1989 - 1995 Corvette ZR-1 Performance Numbers




Jim Ingle is no stranger to the Corvette community. In the 1980s and 1990s, Jim worked primarily as a Corvette Development Engineer at the General Motors Proving Ground. Among numerous other duties for Corvette and other GM platforms, he is probably most known for his planning/mapping of the Corvette ZR-1 introduction to the automotive press in Carcassone, France as well as several of the long test drives of the early C5 prototypes as described in James Schefter's book, "All Corvettes Are Red". He has also made numerous appearances at the Black Hills Corvette Classic in South Dakota over the years.

Below are his test results for some of the early pilot ZR-1s he tested.

PILOT CORVETTE LT5 PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
AVE. OF 2 RUNS EACH WAY
RESULTS CORRECTED TO 60 F
CAR NO. P8Y090 P9Y049 P9Y051 P9Y052 P9Y059 P9Y067 P9Y069 AVERAGE PILOT
BODY STYLE ZR1 ZR1 ZR1 COUPE ZR1 ZR1 ZR1 ZR1
TEST WEIGHT - LB 3700 3701 3700 3639 37 1* 3696 3707 3703
CURB WEIGHT - LB 3462 3463 3462 3401 3473 3458 3469 3465
ODOMETER - MILES 4931 2576 2775 3313 2878 2843 3267 2828
TEST TEMP. DEG. F 70 73 72 76 70 71 70  
ST. RPM 2500 2625 2775 2400 2700 3000 3625 2945
0 - 1/8 mi 8.45 8.43 8.39 8.48 8.44 8.44 8.54 8.45
0 - 1/4 mi 12.89 12.91 12.86 12.97 12.91 12.96 13.05 12.94
1/4 SPD. 112.1 111.3 110.9 110.6 111.1 110.1 110.1 110.7
0 - 30 1.81 1.78 1.81 1.89 1.84 1.85 1.92 1.84
0 - 40 2.64 2.58 2.58 2.62 2.58 2.57 2.65 2.59
0 - 50 3.48 3.44 3.44 3.52 3.46 3.46 3.50 3.46
0 - 55 4.03 3.90 3.81 3.90 3.96 3.83 4.10 3.92
0 - 60 4.40 4.38 4.29 4.42 4.37 4.35 4.47 4.37
0 - 70 5.58 5.57 5.49 5.67 5.67 5.57 5.67 5.57
0 - 80 6.95 6.89 6.80 7.02 6.81 6.96 7.06 6.90
0 - 90 8.35 8.40 8.24 8.50 8.32 8.46 8.61 8.40
0 - 100 10.05 10.07 10.08 10.39 10.20 10.46 10.45 10.25
EST HP 341.3 339.7 343.1 328.9 340.3 335.4 329.6 337.63
27-May-88
J. Ingle

* - Third value is not legible.


The following test review looks at the 1993 ZR-1 and was published in Corvette Fever Magazine, July 1993, pg. 38-40. This particular test review looks at the effects of anti-slip regulation turned on and off and the Full Power Valet Key turned on and off.

1993 Performance Review
MPH Full Power, ASR Off Full Power, ASR Active Valet Power, ASR Active Valet Power, ASR Off
0-10 mph (sec) 0.44 0.72 0.79 0.73
0-20 mph (sec) 1.15 1.62 1.79 1.63
0-30 mph (sec) 2.05 2.52 2.59 2.53
0-40 mph (sec) 2.91 3.32 3.59 3.53
0-50 mph (sec) 3.75 4.88 5.29 5.23
0-60 mph (sec) 4.86 5.80 6.81 6.75
0-70 mph (sec) 6.40 7.22 8.89 8.84
0-80 mph (sec) 7.80 8.72 11.49 11.45
0-90 mph (sec) 9.74 10.87 14.34 14.29
0-100 mph (sec) 11.92 N/A N/A N/A
1/4 mile (sec/mph) 12.96 / 108.66 13.90 / 104.82 15.01 / 95.46 14.97 / 95.49

Below are the results of performance testing ZR-1 Corvettes by Auto Performance Test Lab located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Corvette Action Center would like to thank Stan Adelman of Auto Performance Test Lab for allowing us to include their test results here.

The method of testing used by Auto Performance Test Lab was mentioned recently in a Z06 Corvette performance article that appeared on page 34 of the February 2002 edition of Vette Vues Magazine:

Our test method employed is a simple "time to speed" application. Over the last 17 years of consumer testing, we have found that this method is more reliable than the testing of "time to distance".
Drivers we employed were not professional. All had drag strip experience....all cars tested were stock except for two. Only the stock cars results are listed in the final average numbers. the two after-market cars and their test results are listed separately.

Performance Review Data
Year Specs. - including HP & rear axle 0 - 60 mph 60 - 100 mph 0 - 100 mph
1990 Stock - 375 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.88 5.90 10.4
1991 Stock - 375 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.85 5.89 10.5
1991 Modifications - Chip, Exhaust, 3.91:1, 440 hp (est.) 4.58 4.99 9.2
1992 Stock - 375 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.83 5.80 10.3
1993 Stock - 405 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.78 5.62 10.1
1994 Stock - 405 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.71 5.70 10.1
1994 * Callaway Supernatural Twin Turbo - 782hp - 3.91:1 3.30 3.01 6.1
1995 Stock - 405 hp - 3.45 rear end 4.70 5.67 10.1
1995 Callaway Supernatural, 490hp - 3.45:1 4.39 4.74 8.7
1995 Callaway Supernatural, 490hp - 4.10:1 4.31 4.58 8.4

Notes:

The stock performance numbers are based on averages. Each year and model has had at least 15 cars tested. The 1994 Supernatural Tw-Turbo ZR1 had a single car production. The 1995 ZR1 Supernatural models listed above also are based on single car tests because of limited availability.

* - The 1994 ZR1 Supernatural Twin Turbo is one of kind. At the cost of 200k plus the cost of the ZR1 itself makes this the most powerful and most expensive after-market ZR1 built. The entire suspension and drive line had to be update to handle horsepower ranging from 782hp to 1100hp depending on boost setting. The 782hp is produced at 12.7lbs boost. The high side level can be set to 22lbs safely. ¼ mile times in this car at 782hp come in between 10.2 sec to 10.5 sec at speeds between 130hp to 140hp.

When comparing 60mph to 100mph runs straight out, you will see that in the 0 to100mph that the same segment is faster. Reason for this the momentum of the moving vehicle enhances the required time to cover that "time to speed" at a faster rate.

All times are averaged out in both directions with a minimum of six runs per car. Experienced drivers are used…no professional behind the wheel. No power shifting! Many years of testing contains more ten cars of each model and setup. Only blacktop surfaces are used. Weather test conditions must meet the following criteria: 60 to 70 degrees & 35% to 50% humidity.

All cars are factory stock unless noted in Spec catergories. Equipment used: Vericom 2000 Pro Performance (real time systems). Driver weight between 180-200lbs. Half tank of gas and tires at normal inflation levels. No (slicks) special tires are ever used.