use LS-x to define the entire class of engines, but as a single model? I dunno. It sounds more like a trim-level than an engine name.

Couldn't we call it L88? You know, like the legendary 427 of yore? and then, we give that name to the car, too. Win-Win.

 

[Dave A]

Yeah with regards to drag launching a car, thats not a good idea unless the car was built with that in mind ie almost no production road car. Not even the mighty TVR Cerbera Speed 12 will let you drag launch it as you wish, the clutch in an Enzo would break after 5 full bore launches, FIVE. And not many supercars can claim to be much better than that, sportscars are generally a lot less powerfull, so they can usually take more but you still get that one too much quite quickly if your in the habit of it.

 

[YSSMAN]

1) Roof thing is new to me as well. I hadn't seen the offical GM recall as I do not own a C6, but my friend who does had to take his in and trade one of his tops on his Coupe.

2) Drag launches are hard on anything, especially with more than 500 BHP and nearly 500 lb-ft of torque hitting the flywheel. It shouldn't be a transmission problem, as the T-56 is a pretty durable unit, but axle-hop wouldn't surprise me if it was breaking some linkages in the back end. Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros have been notorious throughout the years for axle hop, so baisically the story is don't overcook the back end when doing drag starts.

 

[YSSMAN]

Ha ha! Caught You!!!

Nearly three years have passed since we first reported on Chevrolet’s plans for a super Corvette, a halo model well in excess of the already superb Z06. Judging by these spy shots, it appears assurances we were given earlier this year that the car was on the development fast track (“To Hell and Back,” May 8) were right on target.

While the hood scoop indicates this is something other than an ordinary Z06, the real prize is under the hood where our spies heard the whine of what is most likely a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 pushing as much as 650 hp. The engine, which will be hand-built at a rate of 1500-2000 per year at the General Motors Performance Center outside Detroit, features an integrated intake manifold intercooler similar to the one GM developed for the Cadillac STS V-Series.

So far, names for the production supercharged Corvette include everything from Z07 to Blue Devil to Corvette SS to Sting Ray. No matter what they call it, look for production of the 2009 model to start in early 2008. And set aside at least $100,000 if you want to one in your driveway.

Huzzah!

(I'm still not sure on the 6.2L Supercharged engine though...)

 

[GT4_Rule]

Wow its been a long time. Good to see an update.

My initial feeling about the looks of this Corvette was a little down. If it's a super-Corvette, then they should've put more "decorations" on the car. Like more air scoops and such. After all, all that distinguishes the Blue Devil from an ordinary Z06 is the hood scoop.

 

[JCE]

Wow its been a long time. Good to see an update.

My initial feeling about the looks of this Corvette was a little down. If it's a super-Corvette, then they should've put more "decorations" on the car. Like more air scoops and such. After all, all that distinguishes the Blue Devil from an ordinary Z06 is the hood scoop.

Yea, like add a message on the back of the car that reads: "your Ferrari ass just got smoked by a Vette". Or simply an "FU" would suffice.

Good to know that GM is actually going to make this thing. Oh and I just can't imagine how much faster this is going to be than the C6 ZO6...I mean the C6 ZO6 is insanely fast as it is.

 

[Seanman]

Call me crazy, but I actually like the understated look better. You think you're just up against a normal run-of-the-mill Z06, and then bam, it blows your head off.

 

[JCE]

Call me crazy, but I actually like the understated look better. You think you're just up against a normal run-of-the-mill Z06, and then bam, it blows your head off.

Haha, a normal run-of-the-mill ZO6? Is that even possible? I mean it keeps up with cars 4x-6x the price!

 

[GT4_Rule]

Even a standard Z06 can beat a F430, but yeah.

 

[Tornado]

My initial feeling about the looks of this Corvette was a little down. If it's a super-Corvette, then they should've put more "decorations" on the car. Like more air scoops and such. After all, all that distinguishes the Blue Devil from an ordinary Z06 is the hood scoop.

I'm sure that Chevrolet does not want to turn the Corvette into this:

Where you can tell which ones are the slow ones by how many hood scoops they have on them.


Anyways, I still think using the 6.2 is a mistake. It's going to ruin the balance of the car even without the probably very heavy supercharger.

 

[YSSMAN]

Best-case scenario would be that Chevrolet do as little as possible to change the outward appearance of the Z06 that the "Blue Devil" will be based uppon. I don't think it is necessiarily something that Chevrolet wouldn't want to do, but is more of a traditionalist way of making special cars not look very "special" to begin with. Of course there would have to be a few hints here and there, maybe a special badge (not easily visible) or quirk with the body to make it different. You used to be able to pick-out the ZR1s because of their square tail-lights and the "gills" on the side of the car, and that would be something that Chevrolet certainly could do again.

...I think I would go for the small badges on the side, maybe a special body-kit in which only well-trained eyes would spot them against a regular Z06. I'd want to take a page from BMW's M-Division here, go low-profile with these special cars, and still be able to surprise the pink-ass kid in the Porsche next to you...